The Specials: Protest songs for the Covid age

Their music was the soundtrack to the post-punk movement that began in the late 70s - the fight against racism, against war and apartheid, and the bleak reality of unemployment and social inequality.

Now the Specials have created an album for our new pandemic age, with a new collection reimagining some of the most important protest songs over the last 100 years.

We went along to meet them, and started by asking them what had attracted fans to their music.

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[tetleyteabagging]

If you cannot get to see a GP remember this :
If your surgery rings you to have a flu vaccine, simply tell them that you don't do face-to-face appointments and only telephone vaccinations.

[stoufer]

Seemed like the 70's where a time when things would get changed for the better... such a shame it was all undone and made worse by Mrs T and Minford

[stephencopping]

At the time I was a little long haired guy into folk roots blues and 60s protest music & psychedelia, the specials and the rock against racism movement really appealed to me although a different look I got it, glad I did ! Peace love & freedom to you guy's keep on keeping on we need ya !

[dublinsnob]

Let's listen to Channel 4 left leaning slanted news, most virtuous Jon Snow.

[jonathanhadley]

I'm not here to teach you-I'm not here to preach to you-I just want to reach out to you

[allaroundme]

There are no protest songs.
Dissent is now allowed post lockdown. Any which tries is deplatformed.
🤦

[blocheadz]

Get yer ears around Sleaford Mods folks

[josephstalin]

Gg allen is the only ever true punk at existence

[emm_arr]

Fun fact: in Russia, you don't get much real ska, but you do get terrible pro-Putin rap from a rich young rapper with family connections.
It's painfully bad stuff.

[Photovintageguy]

So post punk started in the 70's?

[josephstalin]

Guilty of being white? Go listen to at song first. (Minor threat)