10 Anti-Coronation Songs That Give the Finger to the Royals
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The post 10 Anti-Coronation Songs That Give the Finger to the Royals appeared first on Consequence.
Mass protests are hard to organize and guillotines can be messy, but in the meantime we’ve got music. From the British and Colonists mocking each other with new verses to “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” through the French anthem “La Marseillaise,” and including the ironically-titled “God Save the Queen” and beyond, those of us who are subjects have long taunted our rulers through tunes.
The passing of the crown is a great time to reacquaint ourselves with this long and hallowed tradition. With the coronation of King Charles III set for May 6th, we’ve rounded up a list of 10 songs that offer a stiff middle finger for Britain’s stiff upper lip. Many of these song were written for Charles’ mother, Elizabeth II, but the sentiments remain timeless.
So whether you prefer revolutionary reading or you’re more into pitchforks and torches, here are 10 songs, presented in chronological order, that are guaranteed to ruin any coronation party. — Wren Graves
Sex Pistols – “God Save the Queen”
Revolutionary Refrain: “God save the queen/ The fascist regime/ They made you a moron/ A potential H-bomb”
This timeless punk rock anthem was released in 1977 during Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, and its message is just as relevant now that we’re faced with King Charles III’s coronation. The song is a scathing critique of the monarchy, and as the repeated lines “No future” suggest, Sex Pistols blamed the “figurehead” on the throne for ignoring societal ills even as tourists were treated like “money.” The song was controversial upon its release and still has some teeth today, to the point where singer John Lydon distanced himself from the themes after Elizabeth’s passing. — W. Graves
Rush – “A Farewell to Kings”
Revolutionary Refrain: “Scheming demons/ Dressed in kingly guise/ Beating down the multitude/ And scoffing at the wise”
Hypocrites control the halls of power in Rush’s 1977 prog rock masterpiece. The song’s lyrics explore themes of strength, corruption, and the dangers of unchecked authority, while the sweeping melodies and intricate instrumentation make it one of Rush’s most iconic tracks. “A Farewell to Kings” is a thought-provoking song that challenges listeners to question the legitimacy of those in power and the consequences of their actions. The song’s timeless message and brilliant musicianship have made it a fan favorite for over four decades, cementing its place as a classic in both the rock and anti-monarchist canons. — W. Graves
Suzanne Vega – “The Queen and the Soldier”
Revolutionary Refrain: “The soldier came knocking upon the Queen’s door/ He said, ‘I am not fighting for you any more'”
The California folk singer’s 1985 song finds a soldier quitting the army, but not before marching up to his queen and demanding to know, “Why?” Why the bloodshed and endless wars,? Why does she demand that some of her subjects die? “I’ve seen more battles lost than I have battles won,” he says, “And I’ve got this intuition, says it’s all for your fun.” His words send her reeling, and although for a moment it seems she might bend, she ultimately decides that her hurt feelings are worth more than his life. The end is as brutal as the beginning is beautiful. — W. Graves
The Smiths – “The Queen Is Dead”
Revolutionary Refrain: “Her Very Lowness with her head in a sling/ I’m truly sorry, but it sounds like a wonderful thing”
Morrissey’s troubling political stances notwithstanding, the guy clearly has a bone to pick with the crown. The Smith’s most heralded work, The Queen Is Dead, states as much upfront, from the unambiguous title to its epic, six-and-a-half-minute eponymous opener. With lines like, “Her Very Lowness with her head in a sling/ I’m truly sorry, but it sounds like a wonderful thing” and the insinuation that Charles excitedly anticipated his mother’s death, Morrissey’s hatred for the royals is perhaps only trumped by his hatred for meat. Remarkably, both the song and the album stand as crowning (pun intended) achievements of British pop culture… we wonder how the folks at Buckingham Palace feel about that. — Jonah Krueger
The Exploited – “Royalty”
Revolutionary Refrain: “What does the royalty/ Mean today?/ Let’s sell her to an Arab/ We’ll help you on your way”
Many songs on this list suggest that the royal family is useless, but Scottish punks The Exploited said that no, that might not be the case: We could try selling her for a profit. While not attuned to todays racial sensitivities, the 1986 track is built on aggressive guitars, pummeling drums, and angry lyrics that express a deep-seated anger towards the monarchy. “Royalty” speaks to the frustration of those who have been marginalized by the royals’ grip on power, suggesting that soon enough the monarch will “be a victim/ Of working class abuse.” The laughing in the chorus isn’t kind, but it sure is fun. — W. Graves
Manic Street Preachers – “Repeat (U.K.)”
Revolutionary Refrain: “London, England, consider yourself warned/ Repeat after me, fuck Queen and country”
You don’t exactly need a doctorate in media studies to understand Manic Street Preachers’ point; it’s simply a stripped-down, angry, extremely pointed middle finger to the British establishment. Of course, said establishment includes the Queen and the rest of the Royal family. It’s not the most subtle or nuanced attack, but to obscure the anti-royalist sentiment behind metaphor or flowery language would only dull its effect. Manic Street Preachers wanted to tell the Queen to shove it, and tell the Queen to shove it they did. — J. Krueger
Blur – “This Is a Low”
Revolutionary Refrain: “And the Queen, she’s round the bend/ Jumped off Land’s End”
Leave it to Blur to sneak a dig at the Royal Family into a song mainly about British shipping forecasts. While, as a whole, “This Is a Low” takes a fairly loving view of Great Britain, name-dropping several notable locations over a dreamy and nostalgic soundscape, Damon Albarn couldn’t help himself but send a cheeky little nudge in the direction of the Queen: “And the Queen, she’s round the bend/ Jumped off Land’s End.” A dedicated anti-royalist might mine a certain message from this couplet, that perhaps the best version of England is one without the Queen as its figurehead. Others might say it’s just a bit of fun. Either way, maybe play it safe and don’t throw “This Is a Low” on your coronation party playlist. — J. Krueger
Lorde – “Royals”
Revolutionary Refrain: “And we’ll never be royals/ It don’t run in our blood/ That kind of luxe just ain’t for us/ We crave a different kind of buzz”
So much of the breathless coverage of the English monarchy is steeped in envy, as if asking, what if that life could be yours? To which Lorde unceremoniously replied in 2012, “Who cares?” “Royals” is a daggered critique of the excess and materialism of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The song’s minimalistic beat and her distinctive vocal delivery perfectly capture the song’s message, as she’s literally out here doing more with less. “Royals” challenges listeners — both monarchists and not — to rethink their values and priorities. — W. Graves
IDLES – “Reigns”
Revolutionary Refrain: “How does it feel to have shanked the working classes into dust?”
“Reigns” is another one of IDLES’ punchy, anti-facist anthems. Like most of the tracks off of their third album, Ultra Mono, the post-punk quintet continue to voice their hatred for the Royal Family and the British government. With “Reigns,” the band essentially goes off on the power structure. “How does it feel to have shanked the working classes into dust?” questions frontman Joe Talbot, weighing in on the inevitable injustices that come with a hierarchical structure. All to say, IDLES are definitely in favor of the fall of the monarchy. — Sun Noor
slowthai – “Nothing Great About Britain”
Revolutionary Refrain: “I will treat you with the utmost respect/ Only if you respect me a little bit, Elizabeth/ You cunt”
The title track to slowthai’s debut album Nothing Great About Britain is as on-the-nose as it gets. Slowthai is immediately furious and desperate; he yelps fierce, agitated bars about England’s colonial past, the inequality of the present, and fraught ideas about the future. He’s eager to acknowledge and deal with the double standards that still remain in the country’s identity, spitting that he wears “chains like my granddad did in slavery,” and calls out how quick the British are with appropriating Black culture. It likely doesn’t get more anti-royal than the very last line of the song, where he calls Queen Elizabeth a… well, you probably know what comes next. — Paolo Ragusa
10 Anti-Coronation Songs That Give the Finger to the Royals
Consequence Staff
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