pharaoh house crash

In Kingston Jamaica, in 1968, Leonard Dillon and The Ethiopians recorded a song called Everything Crash. It was inspired by the Rodney Riots, the largest student protests in the history of the Caribbean.

Around the world, 1968 was a year of protests and demonstrations. In France, Ireland, the USA, South America, Pakistan and many other countries, young people took to the streets to voice their frustration at governments that were unrepresentative and corrupt.

The following year Prince Buster, (the influential songwriter and producer who helped create Ska) released a version of Everything Crash. Taking aim at political leaders, he renamed it Pharaoh House Crash.

Fast forward over fifty years and again there are protests and demonstrations. Around the world, young people are protesting genocide, demonstrating against ecocide, marching against political corruption and fighting for the right to disagree with their government.

The protest songs released in 1960s Jamaica, are even more relevant in the 2020s, because governments have become much more unrepresentative and corrupt.

When things get hot, turn the volume up.

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