Spilling government secrets has been in the news constantly the past couple weeks because of Eric Snowden and Bradley Manning, the soldier who gave classified information to WikiLeaks.
Whatever your opinion on the matter of liberating classified files for public consumption, it’s been sparking a debate about the extent of control the government is permitted over it’s citizens.
This week: a top five centered around secrets, spying and Snowden.
5. “Hanging on the Telephone”- Blondie (1978)
LAWLZ, wire tapping. The NSA’s warrentless content collection has been causing quite a stir with privacy activists since Bush started the program in 2001. Maybe the government is just experiencing Debbie Harry’s feelings as she coos on this track, “I can’t control myself.”
4. “The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret”- Queens of the Stone Age (2000)
Maybe there’s a reason to keep information hidden? Queens of the Stone Age ponder this question in their slow, sleazy single off the album Rated R.
3. “Private Eyes”- Hall and Oates (1981)
This jangly pop hit undermines the grave nature of government spying. However, those chorus’ hand claps are fun enough to divert your attention from more serious matters.
2. “Back in the U.S.S.R.”- The Beatles (1968)
If you haven’t heard, Eric Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia. And America is more than a little miffed about it. Do I sense another Cold War a-brewing?
1. “Born Free”- M.I.A. (2010)
Like these information leakers, Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, otherwise known as M.I.A. is no stranger to controversy. The video for this song was actually removed from YouTube for being too graphic, depicting teenage boys being blown up running through minefields and an obese couple having sex. However, due to backlash, you can view it on the site again.
However, this song is a welcome reminder of our rights and what happens when they are trampled upon.
This video is NSFW.
M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.