Unsustainable Development A Protest Playlist
Kill That Shijiazhuang Man
Luocha Kingdom
Another Brick in the Wall
Earth Song
Lukang Town
Big Yellow Taxi
Brave New World
Lago Negro (Black Lake)
Tijeras (Scissors)
Environmental Anxiety
Strange Arithmetic
Colonial Mentality
Silver Spoon
Classroom Idea
Kill That Shijiazhuang Man (杀死那个石家庄人)
Omnipotent Youth Society (万能青年旅店)
The song isn't about literally killing a person — it explores themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the failure of economic development to bring real happiness to ordinary people. The "Shijiazhuang man" represents the people who have been left behind by modernisation, stuck in monotonous labour and existing despair.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Rachel
Luocha Kingdom (罗刹海市)
Dao Lang (刀郎)
The song’s ambiguous yet biting social commentary led to widespread discussion, with many interpreting it as a critique of China's economic development, globalisation, and cultural homogenization— issues directly linked to SDGs such as Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Rachel
Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)
Pink Floyd
This iconic piece challenges the rigidity and conformity often found in traditional school systems. Its catchy chorus became a protest anthem for students feeling oppressed by overly strict or impersonal teaching methods.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Malak
Earth Song
Michael Jackson
An iconic pop track that addresses human impact on the planet, urging listeners to confront environmental destruction and develop empathy for our shared home. Jackson’s influence brought environmental discussions to a vast global audience.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Malak
Lukang Town
Dayou Luo (罗大佑)
Taiwanese singer-songwriter, composer, and producer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Mandopop (Mandarin pop music).Lukang is a small town, and Taipei is a metropolis. The song talks about young people who have to leave their hometown and squeeze into Taipei to survive because their hometown is stagnant and there are no opportunities.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Jingwen
Big Yellow Taxi
Joni Mitchell
The song satirizes the modern urbanization and industrialization, emphasizing that people only realize the importance of nature after losing it. The lyrics criticize how cities and infrastructure projects replace green spaces with concrete, leading to habitat loss. This song urges listeners to rethink whether development should come at the cost of nature and sustainability.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Jingwen
Brave New World
JJ Lin (林俊杰)
Singaporean singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his versatile music style, powerful vocals. The song encourages listeners to reflect on humanity's impact on Earth and the need for positive change. The lyrics describe a desolate earth, reflecting the impact of climate change, global warming, and desertification.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Jingwen
Lago Negro (Black Lake)
Dr. Sativo, M.C.H.e and Tzutu Baktun Kan
These Guatemalan artists are part of the Caza Ahau, a community education programme which uses music to promote personal and environmental well-being. This song encapsulates various issues and critiques raised against the SDGs like not adequately addressing climate justice, emphasis on conventional/ formal schooling and sufficient inclusion of indigenous knowledge/ languages.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Eleanor
Tijeras (Scissors)
Renata Flores
Renata Flores is a Peruvian singer and rapper. The song's themes of resistance lend well to a protest setting and end with a message of hope and unity. Its themes of silencing and speaking out represent the need for indigenous voices to be part of the conversation around what quality education and development means.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Eleanor
Environmental Anxiety (2023)
RAYE
The obvious message, as the title suggests, is environmental and relates to the harm that humans are doing to the planet. But the song mentions a lot of other issues related to human development and wellbeing including the pernicious effects of social media and racism. Like a lot of protest songs, it is political. It mentions ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson by name and refers to how ‘Country leaders fucked our futures’.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Richard
Strange Arithmetic (2012)
The Coup
The first line of the song sets the context: ‘History has taught me some strange arithmetic / Using swords, prison bars, and pistol grips’. The song then goes onto use a range of school subjects - English, Science, Maths/Statistics, Economics, Geography, Social Sciences, Physics, Home Economics - to address a violent history of the world that has largely involved enslaving, dividing and suppressing people.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Richard
Colonial Mentality (1977)
Fela Kuti
This is an interesting protest song by Nigerian artist and political activist Fela Kuti. At nearly 14 minutes long, with the lyrics only coming in after the halfway mark, it’s part jazz record, part protest song. It speaks to colonisation and its lasting effects on the colonised.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Richard
Classroom Idea (1994)
Seo Taiji and Boys
A South Korean music group that debuted in 1992, blending hip-hop and rock, influencing K-pop. The song addresses the competitive structure and inequality in Korean society related to education, which aligns with the themes discussed in the CTI module's session on Neoliberalism and Education.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Youngkwan
뱁새 (Crow-Tit) / Silver Spoon
BTS
This song is based on the Korean proverb 'A crow-tit tries to walk like a stork and gets its legs torn', symbolizing social inequality and class disparity. The original proverb conveys a conservative lesson that the weak should not try to follow the strong. However, BTS’s “Baepsae” flips this meaning, criticizing the systemic barriers that prevent the underprivileged from advancing.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Youngkwan
Analysis
Why this song? The audience will recognize the inequalities in the global economic system and consider what true fairness really means. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to this song?This song is based on the Korean proverb 'A crow-tit tries to walk like a stork and gets its legs torn', symbolizing social inequality and class disparity. The original proverb conveys a conservative lesson that the weak should not try to follow the strong. However, BTS’s “Baepsae” flips this meaning, criticizing the systemic barriers that prevent the underprivileged from advancing. The song highlights the struggle between the privileged elite and the underprivileged, and it can also be interpreted as reflecting the unequal economic structure between the Global North and the Global South, where lower-income nations struggle to compete under an unfair global system.
Analysis
Why this song? The song isn't about literally killing a person — it explores themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the failure of economic development to bring real happiness to ordinary people. The "Shijiazhuang man" represents the people who have been left behind by modernisation, stuck in monotonous labour and existing despair. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?The lyrics convey bitterness toward China's economic miracle, which has benefited big cities like Beijing and Shanghai but left many industrial towns struggling. Kill that Shijiazhuang man represents losing one’s identity during this rapid economic transition.
Lyrics
They paved paradise and put up a parking lotWith a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spotThey took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museumAnd they charged the people a dollar and a half to see themNo, no, noHey, farmer, farmer, put away your DDTI don't care about spots on my applesLeave me the birds and the beesPlease!Don't it always seem to goThat you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?They paved paradise to put up a parking lotHey, now, they paved paradise to put up a parking lot
Analysis
Why this song? The song uses word play to suggest that mainstream Western education is broken. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?The first line of the song sets the context: ‘History has taught me some strange arithmetic / Using swords, prison bars, and pistol grips’, contrasting the school subject History with The Coup’s lived history. The ‘strange arithmetic’ suggests that things just don’t add up. The song then goes onto use a range of school subjects - English, Science, Maths/Statistics, Economics, Geography, Social Sciences, Physics, Home Economics - to illustrate a violent history of the world that has largely involved enslaving, dividing and suppressing people. The chorus calls on teachers to teach students this political side of history, in order to stop them becoming another set of victims of the current system. This message is also used to close Verse 3: ‘If your school won't teach you how to fight for what's needed / They're teaching you to go through life and get cheated’. Overall, the song speaks to postcolonial/decolonial critiques of how knowledge is produced and what is taught in schools.
Lyrics
Taipei is not the golden paradise I imaginedThe city does not have my original dreamA home that I cannot return to, the small town of LukangTaipei is not my homeMy hometown has no neon lightsA prosperous city, a transitional townPeople wandering in civilizationI heard that they dug up the red bricks of my hometown and built cement wallsPeople in my hometown got what they wanted but lost what they hadA mottle wooden board on the doorWith these words engraved on itMay it be used forever by future generationsPassed down from generation to generation
Analysis
Why this song? This is an interesting protest song by Nigerian artist and political activist Fela Kuti. At nearly 14 minutes long, with the lyrics only coming in after the halfway mark, it’s part jazz record, part protest song. It speaks to colonisation and its lasting effects on the colonised. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?Whilst Afrobeats is finally putting African music on the global popular music stage, Fela Kuti’s music has been appreciated outside of Nigerian/African circles for years. Nicknamed The King of Afrobeat, Fela was a musician and a political activist. He released this record in 1977. At nearly 14 minutes long, with the lyrics only coming in after the halfway mark, it’s part jazz record, part protest song. As the title suggests, it is about Colonisation, but there is more to it. Singing ‘Them don release you now / But you never release yourself’, it is about how Colonisation caused Africans to forsake their own in favour of what they were given by their colonial masters and how they internalised that as a mindset which they now perpetuate. In a way, it speaks to dependency theory and hints at the idea of a collusion between the elites in the centre and the periphery.
Analysis
Why this song? It’s an iconic pop track that addresses human impact on the planet, urging listeners to confront environmental destruction and develop empathy for our shared home. Jackson’s influence brought environmental discussions to a vast global audience. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?“Earth Song” puts humanity’s responsibility to the planet front and center. By emphasizing the Earth’s suffering — “crying Earth, weeping shores” — it challenges us to look beyond our daily routines and see the deeper consequences of pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Jackson’s emotive delivery seeks not only awareness but also a personal sense of accountability: what can each of us do to mitigate these problems? In a world often obsessed with economic growth, “Earth Song” reminds us that we share a home that deserves care and preservation. Ideally, listeners leave with a renewed commitment to sustainable choices and a heightened understanding that ecological well-being is inseparable from human well-being.
Llakisqa qawani aswan nanayta = miro con tristeza tanto dolorWith sadness I see so much painLlulla runakuna = Gente corruptaCorrupt peopleManan allinta ruaspa = no hacen nada bienThey don't do any goodÑuqanchiq quykunchik atiy ruasqayninta = nosotros les dimos el poderWe gave them powerWaytata rantispa? = comprando flores?buying flowers?Uyariy nisqayki = Escucha y te diréListen and I'll tell youManchakuychu rimayta = No tengas miedo de hablarDon't be afraid to speakMírame, ahora soy más fuerteLook at me, now I'm strongerMírame, ya no tengo miedoLook at me, now I'm not afraidAhora sí, tengo esperanzaNow yes, I have hopeWarmikuna, quñusqa kasun = Mujeres, estemos unidasWomen, let's be united
Lyrics (translated)
Manan pipas qawanchu manan imatapas = Nadie mira nadaNobody is looking at anythingAtinichu ruwayta, rimayta munani = No puedo hacer nada, quiero hablarThere's nothing I can do, I want to speakQhaparispanmi, tukuy runa = Con mucha bullaWith a racketManan uyarikunchu rimasqayta = Nadie escucha lo que digoNobody listens to what I sayqinaspa nini: qhaparisaqmi = entonces digo: gritaréso I say: I'll screamuyariy nisqayki = escucha y te dirélisten and I'll tell youQawani qanayman tutapi kasqaypi = miro, estando arriba en la oscuridadI watch, standing above in the darknessQawani achkita qinaptin uyarini = Miro la luz, entonces escuchoI watch the light, then I listenManan uyarinkuchu rimasqayta = Nadie escucha lo que digo Nobody listens to what I sayQinaspa nini: qhaparisaqmi tukuy kallpaywan = Entonces digo: gritaré con todas mis fuerzasAnd so I say: I'll scream with all of my strengthIma? = Qué?What?...Icha qapariyta sumaqta takisaq = talvez mi grito lo cante lindoSometimes I sing my scream beautifullyChaynatan uyarinqaku runakuna = y así escuche la genteAnd like that the people listen
Lyrics
她两耳傍肩三孔鼻With ears near her shoulders and a three-hole nose未曾开言先转腚Turning butt before speaking每一日蹲窝里把蛋来卧Squatting in the nest and hatching eggs every day老粉嘴多半辈儿以为自己是只鸡An old glib talker thinks she’s a chicken for more than half of her life那马户不知道他是一头驴Little does Ma Hu know he is truly a donkey那又鸟不知道他是一只鸡And that You Niao unaware that she’s a chicken勾栏从来扮高雅Prostitutes often show off elegance自古公公好威名As always the eunuch love his reputation
Analysis
Why this song? This song encapsulates various issues and critiques raised against the SDG’s like not adequately addressing climate justice, emphasis on conventional/ formal schooling and sufficient inclusion of indigenous knowledge/ languages. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?This song was made from a community educational programme to spread awareness about the contamination of Lake Atitlán. The song and video are recorded as the group made up of musicians and members of the programme move through the trees around the lake. The song highlights the source of the pollution in the lake and the systems of exploitation responsible. One of the aims of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) is to 'restore water-related ecosystems' which ignores historical causes of environmental damage and issues of justice. The lyrics in this song do not shy away from this as the group sings the chorus 'the golden chain on your neck kills' followed by ‘many species dead, All for the interests of a few’. The song calls for climate justice and responsibility from those involved rather than vague promises. Another prominent lyric is 'our manifesto is our thoughts between the jungle and the cement' representing a view of development that unites social and natural environments in line with ‘El Buen Vivir’.
Lyrics
傍晚6点下班 换掉药厂的衣裳Finished work at 6pm, I changed the drug factory uniform妻子在熬粥 我去喝几瓶啤酒The wife’s making porridge, I go drink a few bottles of beer如此生活30年 直到大厦崩塌Lived this way for 30 years, until the building collapsed云层深处的黑暗啊 淹没心底的景观The deep dark clouds are drowning the view in my heart
Analysis
Why this song? The song addresses the competitive structure and inequality in Korean society related to education, which aligns with the themes discussed in the CTI module's session on Neoliberalism and Education. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to this song?The audience will not only recognize the criticisms of the current education system but also reflect on possible alternatives.
Lyrics
......I have crow-tit legs, you have stork legsThey say, "My legs are worth a million dollars"Mine are short, how can we compete in the same race?They say, "It’s the same field, so it’s fair!"Never Never Never......You’re saying it’s my fault? You’re joking, right?You call this fair? Oh, are you crazy?You call this justice? You must be kidding me!You must be kidding me, you, you must be kidding me!
......Change the rules, change changeThe storks want, want to maintainBut it won’t work that way, BANG BANGThis isn’t normalThis isn’t normalAh, stop talking about trying harderAh, it’s so cringy, my hands and feet curl upAh, effort, effort, ah effort, effortAh, you’re so yellow (so naive)As expected, a stork!
Analysis
Why this song?Lukang is a small town, and Taipei is a metropolis. The song talks about young people who have to leave their hometown and squeeze into Taipei to survive because their hometown is stagnant and there are no opportunities. This urban-rural gap has led to population outflow and local decline, forming an "unsustainable social structure" in which big cities are becoming more and more crowded and small places are becoming more and more depressed. This is in line with SDG 8's goal of pursuing inclusive and sustainable economic growth.The lyrics repeatedly emphasize the beauty of Lukang's mornings and evenings, old houses, and rural life, but these are all being swallowed up by "modernization" and "urbanization." With population loss and cultural disconnection, local traditions are dying out, which is a manifestation of cultural unsustainability. This is consistent with the goal of SDG 11, which is to protect cultural heritage, promote coordinated urban and rural development.What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?The audience should think about how to strike a balance between development and tradition, and realize that modernization should not mean forgetting the past. It reminds us not to lose our cultural roots while pursuing progress.
Lyrics
“What about sunrise?What about rain?What about all the things that you said we were to gain?…Did you ever stop to noticeThis crying Earth, these weeping shores?”
Analysis
Why this song? IThe audience should take away a strong awareness of environmental degradation and a critical perspective on traditional ideas of progress and development. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it? The song satirizes the modern urbanization and industrialization, emphasizing that people only realize the importance of nature after losing it. The lyrics criticize how cities and infrastructure projects replace green spaces with concrete, leading to habitat loss. It powerfully critiques over-urbanization and highlights the negative environmental impact of uncontrolled development. This song urges listeners to rethink whether development should come at the cost of nature and sustainability. Related to SDG 15: Life on Land. The lyrics focus on deforestation and habitat destruction, reflecting how natural landscapes are being cleared for urban expansion, threatening biodiversity and ecosystems. It also criticizes the loss of biodiversity. The lyrics plead humans to protect wildlife and prevent species decline caused by pesticides and pollution. This aligns with SDG 15's goal of protecting forests and promoting sustainable land use.
Lyrics
[Second verse]When we move from elementary to middle school,then pass through high school,they send us off to the packaging center.To make us look good on the outside,they wrap us up nicely in university packaging.Now, think about it.The true face of "university" is hidden,pretending to be something grand.That era is over.Be more honest with yourself—you already know the truth. ……Enough (enough), that's enough (enough),I don’t need that kind of teaching anymore.
[First verse]Enough (enough), that's enough (enough),I don’t need that kind of teaching anymore. ……Every morning by 7:30,they push us into tiny classrooms,forcing the same thingsinto the minds of nine million children nationwide. ……I'll make you into someone more valuable,better than the one sitting next to you.Step on others, climb higher,and you can become someone superior. ……
Sigo secuestrando el micrófono I keep hijacking the microphonePara que empiece ya esta historia So that this story can begin nowQue llevo en mi memoria That I carry in my memoryCuando yo era niño y en mi casa When I was a child and in my houseTodos de su gloria Everyone spoke of its glorySu majestad Cristóbal Colón, de marinero His majesty Christopher Columbus, from sailorVino a hacerse rico a costa de todo lo nuestro Came to get rich at the cost of all that is oursNosotros queremos, entonces We want to, thenSe lo decimos al mundo entero We tell the whole worldEste es un mensaje para el mundo entero This is a message for the whole worldPara que lo sepan, aquí llegaron So that they know, they have arrived hereYa lo saben desde el lago de Atitlán They already know it from Lake AtitlánPara que lo dejen de contaminar So that they stop contaminating itYa se va a sanar It will healTenemos que dejar de contaminar We have to stop pollutingParemos de contaminar Let’s stop pollutingAsí lo vamos a lograr That’s how we will achieve itDecimos otra vez, carnal We say it again, brother
Lyrics (translated)
Lago negro, muere la diversidad Black lake, diversity diesEl eslabón de oro en tu cuello la mata The golden chain on your neck kills itEl petróleo acaba con la vida de tantas especies Oil wipes out the lives of so many speciesTodo a costa de unos intereses All at the cost of some interestsGuatemaya no es mala, es bella Guatemaya is not bad, it is beautifulAunque en ella avionetas de coca estrellan Even though cocaine planes crash in itQue rayan selvas enteras allá en Petén That scrape entire jungles over there in PeténJardín del Edén, contra frutas pon retén Garden of Eden, set up checkpoints against fruitsEstén o no estén esas frutas prohibidas Whether or not those fruits are forbiddenYa ni miran ni buscan sustancias nocivas They no longer look for or seek harmful substancesPase lo que pase, digan lo que digan No matter what happens, no matter what they sayYa sabemos que extraen petróleo en Laguna del Tigre We already know they extract oil in Laguna del TigreSin timbre de impuesto Without a tax stampProtestamos porque somos libres siempre We protest because we are always freeLo que decimos lo tenemos en manifiesto What we say, we put in writingSon pensamientos entre la jungla y el cemento These are thoughts between the jungle and the concrete
Lyrics
“We don’t need no education,We don’t need no thought control…Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!”
Analysis
Why this song? The song’s themes of resistance lend well to a protest setting and end with a message of hope and unity. Its themes of silencing and speaking out represent the need for indigenous voices to be part of the conversation around what quality education and development means. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?Renata Flores uses music to speak out about women's rights and social issues in Quechua, an indigenous language of the Andes, and Spanish. Her song starts by describing being unseen and unheard but ends with the imperative 'listen' whilst encouraging others, 'don't be afraid to speak'. These ideas of silence and speaking out reflect the necessity of centering indigenous voices and knowledge in the conversation around development. SDG 4 defines quality education as eliminating disparities for indigenous people but this song raises the question of if this is enough and what are the consequences of viewing this group from the perspective of lacking. The music video for the song highlights ecological educational practices as we see women in traditional dress surrounded by trees and flowers. Later a young girl touches the flower, perhaps reflecting the importance of passing down this knowledge to the next generation. This also raises the question of who decides what quality education is and what it should include.
Them Judge him go kack wigAnd jail him brothers awayNo be so? (He be so!)Dem go proud of dem nameAnd put dem slave name for headNo be so? (He be so!)Colo-mentality now make you hear me nowMr. Ransome you make you hearMr. Williams you make you hearMr. Allia you make you hearMr. Mohammed you make you hearMr. Anglican you make you hearMr. Bishop you make you hearMr. Catholic you make you hearMr. Muslim you make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearColo-mentality hearColo-mentality hearMr. Ransome you make you hearMr. Ransome you make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearColo-mentality hearColo-mentality hear[Chorus]Colo-mentality!
Lyrics
[Chorus]If you say you be colonial manYou don be slave man beforeThem don release you nowBut you never release yourselfI say you fit never release yourselfColo-mentalityE be say you be colonial manYou don be slave man beforeThem don release you nowBut you never release yourselfE be soHe be so them dey do, them dey overdoAll the things them dey do (He be so!)E be so them dey do, them think dey sayDem better pass them brothersNo be so? (He be so!)De ting wey black no goodNa foreign things them dey likeNo be so? (He be so!)
[Verse 2]You turn a blind eye when the drunk man fallsDid you ever think why is the drunk man drunk?A system failed, two kids in jailAnd the rich get rich, and the rest get sunkClassist, sexist, racist, ableistFascists, ageist, homophobicCountry leaders fucked our futuresAnd they think we haven't noticedForest burning, oil spillsMelting ice and methane gasToxic waste and plastic fishWe're digging holes to hide our trashUnity reeks in all our songsBut we drew borders across our landsA thousand years we been at warWhen the planet is dead, we will all hold hands[Chorus]How did we ever think?How did we ever think it wasn't bound to happen?We poisoned the waterfallsAnd set fires to our rivers of hopeWe're all gonna die, what do we do before it happens?It happens?[Outro]Attention citizensPlease evacuate the country in an orderly fashionAnd leave behind any personal belongingsUm, that you don't need
Lyrics
[Chorus]How did you ever think?How did you ever think it wasn't bound to happen?You poison the waterfallsSet fire to our rivers of hopeThe end of us all, well, it was always bound to happenTo happen[Verse 1]Come on, kids, it's time to voteBoris Johnson's sniffing cokeAll the children are depressedNot the future we had hopedLittle girls aren't safe at homeShe scrolling up and down her phoneShe hates her life, she hatеs herselfAnd she's twеlve years oldThese social apps are now our godsSince dopamine from likes and sharesThen we find peace from drugs and sexAnd prescription anxiety medsSweep the truth under the rugFeed us plastic, GMO cropsWe don't need self-motivationRobots will take all our jobs
Lyrics
[Verse 2]Economics is the symphony of hunger and theftMortar shells often echo out the cashing of checksIn Geography class, it's borders, mountains and riversBut they will never show the line between the takers and giversAlgebra is that unique occasionIn which a school can say that there should be a balanced equationAnd then Statistics is the tool of the complicitTo say everybody's with it and that you're the only critic[Verse 3]Social Studies is the goliath to tackleWhich turns into a sermon on simplicity of shacklesPhysics is to school you on the science of force'Cept for how to break the fuck out the ghetto, of courseHome Ec can teach you how to make a few saucesAnd accept low pay from your Walmart bossesIf your school won't teach you how to fight for what's neededThey're teaching you to go through life and get cheated
[Verse 1]History has taught me some strange arithmeticUsing swords, prison bars, and pistol gripsEnglish is the art of bombing townsWhile assuring that you really only blessed the groundScience is that honorable, useful studyWhere you contort the molecules and then you make that moneyIn mathematics, dead children don't get addedBut they count the cost of bullets comin' out the automatic[Chorus]Teacher, my hands upPlease, don't make me a victimTeachers, stand upYou need to tell us how to flip this systemTeacher, my hands upPlease, don't make me a victimTeachers, stand upYou need to tell us how to flip this system
Analysis
Why this song? The song’s ambiguous yet biting social commentary led to widespread discussion, with many interpreting it as a critique of China's economic development, globalisation, and cultural homogenization—issues directly linked to SDGs such as Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11). What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?"罗刹" (Luocha / Rakshasa) refers to demons in Buddhist mythology, symbolising a world ruled by greed and hypocrisy."海市" (Sea Market) suggests an illusory paradise—a metaphor for the false promises of economic and social developmentIt’s a cultural and political statement about the contradictions of modern economic development. While China has made immense progress, issues such as inequality, corruption, and cultural loss remain unresolved. The song reflects the growing frustration among many people who feel left behind in this rapidly changing society.
Lyrics
It is a blue sorrowI am on a desolate earthNew York is in a corner of the seaThe sun turns the earth into a desertPeople start to mourn only when the taste changesIronically, the air is goodThe music is floating silently in the waterThere is no mood, people run for three meals a dayAll love and hate are looking for troubleNew earth, how do they call it?No smile on their faces, speaking in a strange accentNew earth, they are very proudJust their eyes, escaping intentionally or unintentionallyNew earth, the stars are shiningThe distant sea level is always a straight line and monotonousNew earth, I can never go backThat year, the forgotten island that yearThe gray land is very boringPeople's entertainment is so boringSpinning in circles, spinning in circles non-stop, bypassing the trackHorizon, looking at the horizon, praying silentlyIt would be good if there were no hurricanesNew earth, they can't run away, like a trapCan only live in mediocrity until old age
Analysis
Why this song? The song encourages listeners to reflect on humanity's impact on Earth and the need for positive change. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it? The lyrics describe a desolate earth, reflecting the impact of climate change, global warming, and desertification. This song is related to SDG 13: Climate Action. The song emphasizes the importance of environmental awareness and the urgency of protecting our planet from climate change. It serves as a wake-up call to take immediate climate action before the planet becomes uninhabitable. This song is related to SDG 15: Life on Land. The lyrics portray a world where landscapes are destroyed and nature is lost. This relates to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. The song critiques modern progress that comes at the cost of nature. It highlights the connection between humans and nature, advocating for the preservation of Earth’s ecosystems. It challenges traditional development models that prioritize economic growth over environmental responsibility, urging people to rethink how we treat the planet.
Analysis
Why this song? This iconic piece challenges the rigidity and conformity often found in traditional school systems. Its catchy chorus became a protest anthem for students feeling oppressed by overly strict or impersonal teaching methods. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?Pink Floyd’s rebellious refrain questions whether schools inadvertently churn out “bricks in the wall” — students who conform rather than think freely. Listeners might reflect on the tension between discipline and imagination in the classroom. By urging educators to “leave them kids alone,” the song suggests that genuine learning should nurture curiosity rather than demand blind obedience. It’s a call to rethink how schools operate — making space for individuality, creativity, and critical thinking. In terms of sustainable development, this speaks directly to the quality of education (SDG 4). After all, shaping compassionate, innovative global citizens requires teaching methods that encourage engagement, not mere compliance. Bassist Roger Waters of Pink Floyd wrote the song under the influence of his school years. He studied at a boys’ school in Cambridgeshire and hated his teachers. He believed they had no real interest in teaching; all they cared about was keeping the children quiet and stopping them from asking too many questions. The Wall represents the emotional barrier Waters built around himself, and the bricks are the unpleasant events that contributed to its construction.
Analysis
Why this song? Though she wasn’t quite as big a ‘star’ as she is now, when RAYE released her debut album featuring this track, she was definitely a mainstream pop artist. As a music fan, I often find that songs that address (a) social issue(s) land up compromising the musicality of the song, which is not the case here. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it? The obvious message, as the title suggests, is environmental and relates to the harm that humans are doing to the planet. But the song mentions a lot of other issues related to human development and wellbeing including the rise in depression, the pernicious effects of social media and racism. Like a lot of protest songs, it is political. It mentions ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson by name and refers to how ‘Country leaders fucked our futures’. The chorus asks how much thought the world put into what it was, and is, doing to the planet and the consequences, suggesting not a lot. Less directly, it reminds us that we are one humanity, though the final lines of Verse 2 highlight all our divisions: ‘Unity reeks in all our songs / But we drew borders across our lands / A thousand years we[‘ve] been at war / When the planet is dead, we will all hold hands’. Overall, it is not a hopeful song, but there is one lyric that reminds us it isn’t too late: ‘We're all gonna die, what do we do before it happens?’, which speaks to the need for humans to come together.
Unsustainable Development
Richard Tandoh
Created on March 23, 2025
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Transcript
Unsustainable Development A Protest Playlist
Kill That Shijiazhuang Man
Luocha Kingdom
Another Brick in the Wall
Earth Song
Lukang Town
Big Yellow Taxi
Brave New World
Lago Negro (Black Lake)
Tijeras (Scissors)
Environmental Anxiety
Strange Arithmetic
Colonial Mentality
Silver Spoon
Classroom Idea
Kill That Shijiazhuang Man (杀死那个石家庄人)
Omnipotent Youth Society (万能青年旅店)
The song isn't about literally killing a person — it explores themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the failure of economic development to bring real happiness to ordinary people. The "Shijiazhuang man" represents the people who have been left behind by modernisation, stuck in monotonous labour and existing despair.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Rachel
Luocha Kingdom (罗刹海市)
Dao Lang (刀郎)
The song’s ambiguous yet biting social commentary led to widespread discussion, with many interpreting it as a critique of China's economic development, globalisation, and cultural homogenization— issues directly linked to SDGs such as Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Rachel
Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)
Pink Floyd
This iconic piece challenges the rigidity and conformity often found in traditional school systems. Its catchy chorus became a protest anthem for students feeling oppressed by overly strict or impersonal teaching methods.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Malak
Earth Song
Michael Jackson
An iconic pop track that addresses human impact on the planet, urging listeners to confront environmental destruction and develop empathy for our shared home. Jackson’s influence brought environmental discussions to a vast global audience.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Malak
Lukang Town
Dayou Luo (罗大佑)
Taiwanese singer-songwriter, composer, and producer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Mandopop (Mandarin pop music).Lukang is a small town, and Taipei is a metropolis. The song talks about young people who have to leave their hometown and squeeze into Taipei to survive because their hometown is stagnant and there are no opportunities.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Jingwen
Big Yellow Taxi
Joni Mitchell
The song satirizes the modern urbanization and industrialization, emphasizing that people only realize the importance of nature after losing it. The lyrics criticize how cities and infrastructure projects replace green spaces with concrete, leading to habitat loss. This song urges listeners to rethink whether development should come at the cost of nature and sustainability.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Jingwen
Brave New World
JJ Lin (林俊杰)
Singaporean singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his versatile music style, powerful vocals. The song encourages listeners to reflect on humanity's impact on Earth and the need for positive change. The lyrics describe a desolate earth, reflecting the impact of climate change, global warming, and desertification.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Jingwen
Lago Negro (Black Lake)
Dr. Sativo, M.C.H.e and Tzutu Baktun Kan
These Guatemalan artists are part of the Caza Ahau, a community education programme which uses music to promote personal and environmental well-being. This song encapsulates various issues and critiques raised against the SDGs like not adequately addressing climate justice, emphasis on conventional/ formal schooling and sufficient inclusion of indigenous knowledge/ languages.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Eleanor
Tijeras (Scissors)
Renata Flores
Renata Flores is a Peruvian singer and rapper. The song's themes of resistance lend well to a protest setting and end with a message of hope and unity. Its themes of silencing and speaking out represent the need for indigenous voices to be part of the conversation around what quality education and development means.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Eleanor
Environmental Anxiety (2023)
RAYE
The obvious message, as the title suggests, is environmental and relates to the harm that humans are doing to the planet. But the song mentions a lot of other issues related to human development and wellbeing including the pernicious effects of social media and racism. Like a lot of protest songs, it is political. It mentions ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson by name and refers to how ‘Country leaders fucked our futures’.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Richard
Strange Arithmetic (2012)
The Coup
The first line of the song sets the context: ‘History has taught me some strange arithmetic / Using swords, prison bars, and pistol grips’. The song then goes onto use a range of school subjects - English, Science, Maths/Statistics, Economics, Geography, Social Sciences, Physics, Home Economics - to address a violent history of the world that has largely involved enslaving, dividing and suppressing people.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Richard
Colonial Mentality (1977)
Fela Kuti
This is an interesting protest song by Nigerian artist and political activist Fela Kuti. At nearly 14 minutes long, with the lyrics only coming in after the halfway mark, it’s part jazz record, part protest song. It speaks to colonisation and its lasting effects on the colonised.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Richard
Classroom Idea (1994)
Seo Taiji and Boys
A South Korean music group that debuted in 1992, blending hip-hop and rock, influencing K-pop. The song addresses the competitive structure and inequality in Korean society related to education, which aligns with the themes discussed in the CTI module's session on Neoliberalism and Education.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Youngkwan
뱁새 (Crow-Tit) / Silver Spoon
BTS
This song is based on the Korean proverb 'A crow-tit tries to walk like a stork and gets its legs torn', symbolizing social inequality and class disparity. The original proverb conveys a conservative lesson that the weak should not try to follow the strong. However, BTS’s “Baepsae” flips this meaning, criticizing the systemic barriers that prevent the underprivileged from advancing.
ANALYSIS
LYRICS
Suggested by Youngkwan
Analysis
Why this song? The audience will recognize the inequalities in the global economic system and consider what true fairness really means. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to this song?This song is based on the Korean proverb 'A crow-tit tries to walk like a stork and gets its legs torn', symbolizing social inequality and class disparity. The original proverb conveys a conservative lesson that the weak should not try to follow the strong. However, BTS’s “Baepsae” flips this meaning, criticizing the systemic barriers that prevent the underprivileged from advancing. The song highlights the struggle between the privileged elite and the underprivileged, and it can also be interpreted as reflecting the unequal economic structure between the Global North and the Global South, where lower-income nations struggle to compete under an unfair global system.
Analysis
Why this song? The song isn't about literally killing a person — it explores themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the failure of economic development to bring real happiness to ordinary people. The "Shijiazhuang man" represents the people who have been left behind by modernisation, stuck in monotonous labour and existing despair. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?The lyrics convey bitterness toward China's economic miracle, which has benefited big cities like Beijing and Shanghai but left many industrial towns struggling. Kill that Shijiazhuang man represents losing one’s identity during this rapid economic transition.
Lyrics
They paved paradise and put up a parking lotWith a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spotThey took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museumAnd they charged the people a dollar and a half to see themNo, no, noHey, farmer, farmer, put away your DDTI don't care about spots on my applesLeave me the birds and the beesPlease!Don't it always seem to goThat you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?They paved paradise to put up a parking lotHey, now, they paved paradise to put up a parking lot
Analysis
Why this song? The song uses word play to suggest that mainstream Western education is broken. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?The first line of the song sets the context: ‘History has taught me some strange arithmetic / Using swords, prison bars, and pistol grips’, contrasting the school subject History with The Coup’s lived history. The ‘strange arithmetic’ suggests that things just don’t add up. The song then goes onto use a range of school subjects - English, Science, Maths/Statistics, Economics, Geography, Social Sciences, Physics, Home Economics - to illustrate a violent history of the world that has largely involved enslaving, dividing and suppressing people. The chorus calls on teachers to teach students this political side of history, in order to stop them becoming another set of victims of the current system. This message is also used to close Verse 3: ‘If your school won't teach you how to fight for what's needed / They're teaching you to go through life and get cheated’. Overall, the song speaks to postcolonial/decolonial critiques of how knowledge is produced and what is taught in schools.
Lyrics
Taipei is not the golden paradise I imaginedThe city does not have my original dreamA home that I cannot return to, the small town of LukangTaipei is not my homeMy hometown has no neon lightsA prosperous city, a transitional townPeople wandering in civilizationI heard that they dug up the red bricks of my hometown and built cement wallsPeople in my hometown got what they wanted but lost what they hadA mottle wooden board on the doorWith these words engraved on itMay it be used forever by future generationsPassed down from generation to generation
Analysis
Why this song? This is an interesting protest song by Nigerian artist and political activist Fela Kuti. At nearly 14 minutes long, with the lyrics only coming in after the halfway mark, it’s part jazz record, part protest song. It speaks to colonisation and its lasting effects on the colonised. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?Whilst Afrobeats is finally putting African music on the global popular music stage, Fela Kuti’s music has been appreciated outside of Nigerian/African circles for years. Nicknamed The King of Afrobeat, Fela was a musician and a political activist. He released this record in 1977. At nearly 14 minutes long, with the lyrics only coming in after the halfway mark, it’s part jazz record, part protest song. As the title suggests, it is about Colonisation, but there is more to it. Singing ‘Them don release you now / But you never release yourself’, it is about how Colonisation caused Africans to forsake their own in favour of what they were given by their colonial masters and how they internalised that as a mindset which they now perpetuate. In a way, it speaks to dependency theory and hints at the idea of a collusion between the elites in the centre and the periphery.
Analysis
Why this song? It’s an iconic pop track that addresses human impact on the planet, urging listeners to confront environmental destruction and develop empathy for our shared home. Jackson’s influence brought environmental discussions to a vast global audience. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?“Earth Song” puts humanity’s responsibility to the planet front and center. By emphasizing the Earth’s suffering — “crying Earth, weeping shores” — it challenges us to look beyond our daily routines and see the deeper consequences of pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Jackson’s emotive delivery seeks not only awareness but also a personal sense of accountability: what can each of us do to mitigate these problems? In a world often obsessed with economic growth, “Earth Song” reminds us that we share a home that deserves care and preservation. Ideally, listeners leave with a renewed commitment to sustainable choices and a heightened understanding that ecological well-being is inseparable from human well-being.
Llakisqa qawani aswan nanayta = miro con tristeza tanto dolorWith sadness I see so much painLlulla runakuna = Gente corruptaCorrupt peopleManan allinta ruaspa = no hacen nada bienThey don't do any goodÑuqanchiq quykunchik atiy ruasqayninta = nosotros les dimos el poderWe gave them powerWaytata rantispa? = comprando flores?buying flowers?Uyariy nisqayki = Escucha y te diréListen and I'll tell youManchakuychu rimayta = No tengas miedo de hablarDon't be afraid to speakMírame, ahora soy más fuerteLook at me, now I'm strongerMírame, ya no tengo miedoLook at me, now I'm not afraidAhora sí, tengo esperanzaNow yes, I have hopeWarmikuna, quñusqa kasun = Mujeres, estemos unidasWomen, let's be united
Lyrics (translated)
Manan pipas qawanchu manan imatapas = Nadie mira nadaNobody is looking at anythingAtinichu ruwayta, rimayta munani = No puedo hacer nada, quiero hablarThere's nothing I can do, I want to speakQhaparispanmi, tukuy runa = Con mucha bullaWith a racketManan uyarikunchu rimasqayta = Nadie escucha lo que digoNobody listens to what I sayqinaspa nini: qhaparisaqmi = entonces digo: gritaréso I say: I'll screamuyariy nisqayki = escucha y te dirélisten and I'll tell youQawani qanayman tutapi kasqaypi = miro, estando arriba en la oscuridadI watch, standing above in the darknessQawani achkita qinaptin uyarini = Miro la luz, entonces escuchoI watch the light, then I listenManan uyarinkuchu rimasqayta = Nadie escucha lo que digo Nobody listens to what I sayQinaspa nini: qhaparisaqmi tukuy kallpaywan = Entonces digo: gritaré con todas mis fuerzasAnd so I say: I'll scream with all of my strengthIma? = Qué?What?...Icha qapariyta sumaqta takisaq = talvez mi grito lo cante lindoSometimes I sing my scream beautifullyChaynatan uyarinqaku runakuna = y así escuche la genteAnd like that the people listen
Lyrics
她两耳傍肩三孔鼻With ears near her shoulders and a three-hole nose未曾开言先转腚Turning butt before speaking每一日蹲窝里把蛋来卧Squatting in the nest and hatching eggs every day老粉嘴多半辈儿以为自己是只鸡An old glib talker thinks she’s a chicken for more than half of her life那马户不知道他是一头驴Little does Ma Hu know he is truly a donkey那又鸟不知道他是一只鸡And that You Niao unaware that she’s a chicken勾栏从来扮高雅Prostitutes often show off elegance自古公公好威名As always the eunuch love his reputation
Analysis
Why this song? This song encapsulates various issues and critiques raised against the SDG’s like not adequately addressing climate justice, emphasis on conventional/ formal schooling and sufficient inclusion of indigenous knowledge/ languages. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?This song was made from a community educational programme to spread awareness about the contamination of Lake Atitlán. The song and video are recorded as the group made up of musicians and members of the programme move through the trees around the lake. The song highlights the source of the pollution in the lake and the systems of exploitation responsible. One of the aims of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) is to 'restore water-related ecosystems' which ignores historical causes of environmental damage and issues of justice. The lyrics in this song do not shy away from this as the group sings the chorus 'the golden chain on your neck kills' followed by ‘many species dead, All for the interests of a few’. The song calls for climate justice and responsibility from those involved rather than vague promises. Another prominent lyric is 'our manifesto is our thoughts between the jungle and the cement' representing a view of development that unites social and natural environments in line with ‘El Buen Vivir’.
Lyrics
傍晚6点下班 换掉药厂的衣裳Finished work at 6pm, I changed the drug factory uniform妻子在熬粥 我去喝几瓶啤酒The wife’s making porridge, I go drink a few bottles of beer如此生活30年 直到大厦崩塌Lived this way for 30 years, until the building collapsed云层深处的黑暗啊 淹没心底的景观The deep dark clouds are drowning the view in my heart
Analysis
Why this song? The song addresses the competitive structure and inequality in Korean society related to education, which aligns with the themes discussed in the CTI module's session on Neoliberalism and Education. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to this song?The audience will not only recognize the criticisms of the current education system but also reflect on possible alternatives.
Lyrics
......I have crow-tit legs, you have stork legsThey say, "My legs are worth a million dollars"Mine are short, how can we compete in the same race?They say, "It’s the same field, so it’s fair!"Never Never Never......You’re saying it’s my fault? You’re joking, right?You call this fair? Oh, are you crazy?You call this justice? You must be kidding me!You must be kidding me, you, you must be kidding me!
......Change the rules, change changeThe storks want, want to maintainBut it won’t work that way, BANG BANGThis isn’t normalThis isn’t normalAh, stop talking about trying harderAh, it’s so cringy, my hands and feet curl upAh, effort, effort, ah effort, effortAh, you’re so yellow (so naive)As expected, a stork!
Analysis
Why this song?Lukang is a small town, and Taipei is a metropolis. The song talks about young people who have to leave their hometown and squeeze into Taipei to survive because their hometown is stagnant and there are no opportunities. This urban-rural gap has led to population outflow and local decline, forming an "unsustainable social structure" in which big cities are becoming more and more crowded and small places are becoming more and more depressed. This is in line with SDG 8's goal of pursuing inclusive and sustainable economic growth.The lyrics repeatedly emphasize the beauty of Lukang's mornings and evenings, old houses, and rural life, but these are all being swallowed up by "modernization" and "urbanization." With population loss and cultural disconnection, local traditions are dying out, which is a manifestation of cultural unsustainability. This is consistent with the goal of SDG 11, which is to protect cultural heritage, promote coordinated urban and rural development.What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?The audience should think about how to strike a balance between development and tradition, and realize that modernization should not mean forgetting the past. It reminds us not to lose our cultural roots while pursuing progress.
Lyrics
“What about sunrise?What about rain?What about all the things that you said we were to gain?…Did you ever stop to noticeThis crying Earth, these weeping shores?”
Analysis
Why this song? IThe audience should take away a strong awareness of environmental degradation and a critical perspective on traditional ideas of progress and development. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it? The song satirizes the modern urbanization and industrialization, emphasizing that people only realize the importance of nature after losing it. The lyrics criticize how cities and infrastructure projects replace green spaces with concrete, leading to habitat loss. It powerfully critiques over-urbanization and highlights the negative environmental impact of uncontrolled development. This song urges listeners to rethink whether development should come at the cost of nature and sustainability. Related to SDG 15: Life on Land. The lyrics focus on deforestation and habitat destruction, reflecting how natural landscapes are being cleared for urban expansion, threatening biodiversity and ecosystems. It also criticizes the loss of biodiversity. The lyrics plead humans to protect wildlife and prevent species decline caused by pesticides and pollution. This aligns with SDG 15's goal of protecting forests and promoting sustainable land use.
Lyrics
[Second verse]When we move from elementary to middle school,then pass through high school,they send us off to the packaging center.To make us look good on the outside,they wrap us up nicely in university packaging.Now, think about it.The true face of "university" is hidden,pretending to be something grand.That era is over.Be more honest with yourself—you already know the truth. ……Enough (enough), that's enough (enough),I don’t need that kind of teaching anymore.
[First verse]Enough (enough), that's enough (enough),I don’t need that kind of teaching anymore. ……Every morning by 7:30,they push us into tiny classrooms,forcing the same thingsinto the minds of nine million children nationwide. ……I'll make you into someone more valuable,better than the one sitting next to you.Step on others, climb higher,and you can become someone superior. ……
Sigo secuestrando el micrófono I keep hijacking the microphonePara que empiece ya esta historia So that this story can begin nowQue llevo en mi memoria That I carry in my memoryCuando yo era niño y en mi casa When I was a child and in my houseTodos de su gloria Everyone spoke of its glorySu majestad Cristóbal Colón, de marinero His majesty Christopher Columbus, from sailorVino a hacerse rico a costa de todo lo nuestro Came to get rich at the cost of all that is oursNosotros queremos, entonces We want to, thenSe lo decimos al mundo entero We tell the whole worldEste es un mensaje para el mundo entero This is a message for the whole worldPara que lo sepan, aquí llegaron So that they know, they have arrived hereYa lo saben desde el lago de Atitlán They already know it from Lake AtitlánPara que lo dejen de contaminar So that they stop contaminating itYa se va a sanar It will healTenemos que dejar de contaminar We have to stop pollutingParemos de contaminar Let’s stop pollutingAsí lo vamos a lograr That’s how we will achieve itDecimos otra vez, carnal We say it again, brother
Lyrics (translated)
Lago negro, muere la diversidad Black lake, diversity diesEl eslabón de oro en tu cuello la mata The golden chain on your neck kills itEl petróleo acaba con la vida de tantas especies Oil wipes out the lives of so many speciesTodo a costa de unos intereses All at the cost of some interestsGuatemaya no es mala, es bella Guatemaya is not bad, it is beautifulAunque en ella avionetas de coca estrellan Even though cocaine planes crash in itQue rayan selvas enteras allá en Petén That scrape entire jungles over there in PeténJardín del Edén, contra frutas pon retén Garden of Eden, set up checkpoints against fruitsEstén o no estén esas frutas prohibidas Whether or not those fruits are forbiddenYa ni miran ni buscan sustancias nocivas They no longer look for or seek harmful substancesPase lo que pase, digan lo que digan No matter what happens, no matter what they sayYa sabemos que extraen petróleo en Laguna del Tigre We already know they extract oil in Laguna del TigreSin timbre de impuesto Without a tax stampProtestamos porque somos libres siempre We protest because we are always freeLo que decimos lo tenemos en manifiesto What we say, we put in writingSon pensamientos entre la jungla y el cemento These are thoughts between the jungle and the concrete
Lyrics
“We don’t need no education,We don’t need no thought control…Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!”
Analysis
Why this song? The song’s themes of resistance lend well to a protest setting and end with a message of hope and unity. Its themes of silencing and speaking out represent the need for indigenous voices to be part of the conversation around what quality education and development means. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?Renata Flores uses music to speak out about women's rights and social issues in Quechua, an indigenous language of the Andes, and Spanish. Her song starts by describing being unseen and unheard but ends with the imperative 'listen' whilst encouraging others, 'don't be afraid to speak'. These ideas of silence and speaking out reflect the necessity of centering indigenous voices and knowledge in the conversation around development. SDG 4 defines quality education as eliminating disparities for indigenous people but this song raises the question of if this is enough and what are the consequences of viewing this group from the perspective of lacking. The music video for the song highlights ecological educational practices as we see women in traditional dress surrounded by trees and flowers. Later a young girl touches the flower, perhaps reflecting the importance of passing down this knowledge to the next generation. This also raises the question of who decides what quality education is and what it should include.
Them Judge him go kack wigAnd jail him brothers awayNo be so? (He be so!)Dem go proud of dem nameAnd put dem slave name for headNo be so? (He be so!)Colo-mentality now make you hear me nowMr. Ransome you make you hearMr. Williams you make you hearMr. Allia you make you hearMr. Mohammed you make you hearMr. Anglican you make you hearMr. Bishop you make you hearMr. Catholic you make you hearMr. Muslim you make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearColo-mentality hearColo-mentality hearMr. Ransome you make you hearMr. Ransome you make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearNa Africa we dey o make you hearColo-mentality hearColo-mentality hear[Chorus]Colo-mentality!
Lyrics
[Chorus]If you say you be colonial manYou don be slave man beforeThem don release you nowBut you never release yourselfI say you fit never release yourselfColo-mentalityE be say you be colonial manYou don be slave man beforeThem don release you nowBut you never release yourselfE be soHe be so them dey do, them dey overdoAll the things them dey do (He be so!)E be so them dey do, them think dey sayDem better pass them brothersNo be so? (He be so!)De ting wey black no goodNa foreign things them dey likeNo be so? (He be so!)
[Verse 2]You turn a blind eye when the drunk man fallsDid you ever think why is the drunk man drunk?A system failed, two kids in jailAnd the rich get rich, and the rest get sunkClassist, sexist, racist, ableistFascists, ageist, homophobicCountry leaders fucked our futuresAnd they think we haven't noticedForest burning, oil spillsMelting ice and methane gasToxic waste and plastic fishWe're digging holes to hide our trashUnity reeks in all our songsBut we drew borders across our landsA thousand years we been at warWhen the planet is dead, we will all hold hands[Chorus]How did we ever think?How did we ever think it wasn't bound to happen?We poisoned the waterfallsAnd set fires to our rivers of hopeWe're all gonna die, what do we do before it happens?It happens?[Outro]Attention citizensPlease evacuate the country in an orderly fashionAnd leave behind any personal belongingsUm, that you don't need
Lyrics
[Chorus]How did you ever think?How did you ever think it wasn't bound to happen?You poison the waterfallsSet fire to our rivers of hopeThe end of us all, well, it was always bound to happenTo happen[Verse 1]Come on, kids, it's time to voteBoris Johnson's sniffing cokeAll the children are depressedNot the future we had hopedLittle girls aren't safe at homeShe scrolling up and down her phoneShe hates her life, she hatеs herselfAnd she's twеlve years oldThese social apps are now our godsSince dopamine from likes and sharesThen we find peace from drugs and sexAnd prescription anxiety medsSweep the truth under the rugFeed us plastic, GMO cropsWe don't need self-motivationRobots will take all our jobs
Lyrics
[Verse 2]Economics is the symphony of hunger and theftMortar shells often echo out the cashing of checksIn Geography class, it's borders, mountains and riversBut they will never show the line between the takers and giversAlgebra is that unique occasionIn which a school can say that there should be a balanced equationAnd then Statistics is the tool of the complicitTo say everybody's with it and that you're the only critic[Verse 3]Social Studies is the goliath to tackleWhich turns into a sermon on simplicity of shacklesPhysics is to school you on the science of force'Cept for how to break the fuck out the ghetto, of courseHome Ec can teach you how to make a few saucesAnd accept low pay from your Walmart bossesIf your school won't teach you how to fight for what's neededThey're teaching you to go through life and get cheated
[Verse 1]History has taught me some strange arithmeticUsing swords, prison bars, and pistol gripsEnglish is the art of bombing townsWhile assuring that you really only blessed the groundScience is that honorable, useful studyWhere you contort the molecules and then you make that moneyIn mathematics, dead children don't get addedBut they count the cost of bullets comin' out the automatic[Chorus]Teacher, my hands upPlease, don't make me a victimTeachers, stand upYou need to tell us how to flip this systemTeacher, my hands upPlease, don't make me a victimTeachers, stand upYou need to tell us how to flip this system
Analysis
Why this song? The song’s ambiguous yet biting social commentary led to widespread discussion, with many interpreting it as a critique of China's economic development, globalisation, and cultural homogenization—issues directly linked to SDGs such as Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11). What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?"罗刹" (Luocha / Rakshasa) refers to demons in Buddhist mythology, symbolising a world ruled by greed and hypocrisy."海市" (Sea Market) suggests an illusory paradise—a metaphor for the false promises of economic and social developmentIt’s a cultural and political statement about the contradictions of modern economic development. While China has made immense progress, issues such as inequality, corruption, and cultural loss remain unresolved. The song reflects the growing frustration among many people who feel left behind in this rapidly changing society.
Lyrics
It is a blue sorrowI am on a desolate earthNew York is in a corner of the seaThe sun turns the earth into a desertPeople start to mourn only when the taste changesIronically, the air is goodThe music is floating silently in the waterThere is no mood, people run for three meals a dayAll love and hate are looking for troubleNew earth, how do they call it?No smile on their faces, speaking in a strange accentNew earth, they are very proudJust their eyes, escaping intentionally or unintentionallyNew earth, the stars are shiningThe distant sea level is always a straight line and monotonousNew earth, I can never go backThat year, the forgotten island that yearThe gray land is very boringPeople's entertainment is so boringSpinning in circles, spinning in circles non-stop, bypassing the trackHorizon, looking at the horizon, praying silentlyIt would be good if there were no hurricanesNew earth, they can't run away, like a trapCan only live in mediocrity until old age
Analysis
Why this song? The song encourages listeners to reflect on humanity's impact on Earth and the need for positive change. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it? The lyrics describe a desolate earth, reflecting the impact of climate change, global warming, and desertification. This song is related to SDG 13: Climate Action. The song emphasizes the importance of environmental awareness and the urgency of protecting our planet from climate change. It serves as a wake-up call to take immediate climate action before the planet becomes uninhabitable. This song is related to SDG 15: Life on Land. The lyrics portray a world where landscapes are destroyed and nature is lost. This relates to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. The song critiques modern progress that comes at the cost of nature. It highlights the connection between humans and nature, advocating for the preservation of Earth’s ecosystems. It challenges traditional development models that prioritize economic growth over environmental responsibility, urging people to rethink how we treat the planet.
Analysis
Why this song? This iconic piece challenges the rigidity and conformity often found in traditional school systems. Its catchy chorus became a protest anthem for students feeling oppressed by overly strict or impersonal teaching methods. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it?Pink Floyd’s rebellious refrain questions whether schools inadvertently churn out “bricks in the wall” — students who conform rather than think freely. Listeners might reflect on the tension between discipline and imagination in the classroom. By urging educators to “leave them kids alone,” the song suggests that genuine learning should nurture curiosity rather than demand blind obedience. It’s a call to rethink how schools operate — making space for individuality, creativity, and critical thinking. In terms of sustainable development, this speaks directly to the quality of education (SDG 4). After all, shaping compassionate, innovative global citizens requires teaching methods that encourage engagement, not mere compliance. Bassist Roger Waters of Pink Floyd wrote the song under the influence of his school years. He studied at a boys’ school in Cambridgeshire and hated his teachers. He believed they had no real interest in teaching; all they cared about was keeping the children quiet and stopping them from asking too many questions. The Wall represents the emotional barrier Waters built around himself, and the bricks are the unpleasant events that contributed to its construction.
Analysis
Why this song? Though she wasn’t quite as big a ‘star’ as she is now, when RAYE released her debut album featuring this track, she was definitely a mainstream pop artist. As a music fan, I often find that songs that address (a) social issue(s) land up compromising the musicality of the song, which is not the case here. What do you want the audience to take away from listening to it? The obvious message, as the title suggests, is environmental and relates to the harm that humans are doing to the planet. But the song mentions a lot of other issues related to human development and wellbeing including the rise in depression, the pernicious effects of social media and racism. Like a lot of protest songs, it is political. It mentions ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson by name and refers to how ‘Country leaders fucked our futures’. The chorus asks how much thought the world put into what it was, and is, doing to the planet and the consequences, suggesting not a lot. Less directly, it reminds us that we are one humanity, though the final lines of Verse 2 highlight all our divisions: ‘Unity reeks in all our songs / But we drew borders across our lands / A thousand years we[‘ve] been at war / When the planet is dead, we will all hold hands’. Overall, it is not a hopeful song, but there is one lyric that reminds us it isn’t too late: ‘We're all gonna die, what do we do before it happens?’, which speaks to the need for humans to come together.