How popular music paid homage to Nelson Mandela

U2 wrote the song Ordinary Love from the movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. They wrote it especially for the movie after being contacted by its producer Harvey Weinstein, who knew of their friendship with the leader. “It was the fastest ’yes’ I have ever received,” he recalled. The lyrics: “We cannot reach any higher/ If we can’t feel ordinary love” shows Bono encapsulating what he felt the leader stood for.

Here are 12 songs about, or inspired by, Mandela’s global inspiration as a brave fighter and an eloquent statesman.

Vale Nelson Mandela.

Free Nelson Mandela – Special A.K.A., an off-shoot of the Specials. Produced by Elvis Costello, it raged, “His body abused, but his mind still free.”

Mandela Day – Simple Minds. They performed it at a London celebration of Mandela’s birthday, with lines as “The tears are flowing wipe them from your face I can feel his heartbeat moving deep inside.”

Sun City – Artists United Against Apartheid. Global superstars put spotlight on the Sun City resort which existed as the “acceptable” face of apartheid.

Gimme Hope Jo’Anna –Eddy Grant. Mandela tribute referencing the city of Johannesburg.

46664 –Bono,  David A Stewart, Abdel Wright and Youssou N’Dour. The last song Joe Strummer ever wrote. The title is based on Mandela’s prison number

Mandela (Bring Him Back Home) – Hugh Masekela. South African globally acclaimed jazzman in 1987 demanded “to see him (Mandela) walking down the streets of South Africa tomorrow.”

Prophets Of Rage –Public Enemy.  Name checked Mandela among other anti-apartheid fighters.

Unlucky Charm – Igalapha with Namfusi. Thanks Mandela and his political rival deKlerk for working together to bring apartheid down. It also doesn’t appear to have surfaced online.

Black President –Brenda Fassie. South African singer dreamed of his achieving power, and saw it come true four years later.

Mediba Bay – Koos Kombuis. Mediba was Mandela’s nickname.

Nelson Mandela –Youssou N’Dour. Dreamed he’d one day become the President.

Just a Breath of Freedom (4 Nelson Mandela) – 2Pac . A moving poem by hip hop’s most eloquent poet about Mandela’s journey. “They ordered the extermination of all minds they couldn’t control.”