History as you’ve never seen it: albums, artists’ births, rumors, and more: discover with us what happened this week in music history.
September 4: Street Fighting Man Can’t Fight
In 1968, The Rolling Stones released one of their most popular yet most controversial hits ever. That song is “Street Fighting Man,” and it comes with a contentious meaning in support of armed revolutions ringing on the Indian instrumentation and its raga influences. The 60s were a period of burning political tension, and riots were on the agenda.
On this day in music history, the song was banned in Chicago and several other cities. The song scared local officials and governments, who feared it would incite riots.
September 5: Metallica
Three years ago, Metallica became the first act with #1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart in four different decades. The band made the record with their San Francisco Symphony Orchestra live version of the 2003 single “All Within My Hands.” The song immediately reached the top.
September 6: Candle In The Wind
In 1997, the funeral for the world-wrecking passing of Princess Diana had an estimated 2.5 billion people around the world tuning in. The Princess of Wales’s funeral took place in Londo on September 6. Close friends and family attended the closed event. Elton John, Diana’s dearest friend, took part in the event as well. The artist performed the specially re-written version of his classic “Candle in the Wind” during the service. The song was originally written to honor Marilyn Monroe.
In this rendition, Elton John made music history, as he replaced “Goodbye Norma Jean” with “Goodbye England’s Rose.” The single became the best-selling single of all time in the UK. The recording sold more than 33 million copies, raising an incredible £38 million. All the proceeds were donated to Diana’s charities.
September 7: Mac Miller Dies at 26
It has already been five years since the passing of rapper Malcolm James McCormick, famously known as Mac Miller. In 2018, the artist died at the age of 26 due to an apparent fentanyl-laced oxycodone drug overdose. He was found dead in his California home in the San Fernando Valley, and it was initially ruled an accidental overdose.
Before his death, he had been dealing with drug abuse for a few years. Millions of fans mourned the loss of this highly loved, creative, and ground-breaking artist.
September 8: The Travis Scott Meal
We just can’t forget 2020’s unforeseen and original collaboration between McDonald’s and Travis Scott in the Travis Scott Meal. The “meal” was exactly what we could expect: a hamburger. It included: a quarter pounder with cheese, Sprite, fries, and BBQ sauce. The Travis Scott Meal was the first McOffering named after a celebrity since 1992, when the McJordan appeared on the menu.
September 9: U2 Surprise Fans
Who wouldn’t want a free album in their collection, whoever the artist might be? Even better when the gift arrives from one of the greatest. On this day in 2014, U2 dropped their new album, Songs of Innocence. To get free access to the iTunes release, there was only one condition: have access to the platform. Suffice it to say, it was a success, and over 500 million users immediately downloaded the album, making music history.
September 10: Alicia Keys and “Lift Every Voice And Sing”
Three years ago, Alicia Keys blessed the NFL season-opening match between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs with her performance of “Lift Every Voice And Sing.” The song choice wasn’t casual or made lightly. The league in fact considers the song as the “Black national anthem,” and ordered it to be played before every game in Week 1.
The NFL’s strong position wasn’t random either. After Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the song in 2016, which was out of touch with the Black Lives Matter movement, the league stopped players who refused to stand for the song performance.
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