In my first extra-credit blog, I wanted to look into the music playing from Radio Raheem’s stereo. 

The movie is themed by “Fight the Power” (Public Enemy), which plays frequently throughout the film and debuts in the opening scene of TIna dancing alone in front of pictures of the neighborhood. Spike Lee consulted Public Enemy specifically to write a song that would sort of ‘headline’ the movie, and Fight the Power was punchy and perfect to reflect the heart of the community. It ended up playing fifteen times in the film!

Another song that plays is “Can’t Stand It” (Steel Pulse), which scores the scenes of heat and sweat in the summer weather. It’s more of a reggae beat and extremely on-the-nose for the heat wave montage. I enjoy Spike Lee’s choice to use music that so obviously makes way for the plot of the movie. 

“My Fantasy” (Guy) also played in the exact scene where Buggin’ Out talks to Mookie about his boycott of Sal’s Pizzeria. It’s another classic, perfect example of Spike Lee’s on-the-nose song choice. The lyrics, “It’s just my fantasy”, play behind Buggin’ Out as he dreams of a wall where Black- and Italian-Americans are celebrated together.

When Sal destroyed Radio Raheem’s stereo to turn it off, he was distorting the sound of “Fight the Power”by Public Enemy. It’s a small detail in a larger show of racism, but its significance still stands.

Ria