Wiktor Wise
Electric Avenue is a song by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant, released in 1982 on his album Killer on the Rampage. The song refers to Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, which was the first market street to be lit by electricity. The song was inspired by the 1981 Brixton riots and highlights the social issues of the time, including unemployment, racism, and poverty. The song was a major hit, reaching #2 on the UK and US singles charts and was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best R&B Song of 1983.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Eddy Grant |
| Genre | Disco-reggae, reggae rock |
| Year of release | 1983 |
| Album | Killer on the Rampage |
| Inspiration | Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, the first street in the area to be lit by electric lights |
| Subject matter | 1981 Brixton riots |
| Cover versions | Refugee Camp All-Stars, Ziggy and Pras, Peter Black remix |
| Use in popular culture | Theme song for Ontario, Canada; used in a 2020 Trump campaign tweet |
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What You'll Learn
The song's meaning
"Electric Avenue" is a song by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant. It was released on his 1982 studio album "Killer on the Rampage". The song refers to Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, which was the first market street to be lit by electricity.
The song's opening line, "Down in the street, there is violence", is a reference to the 1981 Brixton riots, which were sparked by tensions over unemployment, racism, and poverty, exacerbated by racist policing. Grant has stated that the song is about "highlighting the memory of those in the area barely making it vs the uptown taking it easy". It includes "an objection to violence but peaceful" demonstrations, with Electric Avenue representing the line between the lower and upper classes.
In 2020, Grant sued former US President Donald Trump for using "Electric Avenue" in a campaign tweet. During the legal proceedings, Trump's lawyers asked Grant to "explain" the meaning of the song, to which Grant responded, "Do I have to?". Grant noted that "Electric Avenue" is a common street name worldwide and that his song was not specific to any one place. However, he acknowledged that the song "stands for something".
Despite its serious social commentary, "Electric Avenue" has also been celebrated for its upbeat, reggae-influenced sound, making it one of the highest-charting reggae-influenced pop songs ever. It was one of the biggest hits of 1983 in the United States, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song of 1983.
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Eddy Grant's refusal to allow streaming
Eddy Grant is a Guyanese-British singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, known for his genre-blending sound and socially conscious lyrics. He is also known for his work as a founding member of The Equals, one of the first racially mixed pop groups in the UK. Grant's most successful album, "Killer on the Rampage", was released in 1982 and included his two biggest solo hits, "I Don't Wanna Dance" and "Electric Avenue".
"Electric Avenue" was a massive hit for Grant, reaching number 2 in the UK and the US in 1983. The song refers to Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, which was the first market street in the area to be lit by electricity. The song also refers to the 1981 Brixton riots, which took place amid tensions over unemployment, racism, and poverty exacerbated by racist policing.
Despite the success of "Electric Avenue", Grant has refused to allow the song to be streamed on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. In an interview with PA, Grant expressed frustration with the record business, saying that he felt like "a little guy" struggling to make ends meet while others sold out. He also criticized streaming platforms for their low royalty payments to musicians, stating that it would take "500 million downloads" to earn a decent wage. Grant suggested that classic acts were selling off their back catalogues because they believed there was "no value" in them anymore due to the low streaming royalties.
Grant's stance on streaming is part of a larger financial decision driven by his stance on artist compensation. He has stated that he would consider making his music available to stream if musicians began receiving "sensible" sums. Grant's refusal to stream his music has likely cost him potential revenue, but it is also a stand against the exploitation of artists by streaming platforms. In 2024, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled that Donald Trump had breached Grant's copyright for "Electric Avenue" in a 2020 campaign video, which reaffirmed the financial importance of owning and controlling intellectual property.
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Grant's lawsuit against Trump
There have been several lawsuits against Donald Trump and his administration. Here is a detailed overview of some of these lawsuits:
The New York Attorney General Lawsuits
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, has a history of challenging Trump and has launched several lawsuits against his administration. One notable lawsuit filed in 2022 alleged that Trump's company deceived banks, insurers, and others by overvaluing assets and his net worth on financial paperwork to secure deals and loans. A judge ruled that Trump and other defendants must pay more than $350 million in penalties, which has now grown to almost $500 million with interest.
The California Senate Lawsuit
The California Senate has also been active in challenging the Trump administration. They passed bills providing $50 million in funding for the state and nonprofits to take legal action if Trump's policies conflict with California's more progressive approaches. One specific area of contention is Trump's attempt to override the Biden-Newsom rules, which have widespread support in Southern California and parts of the Central Valley. California is one of 22 states suing over Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship.
The Group Lawsuit Over Cost-Cutting
A group, including the American Public Health Association (APHA), has sued over Trump's cost-cutting efforts across the government. They were awarded millions of dollars in federal diversity, equity, and inclusion grants, which may now be at risk under the new administration. The lawsuit accuses Trump's Department of Government Efficiency of violating transparency rules.
The Trump Foundation Lawsuit
In 2019, Donald Trump paid a court-ordered $2 million for illegally using Trump Foundation funds for his political gain. As part of the settlement, Trump agreed to 19 admissions, acknowledging his personal misuse of funds. The settlement also included mandatory training for Trump's children and the dissolution of the Trump Foundation.
The Federal Grants and Loans Freeze Lawsuit
In January 2025, there was a wave of protests against the Trump administration's push to freeze federal grants and loans. This move was seen as jeopardizing essential childcare, education, and healthcare while politicizing support for vulnerable families. A federal judge temporarily blocked the funding freeze, causing a delay in any pause in funding.
These examples demonstrate the legal challenges faced by the Trump administration, with lawsuits targeting a range of issues, from misuse of funds to controversial policy decisions.
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Electric Avenue, Brixton
Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, is a pedestrian shopping street located in the heart of Brixton's shopping district. It is widely recognised as the first street in the UK to be lit by electric lights, and was built in 1888. The street runs between Brixton Road and Atlantic Road, intersecting Brixton Road a short distance south of the Brixton Underground station.
Electric Avenue is known for its vibrant and diverse culture, with a notable African and Caribbean influence due to the local community that has grown since the first influx of immigrants from the West Indies in the late 1940s. The street is lined with a variety of independent shops, stalls, and restaurants, offering a range of goods and services, including household items, hair and beauty products, fresh produce, and Caribbean specialities. It is also home to a part of Brixton Market, which specialises in selling products from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and South Asia.
The area has undergone a significant transformation, as it was once known for its negative reputation and social issues. However, it has since become one of the most attractive, lively, and colourful neighbourhoods in London, known for its unique character and cultural offerings. The street is also notable for its art deco lettering on the top of the building at the entrance and the Foxes and Cherries sculpture on the rooftop at the corner of Electric Avenue and Electric Lane.
Electric Avenue gained notoriety as the site of the 1981 Brixton riots, which were referenced in the 1983 song "Electric Avenue" by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant. The song's opening line, "Down in the street, there is violence", alludes to the tension and unrest that characterised the riots, which were fuelled by issues such as unemployment, racism, and poverty. The song became one of the biggest hits of 1983 in the United States and reached #2 on both the UK and US singles charts.
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The song's chart performance
"Electric Avenue" is a song by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant. It was released on his 1982 studio album "Killer on the Rampage". The song was one of the biggest hits of 1983 in the United States, where it spent five weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and hit number one on Cash Box magazine's chart. It also reached number 18 on the Hot Black Singles chart and number six on the Dance/Disco Top 80 chart. In the UK, the song initially reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1983 but got a new lease of life in 2001 when Peter Black remixed it as the "Ringbang Remix", which peaked at number five.
"Electric Avenue" was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best R&B Song of 1983 but lost to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". Despite this, it remains Grant's biggest hit. In the US, he charted at #26 with "Romancing The Stone" in 1984. The song was written for the movie of the same name but was barely used in the film.
In 2020, Grant sued then-US President Donald Trump for using "Electric Avenue" in a campaign tweet. In the animated ad, the tune plays as a high-speed train bearing the "Trump-Pence" logo zips past rival Joe Biden, who is creeping along in an old-fashioned handcar. In 2022, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled that Trump had breached Grant's copyright for the song and was liable for damages and the singer's legal fees.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric Avenue is a song by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant. It was released in 1982 on his album 'Killer on the Rampage' and was one of the biggest hits of 1983.
The song refers to Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, which was the first market street to be lit by electricity. The song is about the 1981 Brixton riots, with Grant referring to the events in the opening line, "Down in the street, there is violence".
In 2020, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump posted a 55-second campaign animation on Twitter that used the song Electric Avenue without authorisation. Grant sued Trump for copyright infringement and won.
The song Electric Avenue was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best R&B Song of 1983 but lost to Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean'. It was also covered by Refugee Camp All-Stars for the soundtrack of the film Money Talks and was declared the "theme song" of the Canadian province of Ontario by Doug Ford in 2023.
