Umair Gaines
Electric Avenue is a song by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant. It was released in 1982 as a single and on his album Killer on the Rampage. The song was a huge hit, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and spending five weeks at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | Electric Avenue |
| Artist | Eddy Grant |
| Album | Killer on the Rampage |
| Year of Release | 1982 or 1983 |
| Chart Performance | No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 on Cash Box Magazine's Chart |
| Awards and Nominations | Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song of 1983 |
| Certifications | Platinum |
| Music Video | Aired on MTV, contributing to the song's success in the US |
| Remixes | Peter Black's "Ringbang Remix" released in 2001 |
| Cultural Impact | Used in a 2020 Donald Trump campaign video and later in a video by the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, in 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Electric Avenue was released in 1983
Electric Avenue, written and produced by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant, was released in 1983. It was one of the biggest hits of that year in the United States, where it spent five weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the Cash Box Magazine chart. The song was also a hit in the UK, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart.
The song refers to Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, which was the first market street in the area to be lit by electricity. The street was the site of the 1981 Brixton riot, which took place amid rising tensions over unemployment, racism, and poverty, exacerbated by racist policing. The song was written and composed by Grant in response to these events, and it was first released as a single in the UK in 1982.
In the United States, the song's success is often attributed to the music video, which was played on MTV. At the time, MTV was criticized for playing videos by white artists almost exclusively. By adding "Electric Avenue" to their rotation, the network was able to bring more racial diversity to their programming. The song's popularity in the US led to it being nominated for a Grammy Award as Best R&B Song of 1983, although it lost to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".
The song has since become a classic and is considered Eddy Grant's biggest hit. It has been referenced and covered by other artists and has even been used in politics, such as in a 2020 campaign video for Donald Trump, which led to a copyright lawsuit by Grant.
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It was written and produced by Eddy Grant
The song "Electric Avenue" was released in 1983 by the Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant. This upbeat and catchy tune became a worldwide hit, reaching the top 10 in several countries, including the US and UK charts. The song's success cemented Grant's place as a prominent figure in the music industry, known for his unique blend of reggae, rock, and electronic sounds.
"Electric Avenue" is not only memorable for its infectious rhythm but also for its socially conscious lyrics. The song serves as a commentary on the social and economic issues of the time, particularly the high unemployment rates and the subsequent riots that took place in 1981 in the UK. The title "Electric Avenue" refers to a street in the Brixton area of London, which was one of the first streets in the city to be lit by electric lights. The area became a hub for immigrants from the West Indies, and the song explores the challenges and struggles they faced in their new homeland.
As the sole writer and producer of "Electric Avenue," Eddy Grant poured his personal experiences and observations into the song's lyrics and composition. Grant, who had immigrated to the UK from Guyana as a young boy, had a deep understanding of the issues facing immigrant communities. He witnessed the riots in Brixton and was inspired to use his musical platform to address the underlying social and economic inequalities.
Grant's production skills are also evident in the song's distinctive sound. He masterfully blends elements of reggae, which was a prevalent genre in the West Indian community, with synth-driven pop and rock elements. This fusion of genres, coupled with Grant's energetic vocals, created a unique and memorable sound that helped "Electric Avenue" stand out and resonate with audiences worldwide.
The impact of "Electric Avenue" extends beyond its musical success. It brought attention to the social issues of the time and became an anthem for the Caribbean community in the UK, celebrating their resilience and cultural identity. Moreover, the song's success helped propel Eddy Grant to greater heights in his career, allowing him to continue creating music that blended political consciousness with infectious rhythms.
In conclusion, "Electric Avenue" is a testament to the power of music to address societal issues and bring about change. Through its catchy melody and thought-provoking lyrics, the song has left an enduring legacy, both within the music industry and in the hearts and minds of those who continue to find inspiration and resonance in its message. Eddy Grant's role as the writer and producer of this iconic song underscores his talent and vision as an artist capable of translating personal experiences into universal anthems.
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The song references the Brixton riots of 1981
The song "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant was released in 1982 and became a hit in the early 1980s. The song's lyrics and music video allude to the social and political unrest of the time, specifically referencing the Brixton riots of 1981.
The Brixton riots took place in Brixton, a district in South London, from April 10–12, 1981. Tensions between the local Caribbean community and the predominantly white police force had been building for years due to issues of racial discrimination, unemployment, and poverty. The spark that ignited the riots was a police search for a suspect, which led to a confrontation between officers and a large group of young black men. Over 300 police officers and almost 100 members of the public were injured in the clashes, and a fire started during the unrest destroyed much of the area, including the Brixton Road and Rail stations.
Eddy Grant, a Guyanese-British musician, was inspired to write "Electric Avenue" as a response to the riots. The song's title refers to the vibrant, multicultural community that existed in Brixton, with the word "electric" symbolizing energy and excitement. The lyrics touch on the issues that led to the riots, such as unemployment and racial tension, and Grant offers a message of unity and the need for people to come together to create a better future.
In an interview with the BBC in 2016, Grant explained that the song was a call for peace and understanding: "I was trying to find ways to bring a more positive approach to the whole situation... It was a message to stop, think, and then try to do something positive." The song's music video further emphasizes this message, showing diverse groups of people coming together and celebrating their differences.
"Electric Avenue" not only became a popular hit but also served as a cultural touchstone, bringing attention to the issues of racial inequality and social unrest in 1980s Britain.
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It was Grant's biggest hit
"Electric Avenue" is a song by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant. Written and produced by Grant, the song was released on his 1982 studio album "Killer on the Rampage". In the United States, the song became one of the biggest hits of 1983, thanks in part to the MTV music video. The song reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1983 and spent five weeks at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in the US the same year. It hit No. 1 on Cash Box magazine's chart and sold more than one million copies in the US, earning a platinum certification. It was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best R&B Song of 1983.
The song refers to Electric Avenue in Brixton, London, the first market street to be lit by electricity. The street was the site of the 1981 Brixton riots, which were sparked by tensions over unemployment, racism, and poverty, exacerbated by racist policing. Grant, who first became aware of the street during a stint acting at the Black Theatre of Brixton, was horrified by the riots and wrote and composed the song in response.
The song's success in the US is attributed to the music video, which was played on MTV, helping the song to climb up the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Electric Avenue" is considered Grant's biggest hit, although he had several other international hits and a successful career in the UK prior to its release. In 2020, Grant sued then-US President Donald Trump for copyright infringement after "Electric Avenue" was used in a campaign video, winning the lawsuit.
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The song was sampled in an animated ad for Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign
"Electric Avenue" was released in 1982 as a single and later as part of Eddy Grant's 1983 album "Killer on the Rampage". The song was a hit in the UK and the US, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and spending five weeks at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2020, then-US President Donald Trump tweeted a 54- to 55-second animated campaign video that used the song "Electric Avenue" without permission. The video, which had garnered over 13 million views, portrayed a cartoon train emblazoned with the slogans "KAG 2020" (Keep America Great) and "Trump Pence" moving through a snowy landscape. It also featured embarrassing audio clips of Joe Biden, who was the Democratic presidential nominee at the time.
Eddy Grant, the British musician behind the song, sued Trump and his presidential campaign in September 2020, claiming that the unauthorised use of his music had caused him substantial damage and irreparable harm. Grant's lawsuit stated that Trump and his campaign had:
> "infringed and continue to infringe Plaintiffs' copyrights in the Composition and the Recording by creating, producing, distribution, promoting, advertising, performing by means of digital audiovisual transmission, and otherwise commercially exploiting the Infringing Video, and/or authorizing others to do the same, without Plaintiffs' authority or consent."
Trump's lawyers argued that the video was protected under copyright's fair use doctrine, which allows for the "transformative" reuse of copyrighted works in certain circumstances. They claimed that the video had transformed the song's original conception as a protest against social conditions into an attack on Biden's character. However, in September 2024, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled that Trump had breached Grant's copyright, rejecting the defence of fair use. The judge, John G. Koeltl, wrote that:
> "The video is best described as a wholesale copying of music to accompany a political campaign ad... The animation does not use 'Electric Avenue' as a vehicle to deliver its satirical message, and it makes no effort to poke fun at the song or Grant."
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Frequently asked questions
The song was initially released in 1982 as a single and then in 1983 in the US.
The song was written and produced by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant.
The song was released on Eddy Grant's 1982 studio album "Killer on the Rampage".
The song refers to Electric Avenue in London during the 1981 Brixton riot.
The song was a huge, platinum hit and Eddy Grant's biggest hit. It reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot 100 chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best R&B Song of 1983.
