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The late Eric Arthur Blair is better known by his pen name George Orwell. Under this name Orwell crafted two incredibly influential novels. The ideas espoused in both Animal Farm (first published in 1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (first published in 1949) have permeated the popular culture, and both are required reading for the majority of high school and/or college students to this day. Even those who have never read the books are familiar with terms like "Big Brother" and "Thought Police", which are terms Orwell used in Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Musicians, and in fact, all artists of any medium have a large stake in free expression, and as such, they tend to defend it fiercely. Artists also tend to have a strong kinship with George Orwell because of a shared opposition to social injustice. This shared consciousness explains why so many songwriters are attracted to Orwellian themes in their music.

While Orwellian thoughts have been critically important in highlighting the evils of totalitarianism and censorship, they have also driven those without the proper grounding in truth to paranoia, and/or a conspiracy theory mind set.

Politically, Orwell was active and involved, but his ideas apply equally to both the left and the right. I find it fascinating how some of those on the right who champion free speech can be quick to approve, for example, limits on speech about sexuality or atheism. And those on the left, who also champion free speech, can be quick to agree to limits on speech advocating Christianity or conservative thought.

The key thing to remember -- we can disagree with, and fight against an idea, but we should never agree to censor that idea, no matter how offensive it is to us personally.

This playlist examines music that utilizes the themes George Orwell laid out in Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, which are without any doubt, his most famous works.

 Songs Inspired By The Writings of George Orwell

   1. 1984 - David Bowie   

   2. Animal In Man - Dead Prez   

   3. Pigs On The Wing 1 - Pink Floyd   

   4. Animal Farm - Hazel O'Connor   

   5. Big Brother - David Bowie   

   6. Sex Crime (1984) - Eurythmics   

   7. Talk Shows On Mute - Incubus   

   8. We Are The Dead - David Bowie   

   9. Optimistic - Radiohead   

   10. Animal Farm - Clutch   

   11. Only People - John Lennon   

   12. 2 + 2 = 5 - Radiohead   

   13. Wake Up (It's 1984) - Oingo Boingo   

   14. Boot Stamping On A Human Face Forever - Bad Religion   

   15. Irresponsible Hate Anthem - Marilyn Manson   

   16. Hey Big Brother - Rare Earth   

   17. California Über Alles - Dead Kennedys   

   18. Spies - Coldplay   

   19. R.K. 1949-97 - Our Lady Peace   

   20. Brother Where You Bound - Supertramp   

   21. A Pair Of Brown Eyes - The Pogues