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Scars – Sam Smith: This song represents the Yalta Conference, the final meeting between Stalin,
Churchill, and Roosevelt to discuss plans for various countries after the portion of World War II in
Europe had ended. Fittingly, the first verse of the song includes the lyrics “here we are after the war.”
These men are trying to “[clear] up [the] scars” of the War and decide to assign occupation zones in
Germany and allow free elections in Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania. They also strategize for an attack on
Japan to end the portion of the War in Asia.

HUMBLE. – Kendrick Lamar (clean version): This song represents President Harry S. Truman, who came
to power following the death of Roosevelt. He was nicknamed “the average man’s average man,” and at
the beginning of his presidency he was extremely “humble.” However, with the help of the “Missouri
gang,” his cabinet composed of past political allies from Missouri, Truman evolved into a confident
leader and passed acts like the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act and Employment Act of 1946, stood by
the country in times of war, and established lasting departments and policies.

Stone Cold – Demi Lovato: This song represents the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet
Union. These nations emerged as world powers after World War II, making confrontation inevitable.
After a series of misinterpretations and conflicts of interest, the two powers became locked in a four and
a half decade, “stone cold” standoff, during which tensions were high and relations were strained.
However, no major action was taken.

The A Team – Ed Sheeran: This song represents the formation of the United Nations, specifically the
Security Council within it. The United Nations, established on April 25, 1945, was a successor to the
League of Nations and was designed to prevent another great-power war. It was dominated by the
Security Council, five powers that could be considered “in the Class A Team:” the United States, Britain,
France, China, and the Soviet Union. No member of this council could have action taken against them
without their consent. Smaller countries also gained representation through the General Assembly.

Falling – Harry Styles: This song represents the Truman Doctrine. Truman was worried that without aid
from the United States, Greece and Turkey would become “someone [he didn’t] want around,”
Communists. Thus, in 1947 he gave $400 million to Greece and Turkey in hopes of curbing Soviet
expansion by preventing the countries from “falling” to Communism. Truman also announced that it was
the responsibility of the United States to aid countries that were trying to resist Communism, which was
criticized as an overreaction by many of his opponents.

Better Now – Post Malone: This song represents Truman’s Fair Deal. Truman had been focused on
foreign affairs with the Truman Doctrine, and he wanted to make things “better now” at home, with
improved housing, full employment, a higher minimum wage, national health insurance, and an
extension of Social Security. Truman “wouda gave [the people] anything, woulda gave [the people]
everything,” as this program addressed many aspects of American life. However, the only successes that
came out of the Fair Deal were improved housing, a higher minimum wage, and extension of Social
Security, even though Truman “never meant to let [America] down.”
California Gurls – Katy Perry: This song represents the population redistribution due to the economic
changes of the period. Americans had always expanded and migrated, but for three decades after 1945,
30 million Americas changed residences every year. The Sunbelt, a fifteen state, crescent shaped area
which includes Virginia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, and other states, saw the most significant
growth. Evidently “nothing comes close to the golden coast”, as California accounted for one fifth of the
nation’s population growth in 1950 and surpassed New York as the most populous state.

We Don’t Believe What’s On TV – Twenty One Pilots: This song represents the growing power of
television during the period because it allowed for a direct appeal to the people. Nixon delivered his
famous Checkers speech on national television, causing him to be forgiven in the public arena and
remain as Vice President. Additionally, Eisenhower answered a series of questions in a studio, and it was
spliced to make it seem like he had answered them in front of a real audience even though he did not.
While television had many advantages, it also became a danger and some learned “we don’t believe
what’s on TV, because it’s what we want to see, and what we want we know we can’t believe.”

Holding Out for a Hero – Bonnie Tyler: This song represents President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his
image in the eyes of the public. Eisenhower was the perfect leader for Americans at this time, as they
were “holding out for a hero” after two decades of depression and war. He was just that; a hero who
was quite literally “fresh from the fight,” as he served in World War II. Eisenhower was very well liked by
the American public and served as a symbol of strength in a time of uncertainty.

Me, Myself, and I – G-Eazy & Bebe Rexha: This song represents Joseph R. McCarthy, more so in his later
years. McCarthy captured the attention of America in February of 1950 for claiming there were
Communists in the State Department, although he never proved it. He sought to expose and prosecute
members of the Communist Party in America. However, he was exposed as a liar and a drunk in 1954
after attacking the army, and from then on he was all alone on a “solo ride until [he died].”

Run the World (Girls) – Beyoncé: This song represents the changing social status of women during the
era. When men left industrial jobs in factories to fight in World War II, women entered the workforce
and began to “run the world” with “endless power”. Even after the war was over women remained
empowered and began to fight for additional rights. The feminist movement began to take root with the
first piece of modern feminine protest literature, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, who many
consider to be the “godmother” of the feminist movement.

changes – XXXTENTACION: This song is about negative change, but the title, “changes,” can be applied
to this period because African Americans were seeing many changes in terms of segregation and rights.
In Sweatt v. Painter, the Supreme Court ruled that separate professional schools for whites and African
Americans did not constitute equality, and school integration was called for in Brown v. Board of
Education of Topeka, Kansas. Additionally, activists like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. made their
discrimination known to the public and peacefully protested for civil rights. Inequality still existed for
African Americans in America, but the foundation was laid for serious change.
Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts: This song represents the Federal Highway Act of 1956, a public works
project instituted by Eisenhower. $27 billion were used to build forty-two thousand miles of highway,
which Americans could drive “all night long, through all [the] cities and all [the] towns. Eisenhower
believed that roads were essential for national defense because they would allow troops to mobilize in
the event of a Soviet invasion. The Act positively affected the travel, oil, and automobile industries
benefited, while negatively affecting railroads, air quality, and energy conservation.

Anything You Can Do – Annie Get Your Gun: This song represents Sputnik. In 1957, Soviet scientists sent
the Sputnik satellite, a “baby moon,” into space; a month later they launched a much larger vessel with
a dog aboard. This shook American confidence and raised questions about their scientific and military
abilities. Eisenhower raced to put a satellite into orbit, founding the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and devoting billions of dollars to prove that “anything [the Soviets] can do [the
Americans] can do better.”

Whatever it Takes – Imagine Dragons: This song represents Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, an
advocate for civil rights that was inspired by the Nation of Islam and lead violent protests beginning in
1965. His motto was “by whatever means necessary,” showing that he was prepared to do “whatever it
takes” to “break the chains” and obtain civil rights for African Americans, even if that involved violence.
Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965.