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War
Edwin Starr
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- Album
- War And Peace
- Released
- 1970
- Genres
- northern soul, motown, classic soul
- Length
- 3:20
- Tempo
- 109 BPM
- Label
- UNI/MOTOWN
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About this song
Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote "War" for Motown in 1969. Whitfield first produced it with The Temptations as vocalists, but after Motown received repeated requests to release it as a single, he re-recorded it with Edwin Starr, while the label kept the Temptations' version off single release to avoid alienating their more conservative fans. Starr's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 and is one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded. A live version by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band reached number eight in 1985.
What it's about
The song is a protest against the Vietnam War.
Summary written with AI, based on the song's page on Genius.
Fun facts
- It's actually a cover of “W”.
- Sampled in 16 other songs, like “W.A.R. by Whoppa Wit Da Choppa (Ft. Jdot Breezy)”.
- Covered 8 times, including “War by Frankie Goes to Hollywood”.
- Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong.
- Produced by Norman Whitfield.