Mandela Day (song)

"Mandela Day" is a song by the rock band Simple Minds. It was included in the single "Ballad of the Streets" EP which reached No.1 on the British charts in February 1989 and in their album Street Fighting Years. The single highlights the songs "Mandela Day", "Belfast Child", originally its A-side in the full length version, and "Biko".

"Mandela Day"
Single by Simple Minds
from the album Street Fighting Years
A-side"Belfast Child"
Released18 January 1989
GenreAlternative rock, Irish folk, World music
Length5:42
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mick MacNeil
Simple Minds singles chronology
"Don't You (Forget About Me)"
(1988)		 "Mandela Day"
(1989)		 "This Is Your Land"
(1989)

"Mandela Day" was written for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute (also known as Mandela Day),[1] a concert held at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 June 1988, as an expression of solidarity with the then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela, and was played live on that day (alongside cover versions of "Sun City" with Little Steven and a cover version of Peter Gabriel's "Biko" on which Gabriel himself took on lead vocals).

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[2]

Track listings

7" vinyl
  • UK, Germany: Virgin / SMX 3
  • France: Virgin / 90496
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Belfast Child"Traditional music, lyrics by Simple Minds6:39
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Mandela Day"Simple Minds5:42

12" vinyl
  • UK: Virgin / SMXT 3
  • UK: Virgin / SMX BS (limited edition box set, including 4 black-and-white photographs from the music video)
  • France: Virgin / 80432
  • Germany: Virgin / 611 998
  • Yugoslavia: Jugoton /MXSVIRG 18016
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Belfast Child"Traditional music, lyrics by Simple Minds6:39
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Mandela Day"Simple Minds5:42
3."Biko"Peter Gabriel7:31

CD
  • UK: Virgin / SMXCD3 (3")
  • UK: Virgin / SMXCDT3 (5")
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Belfast Child"Traditional music, lyrics by Simple Minds6:39
2."Mandela Day"Simple Minds5:42
3."Biko"Peter Gabriel7:31
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gollark: Good idea.
gollark: I see.
gollark: I don't believe in objective morality, since 1993.
gollark: What do you mean? "Inherently evil" people or actions?

References
  1. Mandela Day – Allmusic
  2. "Simple Minds - 'Mandela Day'". MVDBase.com (video). ASG. 1998–2017. Retrieved 1 November 2015.

See also
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