World AIDS Day Soundtrack
10 songs that address the epidemic head-on.
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10 Songs for World AIDS Day - December 1st marks annual World AIDS Day. Over 25 million people have died of HIV/AIDS, and 36 million are currently living with the disease—making it one of the worst pandemics in history. With this tragic history, it's no wonder so many musicians have spoken about HIV/AIDS. Here, we present 10 songs that address the deadly disease head on—think of it as the perfect soundtrack for World AIDS Day. (Photo: ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)
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"Waterfalls," TLC - The second verse of this chart-topping 1995 TLC classic talks about a man with a "natural obsession for temptation" who dies because "three letters took him to his final resting place."
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"I've Got You Under My Skin," Neneh Cherry - British singer-rapper Neneh Cherry reworked a timeless Cole Porter classic into a creepy cautionary tale about HIV/AIDS. It was also the first single from the 1990 Red Hot + Blue compilation album, dedicated to raising awareness about the disease.
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"Too Hot," Coolio - West Coast hitmaker Coolio sampled Kool & the Gang to tackle HIV/AIDS on this 1995 single, rapping, "We need to do something drastic / S--t's gettin' tragic / And if you don't believe me then go ask Magic."
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"Let's Talk About AIDS," Salt-N-Pepa - Salt-N-Pepa flipped up the lyrics to their 1991 smash single "Let's Talk About Sex" to directly address HIV/AIDS and preach safe sex.
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"America Is Dying Slowly," Wu-Tang Clan - The first single and title track from a 1996 hip hop compilation from the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series, this song features Shaolin's finest going in over haunting RZA piano loop. (Photo: Tony Nelson / Retna Ltd.)
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"That's What Friends Are For," Dionne Warwick & Friends - Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder covered Rod Stewart for this 1985 ballad, released as a benefit for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. It raised over $3 million and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four straight weeks.
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"Together Again," Janet Jackson - One of the most successful singles of all time with 6 million copies sold worldwide, this song is an uplifting tribute from Ms. Jackson to friends who had died of HIV/AIDS.
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"I Got AIDS," Lil B - Bay Area weirdo rapper Lil B released one of the most straightforward hip hop songs about HIV/AIDS in recent memory with this year's "I Got AIDS." "No protection/I should've used a condom instead of trusting these women," the Based God rhymes. "Now I'm f--ked because I had unprotected sex/Take it from me, go get checked/That'd be your best bet." (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)
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"Jimmy," Boogie Down Productions - This 1988 classic from KRS-One has to be the best rap song about safe sex of all time. Just ask Diddy, who interpolated the song's hook to big up himself 13 years later.(Photo: Chris Tuite / Retna Ltd.)
