This Friday’s song is “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf. There was a cover of this song at the end of the latest Brokenwood Mysteries episode that brought back a lot of memories. This iconic rock anthem was released in May 1968. It rocketed to popularity when it was featured in the film Easy Rider. With driving guitar riffs, energetic vocals, and memorable chorus, the song became a symbol of the counterculture movement in the late sixties.
I was in eighth grade living in Saugus, MA when this song was released. The world was in turmoil. Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis the month before. The war in Southeast Asia escalated and anti-war protests raged across the United States. A massive shift in cultural norms divided generations.
Hope you enjoy “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf.