Children of the Revolution

"Children of the Revolution" is a song by T. Rex, written by Marc Bolan. It was a #2 hit single in September 1972. The song broke their sequence of four official single releases all reaching #1 ("Hot Love", "Get It On", "Telegram Sam", "Metal Guru"). It did not receive a regular album release.

[edit] Origins

The song is about teenage rebellion, and upon its release, some critics blasted the song, as it marked a change in the band's overall tempo. Some even believed the song was pro-communist propaganda, based on the title alone.^{[citation needed]} It was included in the film Born to Boogie, in the famous Apple Studios jam with Elton John. During the jam, Marc Bolan puts his head through a grand piano while John is playing. It was also included in the films Billy Elliot, in the scene after Billy's father confronts him about learning ballet, and Breakfast on Pluto, during a dance scene.

[edit] Cover versions

The Violent Femmes covered the song on their album The Blind Leading the Naked (1986). The Dead C covered it on their album Eusa Kills (Flying Nun). Lloyd Cole has recorded a cover of the song, as well as several other Marc Bolan songs. It was released as a b-side in 1991. The Killers (Former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno's Band, not the American band that goes by the same name) covered the song on the album Murder One (1992). A cover performed by Gavin Friday and singer Bono of U2 appears on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! soundtrack. In the film itself, it used as part of a flourishing medley at the climax of the show-within-the-movie as sung by the Bohemian characters led by John Leguizamo.

The song also appears on the soundtrack of Channel Four's adaptation of Zadie Smith's White Teeth. It was also covered by Elton John and Pete Doherty during the Live 8 concerts, but it was poorly received, as Doherty forgot many of the words and apparently was drunk during performance. In 2003 it was also covered by Berry Sakharof during a live performance. In 2007, Patti Smith performed the song live on stage in Istanbul, at the Babylon jazz club. Toni Collette & the Finish on their 2007 "Look Up" tour around Australia covered "Children of the Revolution". It was well received by the crowd and critics of each night of the tour. Toni is quoted in saying she covers it "Because she just can". They performed the song at Live Earth.

UK dance act Baby Ford also covered the song in 1989.

The UK hip-hop group Blazin' Squad sampled it on their song "Revolution" from the 2003 album Now Or Never.^[1]

German songstress Nena included a version in her 2007 album Cover me.