Tupac Lives On – In Library of Congress

By Heather on June 23rd, 2010

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One of Tupac Shakur’s songs has been selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved for all time in the National Recording Registry.  The rapper’s “Dear Mama” was hailed by James Billington, Librarian of Congress as a “moving and eloquent homage” to not only his mother, but to all women who struggle to keep their family together “in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference.”

Tupac is just one of 25  artists selected this year for inclusion in the registry, bringing the total number of songs held in the National Library to 300.  Other songs include, R.E.M’s “Radio Free Europe,” chosen for its “raw immediacy” and Willie Nelson’s “Red Headed Stranger” which was singled out for setting a new course for country music.

Check out the complete list of songs selected by the Library of Congress this year, below:

1. “Fon der Choope” (From the Wedding), Abe Elenkrig’s Yidishe Orchestra (1913)
2. “Canal Street Blues,” King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band (1923)
3. Tristan und Isolde, Metropolitan Opera, featuring Kirsten Flagstad and Lauritz Melchior, NBC Broadcast of March 9, 1935
4. “When You Wish Upon a Star,” Cliff Edwards (1940)
5. “America’s Town Meeting of the Air: Should Our Ships Convoy Materials to England?”(May 8, 1941)
6. The Library of Congress Marine Corps Combat Field Recording Collection, Second Battle of Guam (July 20 – August 11, 1944)
7. “Evangeline Special” and “Love Bridge Waltz,” Iry LeJeune (1948)
8. “The Little Engine That Could,” narrated by Paul Wing (1949)
9. Leon Metcalf Collection of recordings of the First People of Western Washington State (1950-1954)
10. “Tutti Frutti,” Little Richard (1955)
11. “Smokestack Lightning,” Howlin’ Wolf (1956)
12. Gypsy, original cast recording (1959)
13. The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, Bill Evans Trio (June 25, 1961)
14. “Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two),” Max Mathews (1961)
15. I Started Out As a Child, Bill Cosby (1964)
16. Azucar Pa Ti, Eddie Palmieri (1965)
17. Today!, Mississippi John Hurt (1966)
18. Silver Apples of the Moon, Morton Subotnick (1967)
19. Soul Folk in Action, The Staple Singers (1968)
20. The Band, The Band (1969)
21. “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Loretta Lynn (1970)
22. Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson (1975)
23. Horses, Patti Smith (1975)
24. “Radio Free Europe” R.E.M. (1981)
25. “Dear Mama,” Tupac Shakur (1995)