GP's song of the day: Billy Bragg

I have been on record of saying that I would probably pay good money to see Billy Bragg if he was singing a selection of Ethiopian nursery rhymes accompanied only by the spoons.

His back catalogue is surely one of the finest in British music and his 2008 album Mr Love and Justice is probably his best of the last 20 years.

I saw Billy at The Sage Gateshead in April and he was fantastic: full of passion, humour and, of course, great songs.

Before singing I Keep Faith, Billy reminisced about seeing The Clash at the Rock Against Racism gig in 1978. He explained that it was that gig that inspired him to become a musician, but it was only years later that he realised what really gave him strength from that gig wasn't so much, but the fact that 100,000 determined to take a stand against discrimination all came together.

Musicians can't change the world, Billy said, but people can, and it's his job to bring people together, give them a good time and send them off to make a difference.

Long may Billy Bragg continue to bring people together and inspire them. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, we could do with some younger artists who had his appetite for political engagement rather than just a lust for fame.

(I'll probably give you my fifth Song of the Year choice on Monday, which I'm sure will have you on tenterhooks all weekend...)