Apologies to any of you faithful bellas who have been wondering, when the heck will Afrobella quit talking about politics and get back to hair and makeup? It ain’t gonna happen, not until after November 5. (God willing). Simply because I am absolutely obsessed. If you’re following me on Twitter, you’ll see – I’ve been following the debates and every bit of breaking news more closely than I should. I promise a return to the calm, cool, collected beauty lovin’ bella once the next 19 days are over.
I watched the debate last night, and I’m watching it again right now on CNN. You already know what I’m thinking — there’s one obvious choice, IMO. But I’m well aware that there are folks who feel exactly the opposite. So in the spirit of not slandering anyone’s candidate of choice (because there’s far enough of that on every news website I visit), I’ll just say this.
Headline News’ Morning Express — the news program I wake up to every day — asked a fun question this morning.
“Tell us what song is your political debate theme song, whether it’s because of issues you particularly care about right now, or because of whom you think won. Blog about the song title and artist you would choose to sum up this election.”
So many songs bounced around my mind. Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J. American Idiot by Green Day. They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha?
Then it came to me. Stevie Wonder, what a genius you are.
Stevie’s done some great political songs – Big Brother speaks to broken promises in a soft and wondering tone. That was the B side. The A side, You Haven’t Done Nothin’ is the opposite.
Angry, funky, and aimed squarely at Nixon, it directly and timelessly tackles the kind of politricks this country has endured for the last eight years. It is the perfect theme song for this current election cycle and the state of this country, in my opinion. Here he is singing it at the 1975 Grammy Awards.
The lyrics are as pointed as a sharpened stake.
We are amazed but not amused
By all the things you say that you’ll do
Though much concerned but not involved
With decisions that are made by you
But we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
‘Cause if you really want to hear our views
You haven’t done nothing.
It’s not too cool to be ridiculed
But you brought this upon yourself
The world is tired of pacifiers
We want the truth and nothing else
And we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
‘Cause if you really want to hear our views
You haven’t done nothing.
I think some of Stevie Wonder’s sentiment was also expressed in Christopher Hitchens’ and Christopher Buckley‘s endorsements of Obama. On both sides of the fence, the people are fed up of false promises.
Debates are funny things. We go into them expecting to see gaffes and game changers, but we often emerge with the opinions we already had, just solidified. Last night, I saw one candidate appear cool, collected, informed, and dare I say it – presidential. I saw another who was sputtering, angry, flushed, and ruffled. But my choice has been made, for that and a host of other reasons. You already know what I think.
What did you see? What do you think? What’s your pick for last night’s political debate theme song?
Great song- Stevie can always bring it (sad note: did you hear about his home burning down:()! However, my favorite, because it articulates my disenchantment with politicians (including O), is Jill Scott’s My Petition. I lOVE that song becuase at first you think she’s speaking to a lover, but if you pay attention you realize she’s speaking to someone in office. I also love Pink’s Dear Mr. President, but that is directly aimed at W.Bush. And lastly, Janelle Monae also has a Mr. President that I like.
I hear you Bella. I’ve got the Obama bad.
And with today’s economy its hard to blog about buying material things. I watched the debate with friends (fun!) and I see nothing but sheer genius and inspiration oozing out of Barack. What a calm, cool, and collected man!
The next 19 days are critical, I’ve done some volunteer work and I think I’ll do some more within the next week. One thing I know for sure…I’m taking November 5th off!
Personally, I think that song you chose was PERFECT!!! Me only being 20, I was never really exposed to music from era’s earlier than the 80’s so it’s great to hear a phenomenal song like that. Thanks for putting me on! lol.
Also, I saw the debates and laughed all night. To see McCain and his soul-less brown eyes talk straight out of his rear end like that had me in tears from laughter. I’ve always been an Obama fan- and he just proves why he’s my choice for president everytime.
Obama was so composed, you could read in his eyes that in some moments he was thinking ” DUDE if I catch you in the parking lot..id make you eat that lying tongue of yours..”…well at least thats what I was thinking…but he let CALM prevail..
I kinda like that in a president…and a Vice president too…
The man kept going back to lets not talk Dirty politics let’s tell America what they want to hear…and whiney Man baby McCain kept trying to make snide sarcastic, evil secret society gestures and comments…
ANYWAYYYS..what came to mind for me were the lyrics from Lily Allen’s “Take What You Want”
“What the f#$% do you know?
Just cos you’re old you think your wise,
But who the hell are you though,
I didn’t even ask for your advice
You wanna keep your mouth shut,
You wanna take your thoughts elsewhere,
Cos you’re doing in my nut,
And do u think I care?”
Girlfriend,
You are hitting the nail on the proverbial head! Love ya!
Okay, you got me with They are coming to take me away. That song goes way back for me in high school. Good one, afrobella.
I thought I was a hardcore fan of Stevie but I hardly remember this. Made me realize that I was really into his love ballads and missed this whole other political side of him. Fan-tastic!
Ah, the debate. Never in my life have I been so obsessed by anything political. I like Obama on so many levels (don’t ask) that I sometimes forget he belongs to a subspecies I generally abhor – the politician. As for McBush: to me he appeared desperate and totally unable to come to terms with the reality of his opponent – again, on many levels.
Oh I think Jill Scott’s Hate on Me is the jam. Here is the link to you tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw3Z8Oa7E3Y
I certainly hope you don’t plan on stopping the political posts on November 5. That’s when the most important part of being politically engaged starts. People need to stay informed to make sure that the candidates stay respondent to us. We need people to make sure that they are staying abreast of political news, writing/calling their Congressmen and women and making sure that the policies they want are happening at home and in the nation in general, etc. You have a voice and thus influence, so please encourage people to stay involved and informed all year round!
That is one of my FAVORITE Stevie songs.
Hard to believe but back then songs could be political, catchy and a hit. What are the big stars singing about now?
It’s sounds like you have OCED (Obsessive Compulsive Election Disorder) like I do.
Two songs that I have enjoyed this political season:
YES WE CAN CAN performed by The Pointer Sisters from 1973:
Now’s the time for all good men
to get together with one another.
We got to iron out our problems
and iron out our quarrels
and try to live as brothers.
And try to find a piece of land
without stepping on one another.
And do respect the women of the world.
Remember you all have mothers.
We got to make this land a better land
than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
with the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can, why can’t we?
If we wanna get together we can work it out.
And we gotta take care of all the children,
the little children of the world.
’cause they’re our strongest hope for the future,
the little bitty boys and girls.
We got to make this land a better land
than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
with the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
yes we can can, why can’t we?
If we wanna, yes we can can.
AND THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED…written by Gil Scott-Heron, performed by Soul Rebels:
You will not be able to stay home, brother.
You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.
You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip,
Skip out for beer during commercials,
Because the revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox
In 4 parts without commercial interruptions.
The revolution will not show you pictures of Nixon
blowing a bugle and leading a charge by John
Mitchell, General Abrams and Spiro Agnew to eat
hog maws confiscated from a Harlem sanctuary.
The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will not be brought to you by the
Schaefer Award Theatre and will not star Natalie
Woods and Steve McQueen or Bullwinkle and Julia.
The revolution will not give your mouth sex appeal.
The revolution will not get rid of the nubs.
The revolution will not make you look five pounds
thinner, because the revolution will not be televised, Brother.
There will be no pictures of you and Willie May
pushing that shopping cart down the block on the dead run,
or trying to slide that color television into a stolen ambulance.
NBC will not be able predict the winner at 8:32
or report from 29 districts.
The revolution will not be televised.
There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down
brothers in the instant replay.
There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down
brothers in the instant replay.
There will be no pictures of Whitney Young being
run out of Harlem on a rail with a brand new process.
There will be no slow motion or still life of Roy
Wilkens strolling through Watts in a Red, Black and
Green liberation jumpsuit that he had been saving
For just the proper occasion.
Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Hooterville
Junction will no longer be so damned relevant, and
women will not care if Dick finally gets down with
Jane on Search for Tomorrow because Black people
will be in the street looking for a brighter day.
The revolution will not be televised.
There will be no highlights on the eleven o’clock
news and no pictures of hairy armed women
liberationists and Jackie Onassis blowing her nose.
The theme song will not be written by Jim Webb,
Francis Scott Key, nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom
Jones, Johnny Cash, Englebert Humperdink, or the Rare Earth.
The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will not be right back after a message
bbout a white tornado, white lightning, or white people.
You will not have to worry about a dove in your
bedroom, a tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl.
The revolution will not go better with Coke.
The revolution will not fight the germs that may cause bad breath.
The revolution will put you in the driver’s seat.
The revolution will not be televised, will not be televised,
will not be televised, will not be televised.
The revolution will be no re-run brothers;
The revolution will be live.
Yes, I played this loudly in the neighborhoods where I went out to get people to vote. Marvin Gaye’s You’re the Man is another great one!
classic mr. wonder… LOVES it.. i miss the old school era of r&b/soul music…. songs with a message and purpose!!!
LMAO…in delight, yes, Bella, that is perfect!
Thanks for that. I’ve always been a Stevie fan but was not familiar with this song. How fitting for today’s times. History unfortunately does repeat itself.
girl, that was the PERFECT song. i had to spread the word on that one. no worries…i gave you and your site all the credit!