I've already shot down a few Bill Cosby jokes too...

November 10, 2008 11:22 AM

I'm looking for a song for an Obama/Civil rights montage that doesn't come across as white condescending...

I'm working on a video blog that's run and probably mostly watched by white folks. The host wants me to edit together a video of great civil rights moments and speeches, setbacks and triumphs, to celebrate Obama's victory. My problem is that the songs that have been suggested, such as "What a Wonderful World" seem to me to be a bit condescending. What's a good song I can use to back up the dreams, marches, and speeches without coming across as a well meaning but clueless whitey?

posted by yellowbinder to media & arts (22 comments total)

Sam Cooke's 'A Change is Gonna Come'. (Extra super-bonus points if you can get a recording of Vance Gilbert singing it.)
posted by kalimac at 11:26 AM on November 10, 2008

Gil Scott Heron reading "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"? Though that might be a bit, ah, much.
posted by GuyZero at 11:33 AM on November 10, 2008

And, I guess in this case, the Revolution was more or less completely televised.
posted by GuyZero at 11:34 AM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

There's some good music/montage content in this one.
posted by BobbyVan at 11:41 AM on November 10, 2008

Woody Guthrie, "This Land Is Your Land"?
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:44 AM on November 10, 2008

Psalm 26 by Wynton Marsalis (link to video) is a nice track, but perhaps a bit too down (and possibly too short, unless you use it along with other music). It might work for the setbacks part, if you have separate sections for setbacks and triumphs.

A bit more upbeat, but still a bit ambiguous is his cover of "How Are Things In Glocca Morra?" His version is an instrumental.
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 11:45 AM on November 10, 2008

"Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" by James Brown.

There's also a Black Pride playlist on iTunes Essentials which has some great songs.

(no guarantees that you won't come across as a well-meaning but clueless whitey regardless.)
posted by girlmightlive at 11:47 AM on November 10, 2008

Why not "We Shall Overcome"? It was an iconic song of the civil rights era. You can probably find footage of 1960s marchers singing the song, and you could probably transition to a studio recording pretty easily.
posted by valkyryn at 11:52 AM on November 10, 2008

Let Your Light Shine by Keb' Mo'

It has melodic spots that speeches could be edited into.
posted by geekyguy at 12:01 PM on November 10, 2008

Thanks for the answers, so far, leaning towards A Change is Gonna Come. I know it's easy to look clueless, but I'd like to do the best I can ;). Keep 'em coming, I've got another day or so to finish this up, so if something better comes up I can switch it in.
posted by yellowbinder at 12:02 PM on November 10, 2008

Progressive: Common - I Have a Dream
Traditional: Etta James - At Last
Alternative: Kosheen - Playing Games
Inspirational: Fantasia Barrino - I Believe
Motivational: Nina Simone - Here Comes the Sun (Cover)
Aggressive: RATM - Settle for Nothing

My choice? Oddly enough, Nina Simone - Sinnerman.

Why not "We Shall Overcome"?

Please no. I've sung it for aeons in marches in different states, please no.
posted by cashman at 12:19 PM on November 10, 2008

does it have to have lyrics? i'd look for something instrumental, particularly if you're going to have video clips where the subject is speaking.
posted by rmd1023 at 12:42 PM on November 10, 2008

Sam Cooke's 'A Change is Gonna Come'

I would second this song as the best choice for a civil-rights oriented montage, not to mention one of the best songs ever. Sad, evocative, but also hopeful.
posted by deern the headlice at 12:44 PM on November 10, 2008

This is going to sound like it's from out of left field, but here goes....

An unofficial civil rights song for Us Folks, one we tend to break out informally amongst ourselves when a goal has been reached, is the theme to "The Jeffersons" - 'Movin' On Up':

http://the-jeffersons-theme-song-movin-039-on-u-mp3-download.kohit.net/_/420374

Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin',
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues,
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby,
There ain't nothin wrong with that!

I promise you, plenty of folks were singing/humming that song on Nov. 5th!
posted by magstheaxe at 12:48 PM on November 10, 2008

why not use Will.i.am's new song - "It's a New Day"
posted by muscat at 12:50 PM on November 10, 2008

I was coming here to say A Change is Gonna Come as well. I've been playing it all week. :) Secret bonus: Sam cooke grew up in Chicago.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:54 PM on November 10, 2008

Lift Every Voice and Sing is informally known as "the Black National Anthem".
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:02 PM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

"Waiting on the World to Change"?
posted by GaelFC at 1:33 PM on November 10, 2008

"Yes We Can, Can" which was originally recorded by the Pointer Sisters (although I've only heard Maria Muldaur's version, which I like very much. I'd bet the Pointer Sisters' version is good too)
posted by blackunicorn at 4:34 PM on November 10, 2008

Ben Sollee's "A Few Honest Words" as remixed by DJ Second Nature.
posted by jtfowl0 at 5:23 PM on November 10, 2008

Sam Cooke's "Change" and the Pointer Sister's "Yes We Can" are already in heavy, heavy rotation.

For a nice instrumental, how's about Booker T and the MG's "Green Onions?"

Or revisit stopmakingsense's fantastic Pointer Sisters post: http://www.metafilter.com/71262/Beats-The-Hell-Out-of-The-Neutron-Dance and catching something from there? The

Or some Parliament?

Or how's about Bill Wither's Lovely Day?
posted by freshwater_pr0n at 8:35 PM on November 10, 2008

Yes, I was gonna suggest Change Is Gonna Come. I was just noting this week that there are lots of Obama/Change is Gonna Come montages on Youtube, but none that are really good, and I was thinking how great it would be if there were an Obama/CRM Change is Gonna Come video!

OTOH, I like the idea of Movin on Up/Black and Proud, which are less somber and more joyous.
posted by lunasol at 9:00 PM on November 10, 2008