Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Song Analysis #2- Fight the Power
Public Enemy is a well known American hip-hop group from the mid 80s through the mid 90s, comprised of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and his S1W group, DJ Lordand, Terminator X, and Brian Hardgroove. The group was known fortheir skillful lyricism and relevant messages, and since their glory days, have consistently been ranked among the top artists of all time on lists from VH1, Rolling Stone magazine and many others. Of all their songs, "Fight the Power" released in 1989 for the Bruce Lee movie "Do the Right Thing" and later on their 1990 album "Fear of a Black Planet".
Throughtout the song, Public Enemy use allusion and imagery to emphasize the central message of the song - the need for everyday people to fight the abuse of power. The song makes reference to Elvis Presley and John Wayne, calling them both racists. Taking two famous white people and pointing out major flaws in them could make people rethink who they admire and why. The song also says "Don't worry be happy/ Was a number one jam" and goes on to make an incredulous comment about the fact. It is a comment that essentially says "we're sick of waiting around, ignoring all of the problems. Let's do something about it." The song also uses the image "the prides arrive/ we got to pump the stuff to make us tough/ From the heart/ It's a start" to talk about the importance of black pride - though the image could be extended to others in difficult situations as well. Pride is important in fighting the power and revolution because you have to have something intrinsic in order to rebel against such ingrained institutions that most rely on, like the government.
Fight the power was a very popular song in the late 1980s and is still somewhat popular today. Despite what many think, the song isn't about overthrowing the government or anything radical - it's a call to everyday people to fight the abuse of power, as said by bassist Brian Hardgroove. While not as radical as other songs with revolutionary themes, it still definitely fits in that category. This song is about a quieter revolution, one that takes place in the hearts and minds of the populous. Rather than overthrow the government and replace it, the song suggests keeping the current one ( along with anyone else in a position of power) in check.
Throughtout the song, Public Enemy use allusion and imagery to emphasize the central message of the song - the need for everyday people to fight the abuse of power. The song makes reference to Elvis Presley and John Wayne, calling them both racists. Taking two famous white people and pointing out major flaws in them could make people rethink who they admire and why. The song also says "Don't worry be happy/ Was a number one jam" and goes on to make an incredulous comment about the fact. It is a comment that essentially says "we're sick of waiting around, ignoring all of the problems. Let's do something about it." The song also uses the image "the prides arrive/ we got to pump the stuff to make us tough/ From the heart/ It's a start" to talk about the importance of black pride - though the image could be extended to others in difficult situations as well. Pride is important in fighting the power and revolution because you have to have something intrinsic in order to rebel against such ingrained institutions that most rely on, like the government.
Fight the power was a very popular song in the late 1980s and is still somewhat popular today. Despite what many think, the song isn't about overthrowing the government or anything radical - it's a call to everyday people to fight the abuse of power, as said by bassist Brian Hardgroove. While not as radical as other songs with revolutionary themes, it still definitely fits in that category. This song is about a quieter revolution, one that takes place in the hearts and minds of the populous. Rather than overthrow the government and replace it, the song suggests keeping the current one ( along with anyone else in a position of power) in check.
Fight the Power - Public Enemy
1989 the number another summer (get down)
Sound of the funky drummer
Music hittin' your heart cause I know you got soul
(Brothers and sisters, hey)
Listen if you're missin' y'all
Swingin' while I'm singin'
Givin' whatcha gettin'
Knowin' what I know
While the Black bands sweatin'
And the rhythm rhymes rollin'
Got to give us what we want
Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say
Fight the power
Chorus
As the rhythm designed to bounce
What counts is that the rhymes
Designed to fill your mind
Now that you've realized the prides arrived
We got to pump the stuff to make us tough
from the heart
It's a start, a work of art
To revolutionize make a change nothin's strange
People, people we are the same
No we're not the same
Cause we don't know the game
What we need is awareness, we can't get careless
You say what is this?
My beloved lets get down to business
Mental self defensive fitness
(Yo) bumrush the show
You gotta go for what you know
Make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say...
Fight the Power
Chorus
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant shit to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother fuck him and John Wayne
Cause I'm Black and I'm proud
I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped
Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps
Sample a look back you look and find
Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check
Don't worry be happy
Was a number one jam
Damn if I say it you can slap me right here
(Get it) lets get this party started right
Right on, c'mon
What we got to say
Power to the people no delay
To make everybody see
In order to fight the powers that be
(Fight the Power)
Sound of the funky drummer
Music hittin' your heart cause I know you got soul
(Brothers and sisters, hey)
Listen if you're missin' y'all
Swingin' while I'm singin'
Givin' whatcha gettin'
Knowin' what I know
While the Black bands sweatin'
And the rhythm rhymes rollin'
Got to give us what we want
Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say
Fight the power
Chorus
As the rhythm designed to bounce
What counts is that the rhymes
Designed to fill your mind
Now that you've realized the prides arrived
We got to pump the stuff to make us tough
from the heart
It's a start, a work of art
To revolutionize make a change nothin's strange
People, people we are the same
No we're not the same
Cause we don't know the game
What we need is awareness, we can't get careless
You say what is this?
My beloved lets get down to business
Mental self defensive fitness
(Yo) bumrush the show
You gotta go for what you know
Make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say...
Fight the Power
Chorus
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant shit to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother fuck him and John Wayne
Cause I'm Black and I'm proud
I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped
Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps
Sample a look back you look and find
Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check
Don't worry be happy
Was a number one jam
Damn if I say it you can slap me right here
(Get it) lets get this party started right
Right on, c'mon
What we got to say
Power to the people no delay
To make everybody see
In order to fight the powers that be
(Fight the Power)
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