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CD Review

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The Jamaica Observer, CD Review >>

Singing praises to Barack Obama
Basil Walters, Observer staff reporter
Friday, October 31, 2008

"A furlong to run! Obama gets his head in front.

It is too close to call. Obama raises his fist triumphantly, Bill Clinton raises his whip to roar of the crowd, Romney, Huckabee and McCain are too exhausted to respond. We'll have to wait until the convention to decide the winner of this one. Until then, it is back to the studios." - dub poet Malachi Smith's record.

Music has been playing an integral part in the upcoming American election. It is widely acknowledged that the phenomenal popularity of charismatic Democratic presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, has inspired more artistes to create unsolicited recordings than anyone else in America's political history.

What is also unique, is that his unprecedented support from the music fraternity is not only confined to the US, as it cuts across international borders. Of course Jamaica cannot be left out. In fact, our own Coco Tea was among the first to have sweetened Obama's campaign to become the first black man to be in command White House. Coco Tea's endorsement for this historical race is titled Barack Obama, around which a whole album is being crafted.

Another prominent soundtrack for the highly anticipated event on November 4, comes from yet another Jamaican entertainer of equal prominence, Screwdriver, the name of whose song makes the statement, Jah Send Him Come.

For those who have not caught the picture, when the titles of those two songs by Coco Tea and Screwdriver are combined, the point is Barack Obama, Jah Send Him Come. But those are not the only two Jamaican recordings in support of Obama.

In fact, perhaps the only copy of such musical endearment that is presented to Obama, is Jamaican dub poet Malichi Smith's record, 2008 US Election Derby, with narrative in the fashion of horse racing commentry.

"Barack Obama was finally handed a copy of my CD yesterday by a female who bought a copy from me on Sunday when I performed on the show in Fort Lauderdale," Smith told Splash. "She is a volunteer for his campaign," he added with a celebratory chuckle, "she said he was excited as he had heard that several reggae songs had been done for him."

The list of Jamaican artistes continues, albeit, from some lesser known entertainers, all of whom are US-based. These include Commander Jesse with You Got To Vote Obama, Lushy Banton's Obama, with the same title comes another song, this time from Empress Nyanda, and It's Time 4 Change by K-Dean LeSean.

Among the international acts who have given their voices in support of the African-American presidential candidate are Mighty Sparrow, the title of whose song proclaims Barack The Magnificent, Steele Pulse with yet another Obama, so too is the title of Red Ride's. Will Galison comes with an appealing title, Take It Back With Barack, like JFC Reggae Band from VA, USA; and Michigan, Roger Ranks also chants Barack Obama, then there is Yes We Can by Will.i.am of the band Black-Eyed Peas, Illinois Boy by Annie Palovcik, Juelz Santana and Lil Wayne who from 2006 predicting Obama's nomination with Black Republicans, I Got A Crush on Obama by Amber Lee Ettinger aka Obama Girl, and Haitian New Yorker Manze Dayila with Change.

"When I look at Barack Obama and listen to him speak, I can see and hear his determination for change," Dayila is reported to have said.

There's no doubt that Barack Obama enjoys overwhelming support from the artistic community far and wide, however, there is a but. There is at least one entertainer who was also inspired by Obama to compose a poem, but he is not a pro-Obama advocate. He is Ghanian spoken word artiste presently based in South Florida called Heru. And in a puzzling way, he makes it known in no uncertain manner in stinging poem over a reggae rhythm called Obama is Septimuis Severus.

"They say this is an historical moment.
So allow me to get historical inside of this moment.
My people whatever you do, be for who do for you.
Lucif Septimius Severus, O he black emperor of Rome.
Barack Hussein Obama black president of the brave people's home.
Lucif Septimius Severus, O he black emperor of Rome
Lucif born in Africa, his history is crazy.
Septimius became the emperor of Rome in 193 AD.
Severus, we had high hopes for you.
Every African man, woman and baby.
But you became the metaphor of a weeping willow tree.
So sad so shedy
You went alo for no man humanity.
You rejected your own history
And adopted a Roman identity.

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