Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, I watched brothers and sisters of mine in pain and despair on the UW’s very own turf: A man was shot in Red Square during an anti-Milo Yiannopoulos protest Saturday. The following day, I was empowered with 175,000 others as we marched to keep the rights of women protected during the next four years of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Throughout these two conflicting political demonstrations, however, I had one song ringing in the back of my mind: Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” seemed to encapsulate the current revolution surrounding me.
“You will not be able to stay home, brother / You will not be able to plug in, turn on and drop out,” Scott-Heron sings in his melodic way, talk-singing over a groovy beat.
Not only is the song’s rhythmic quality soothing and homey, but the message is also one that directly speaks to now, even though it was originally put out on his 1971 album, “Pieces of a Man.”
So whether you’re simply walking to school looking for a song you can boogie to, or you’re looking for a politically insightful song to inspire you, this song is the tune for you. Let Scott-Heron remind you, “The revolution will be no re-run brothers, the revolution will be live.”
Reach Opinion Editor Rebecca Gross at arts@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @becsgross
