How hit by Ashford & Simpson became tribute to Barack & Michelle

[babylonsister]

How hit by Ashford & Simpson became tribute to Barack & Michelle

By William Douglas | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — Some may call it a case of life imitating art, or a dose of excessive political enthusiasm, but singer-songwriters Ashford & Simpson call it a labor of love.

After hearing audiences change the lyrics to their 1984 hit song "Solid (as a Rock)" to "Solid (as Barack)" — and watching "Saturday Night Live" perform a skit in with cast members did the same thing — the performing duo went back into the studio, retooled the lyrics to honor Obama, and intend to release it via digital download on Inauguration Day.

"We were amazed that it went from a concert in California to New York to 'Saturday Night Live,'" Valerie Simpson told McClatchy in an interview. "It really started out as a people thing and snowballed from there."

Ashford & Simpson said they never thought about recording a song for Obama, though they're staunch supporters of the president-elect. They were running through a medley of their hits during a show in Los Angeles in August when they turned the microphone towards the audience to have it join them in singing "Solid."

Instead of singing "solid as a rock," many in the crowd of 3,000 belted out "solid as Barack." An audience in New York did the same thing several nights later, and it caught the attention of a newspaper concert reviewer.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/59694.html

[countingbluecars]

1. Cool story.

I love how the crowds changed the words during the shows.

[bdamomma]

2. wouldn't be great if they had Paul McCartney sing Michelle

to Michelle!!

[RichGirl]

3. I read a while back that Paul offered to do that.

[RichGirl]

6. Found it....

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20238931,00.html

[Political Tiger]

7. I remember hearing that too.

He's in the US this week so maybe he'll get the chance!

[EraOfResponsibility]

17. Yeah wasn't he on The View the other day?

[Aristus]

14. The French lyrics ought to really throw the freepers into a spit-spraying fury.

Please, Sir Paul! Sing your song for our First Lady! :bounce:

[babylonsister]

5. I love that song and idea. nt

[hileeopnyn8d]

9. Heads would explode!

The song has French in it! Freedom Fry eating Freepers would fulminate! :D

[Political Tiger]

4. I've had that song stuck in my head

ever since I saw that on SNL.

[bdamomma]

8. that would be a great surprise to Michelle even on their anniversary.

[seafan]

10. Solid as Barack

Here is a short clip of "Solid as Barack". (Link is with the McClatchy article)



http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/59694.html">Solid as Barack: How 1980s hitsong became Obama tribute, McClatchy, January 14, 2009

.....

After hearing audiences change the lyrics to their 1984 hit song "Solid (as a Rock)" to "Solid (as Barack)" — and watching "Saturday Night Live" perform a skit in with cast members did the same thing — the performing duo went back into the studio, retooled the lyrics to honor Obama, and intend to release it via digital download on Inauguration Day.

.....

So they changed the lyrics of a song about love and the firming of a relationship to pay homage to the nation's first African-American president.

"And for love's sake, he decided to make a promise to us all," the song starts. "And when he wrote 'The Audacity of Hope,' we could make a change. Here's for a higher plane. We'll build it up, and build it up, and build it up, and now we're solid . . . solid as Barack . . . . A new day dawning, the future looks, hot, hot, hot, hot!"

Ashford & Simpson said they hadn't given Obama's transition team a copy of the recording, but they hope that the president-elect hears it. Music with a message was a hallmark of Obama's campaign rallies that were heavy on Motown, 1970s R&B, Bruce Springsteen and U2.

Mark Anthony Neal, an African-American studies professor at Duke University, said the original "Solid" and the updated version fits the Obamas because of what the songs say and who wrote them.
"It's one of those songs that's still played on oldies stations across America, became sort of an anthem, and was played at weddings a lot when it came out," said Neal, author of "Songs in the Key of Black: A Rhythm and Blues Nation. "There's a kind of symmetry between Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford and Michelle and Barack Obama. They're both very successful black couples who have been married a long time."

Ashford & Simpson were young songwriters at Motown in the 1960s who wrote "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," signature hits for the late Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. They've also written for, produced, or performed with Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross.

.....

Paul McCartney Wants to Serenade Michelle Obama, People, November 9, 2008





One of the many things I am looking forward to will be the music.

[Clio the Leo]

11. I've been singing "We Will, We Will Ba-rack you..."

all morning since I heard that commerical on MSNBC that has all the people singing Queen's anthem.

[babylonsister]

12. Here's the sweet pic from the article I forgot to post:

[merh]

13. What a comparison - artists want to rewrite lyrics and perform

their songs for Barack & Michelle

compare to the artists that sue McCain/Palin for using their songs/music

And Palin thinks she is loved, only in her mind.

[AwakeAtLast]

15. A great comparison - thank you

Ann and Nancy Wilson's request to McLame was the best! :rofl:

[VolcanoJen]

16. Very cool story!

I had no idea... always thought it was an SNL thing, but it's much cooler that it came from fans, spontaneously!