R&B Musicians Promote Anti-Bush Song

By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
August 13, 2004

Following last week's announcement by several rock music entertainers that they would be conducting a concert tour promoting Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry, several R&B musicians have decided to follow suit by recording an anti-Bush version of a 1976 classic hit.

Hip-hop and R&B singers Kenneth "Babyface" Edmunds, Missy Elliot, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Russell Simmons, JC Chasez, the Backstreet Boys, Chingy, Wyclef Jean, Eve, Ashanti, Jadakiss and even actress Minnie Driver have combined their talents in a new recording of the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes song entitled "Wake Up Everybody."

Originally recorded and used by the Democratic Party when Jimmy Carter was running for president to generate support from the black community, this new version produced by Edmunds is being created in a concerted effort to defeat President George W. Bush in November.

"This song is the spirit of the country, and all these artists have the will to change it, empower the young voters, and create a movement for people to vote and change the current administration," Edmunds said in a statement on Tuesday. "The message of this song is timeless and especially meaningful in today's world."

The liberal activist singer/producer believes his remake of "Wake Up Everybody" will make the difference for Kerry against Bush.

"This will be a recording event destined to make history and certain to affect change in the November election," Edmunds added.

In the new version, Elliot urges listeners in a rap that "everybody white or black ... You better go and vote and get up off your back."

The lyrics make the claim that the world has changed for the worse since Bush was elected president in 2000.

"The world has changed so very much from what it used to be," the new lyrics state. "There's so much hatred, war and poverty."

Interestingly, although the lyrics are aimed at defeating Bush, Edmonds says this effort is not about supporting any particular candidate or political party.

"We're trying to push people to vote," Edmonds noted. "It's not a partisan thing. I'm just saying, 'Get involved in the process.'"

Scheduled to be released to radio next week, "Wake Up Everybody" is the first single off of a September 16 Capitol Records release of a full-length CD with the proceeds going to liberal political action group America Coming Together.

Other songs featured on the CD include Yoko Ono's "Give Peace a Chance," Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On," Ben Jelen's "Talkin' Bout a Revolution," Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good" and Eric Clapton and Babyface's "Change the World."

These and other tracks will be performed by artists such as Monica, Reverend Run from Run D.M.C., Fabolous, Nate Dogg, Faith Evans, Jaheim, Claudette Ortiz, Floetry, Musiq Soulchild, Raphael Saadiq and actor Jamie Foxx.

Babyface is expected to join rock singer John Mellencamp for five concert appearances this fall during the "Vote For Change Tour" from October 1-8 also benefiting America Coming Together.

As reported by Talon News last week, a concert tour slated for October dedicated to defeating President George W. Bush by targeting 9 of the 17 so-called "battleground states" will feature pop music artists such as the Dave Matthews Band, Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, John Mellencamp, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Babyface, Keb' Mo', Jurassic 5, and John Fogerty, among others.