from McClatchy
Solid as Barack: How 1980s hit song became Obama tribute
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.
Read the Full Article @
Listen to "Solid As Barack" Here
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.
Read the Full Article @
Listen to "Solid As Barack" Here
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