“Did You Hear What They Said” – Gil Scott-Herron
AUDIO By TSSCrew on March 16, 2008 at 8:38 pmWords By David D.
After reading Contra’s wonderful Curtis Mayfield post and waiting for all of those albums to download, I got into my own ill 70s mood. And when that happens, I turn to Gil Scott-Heron. Scott-Heron, in my opinion, has always had an underrated role as the third piece of the phenomenal mid-20th century triumvirate (alongside Mayfield and Gaye) that formed the blueprint for Hip-Hop.
My introduction to Scott-Heron’s work came when I first heard Kanye West’s “My Way Home” from Late Registration. Though Common spit a stellar verse, Scott-Heron’s hauntingly pained voice was the most memorable element of the song. The next day I got my hands on a copy of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.
The album opens with two spoken word songs (“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” and “Sex Education Ghetto Style”) in which he speaks in direct rhythm with the drum pattern in the background, thrusting the song more into the early rap genre moreso than mere spoken word. The title song is a defiant rallying cry for revolutionary action in the face of Pop Culture complacency. The sentiment behind the song is that revolutionary discovery happens organically, stripped from commercial coverage.
“The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues” also is the album’s first demonstration of Scott-Heron’s vocal mastery. Each note pulls at a different heartstring. There is no lightly delivered note as every breath Heron takes on his tracks hits the listener directly in the chest. For example, try to listen to “Home Is Where the Hatred Is” and try not to get goosebumps. The depression and desperation that the poet conveys is truly transcendent. Of course, the “Home” of the song is within the singer’s “white powdered dreams.” One would be hard pressed to find a more chilling call for help in overcoming addiction on wax. Scott-Heron is able to completely suppress the defiance found on the title track and become a completely down and out voice. He is aware of his impending downfall, but incapable of making the change.
“Did You Hear What They Said” is another frequently sampled song that is as appropriate now as it was thirty years ago. The subject is trying to understand the unnecessary casualties of war while trying to break this story to a mother. He takes a softer tone, creating an elegiac feel to the song.
“Did You Hear What They Said” and “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” are sampled frequently due to Scott-Heron’s ability to hit the listener with the song’s meaning as soon as he opens his mouth. The conflict of Heron’s addiction plays a perfect backdrop to the conflicted characters Common outlines. Mississippi MC, 5th Child uses the sadness and failure in Heron’s voice to drive his equally tragic “What They Said.” Freeway recently sampled the same song, but used the disbelief in Heron’s at the unbelievable tragedy taking place as a backdrop to Freeway’s disbelief at his own success.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is a definite must-have timeless classic. For producers out there, Heron’s amazing voice and great instrumentation also provides good fodder for future rap classics.
Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Posted in AUDIO, GENERAL, MUSIC, STRAY SHOTS
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49 Comments
Good post.
that’s what’s up! Home is where the heart is gets major rotation in my “soul section” of my ipod. His voice is unmistakable.
my dad’s been saying that for years about Herron & hip-hop.
“Lady Day & John Coltrane” is my favorite song
There Must Be Something We Can Do.
Nice thoughts David. Just bought that 12″ Scott-Heron “Bridges” the other day. Also made me realize folks just don’t make album covers like they used to.
Thank you soooooooooo much TSS! You always make my day. I get disheartened with “music” then I come here and leave a better person! Esthero said it, we’re in need of a rev. and you already know when Gil said…
good post david…not enough folks know much, if anything, about this incredibly talented and influential cat…i gotta say, though, i’d have to include Al Green in there with Marvin, Curtis and Gil
This dude makes some dope music, definitely a true innovator.
Rumored tracklist to The Game’s forthcoming album, L.A. Times (L.A.X)
1. Intro
2. Bounce! Produced by Swizz Beatz
3. The Sound Collector (featuring Quan) Produced by 9th Wonder
4. Street Rydaz (featuring NaS & Akon) Produced by Cool & Dre
5. Los Angeles Times Produced by Scott Storch
6. Blood Brothers (featuring Lil’ Wayne) Produced by NJD
7. The Terrordome Produced by Just Blaze
8. Wanna Get High (featuring Snoop Dogg & Busta Rhymes) Produced by Hi-Tek
9. You Owe Me (featuring Alicia Keys) Produced by Quincy Jones
10. Big Dreams Produced by Cool & Dre
11. Cruisin’ (featuring D’Angelo) Produced by Scott Storch
12. House Of Pain Produced by KanYe West
13. Any Means Necessary Produced by J.R. Rotem
14. People (featuring Mary J. Blige) Produced by Cool & Dre
15. Lights Out! Produced by Just Blaze
Bonus Tracks:
16. Hustlers Dream (featuring Anthony Hamilton) Produced by Dre & Vidal
17. Gangsta Music (featuring Juice, Clyde Carson, Ya Boy & Jay Rock) Produced by NJD
Wow @ the producers list
@M.Z.
same here, my pops was telling me about The Last Poets too, all that soul from the 60’s and 70’s shaped hip-hop
I remember my moms tried to hip me to Gil Scott-Heron when she heard me bumping Mr Mayfield one day, and for the life of me I couldn’t understand why she wanted me to listen to something so .. harsh on the realities.
But it finally stuck and it is hard for me to go a day without pulling out something from the 70’s .. if only to clear me head and steady my ship.. Good post and thanks for a MP3 version of the album.. I couldn’t find it in my heart to try and convert a cassette tape.
I still prefer Mandrill for my sonic background into 70’s message music
Wow @ Quincy Jones is think that’s a typo it has to be QD III
@ sherm
Lets see how long it takes le french to cut and paste that rumored tracklist
Anyone get a chance to hit up Austin for SXSW this weekend?
I’d say Wale put on a solid show, while GZA kinda made me wanna leave the spot kind of early (am I’m Wu-Fan since the first cassette tape).
Check out a couple of things I saw before heading over to Chuck’s report.
http://theguide.latimes.com/blogs/soundboard/2008/03/13/sxsw-bun-b-salutes-the-late-pimp-c-with-dizzees-help/
http://theguide.latimes.com/blogs/soundboard/2008/03/14/sxsw-mala-rodriguez-turns-austin-into-andalusia/
and if you’re interested, I’ll save you the google search:
http://www.latimes.com/tupac
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fi-tupac6sep06,1,1478981.story
@ boogie – i hear u
LOVE Marvin Gaye (NH), but I wouldn’t say his work would necessarily be a brick in the foundation of hip-hop.
Gil Scott, Sly, James, and Parliament’s work in the 70’s was the blueprint.
and Last Poets.
im proud to announce hale and i just birthed a baby girl.
Well said OED, Those were my thoughts immediately upon reading. But upon reflection I think GSH at least in spirit has a huge effect on east coast rap.
congrats dirk, I hope your daugter takes the mother’s maiden name. Lol…
CONGRATS DIRK…..number 1?
Also folks….ya boy Turk gonna post up some Gil Scott Heron. I like when TSS gets back to the roots of things. But if ya gonna do it…….
congrats Dirk.
here’s the link to dirk & hale’s baby: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/mobile/CTVNews/20080316/halle_berry_birth_080316/20080316?pr=0
lol
Go head dirk…congrats homie
punk’d
The Last Poets?
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/?p=2255
Anybody going to the A3C this thursday? There’s gonna be a juice crew reunion amoung others.
http://www.a3cfestival.com
congrats Dirk…
somebody was askin 4 this – cop it if u don’t got it – shit’s fly
Skyzoo & 9th Wonder – The 3 Day High:
http://rapidshare.com/files/63391226/Skyzoo_And_9th_Wonder-Cloud_9_The_3_Day_High-2006-C4.rar
“Whitey On The Moon”
Taxes takin’ my whole damn check,
Junkies makin’ me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin’ up,
An’ as if all that shit wuzn’t enough:
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
Damn how relevant is that?!
Some Gil Scott Heron to go with the post……
http://rapidshare.de/files/38850924/Free_Will.zip.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/38850925/Ghetto_Sttyle.zip.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/38850926/Reflections.zip.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/38850927/Small_Talk_At_125th_And_Lenox.zip.html
Congratulations Dirk…
love it. thanks.
Turk, good looks on the Gil Scott
JTK…the inspiration: http://iknowhuh.wordpress.com/
damn, thanks fellas….
i was expecting the haters to come out since so many men lust afta my woman. me & ms. berry are very happy.
Leaving out James Brown from the triumvirate is like leaving George Washington off Mt. Rushmore.
“Big Payback”=first rap song ever. Throw in the “most sampled,” title and there we go.
Of course I aint no old school expert; I can freely admit that I have missed the boat on GSH after saying I would check him out for years. Thanks David for providing the introduction and the opp!
First off, great big nod to David D. Good post. The Revolution Will Not be Televised was one of those life changing events for me.
Cant remember who mentioned A3C but Contra will be there if he can get back from Brooklyn swiftly enough.
And to Dirk, congratulations.
Dirk I appreciate you accompioning my woman to the hospital while I was outta town, but the charade has to stop now. Daddy’s home…
Yall keep claiming Halle “Make me feel Good” Berry’s baby and yall will have to pay child support!!!
LOL
IF THA L.A.X iS not FAKKKE !!! damn!!!
that’s a crazy album! peace yall
Awww man… I was about to come in and congratulate this nigga too. Yo had me for a second there! I was like “His bitch name is “hail”? cause that’s how I read it. I never caught on.
good Post
I did a show with Umar Bin Hassan from the Last Poets. He’s from my hometown. Homeboy is super-ill. SUPER-ILL.
Thanks…more people need to hear the message from the messenger. Its 2008 and Winter Soldier gets no play, The revolution will not be televised…
Haha @ Sex Education Ghetto Style
its official……… TSS gets 10 EXTRA BONUS POINTS for the recognizition of Gillie