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Posts tagged as ““Sign O’ The Times””

#AAMAM: “Sign O’ The Times” – Celebrating Prince and his Protest Music (LISTEN)

We wanted to get this post up earlier, but today? Server issues. Thankfully, those are resolved and Good Black News is happy to grab a moment during African American Music Appreciation Month to honor what would have been the 62nd birthday of the one and only Prince.

His music is legendary, no question, and we could offer a playlist full of his genius output that could keep your ears busy into the end of next week.

But in light of current events – the literal revolution unfolding before us born in Prince’s hometown of Minneapolis – today we offer an appreciation and compilation of Prince’s protest music.

Ever since he started recording, Prince has composed songs addressing war, racism, gender issues, inequality, usury and police brutality.

From well-known singles such as “Controversy,” “1999,” “Pop Life,” and “Sign O’ The Times” to lesser-known album cuts like “PartyUp,” “Colonized Mind,” “Avalanche,” “We March” and “Baltimore,” his 2015 tribute to Freddie Gray, Prince constantly used his unparalleled talent and voice to highlight injustice.

To read more about several of his protest songs, click here. To listen, click below. Power to the New Generation!

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:0ccCsunMwAuRtwXOUI2dOs”/]

Prince Records Ode to Baltimore After Freddie Gray Protests

Singer-songwriter Prince records ode to Baltimore in the wake of Freddie Gray protests.

Moved by the unrest in Baltimore in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death at the hands of the police, Prince has recorded a song critical of the killing of young African-American men, a publicist for the artist said Thursday to CNN.

It is a tribute to the people of Baltimore and #BaltimoreUprising, but will also address political and social issues throughout the country.  Prince has done so before, most notably with 1987’s top-three single “Sign O’ The Times.”

Prince’s Paisley Park Studios has not yet announced a release date.

article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (follow @lakinhutcherson)