Everything crash: recession, Obama and George Bush

By Gabriel_Heatwave |
Wednesday 19 November 2008 |
3 comments |

Four topical reggae/dancehall tunes on the global economic and political situation.

The contrast between the joyful ska rhythm track and Al Moodie's pessimistic economic forecasts is almost unsettling. Similarly, the video juxtaposes synchonised line dancing with images of a family losing their home:

Perhaps this nicely sums up the tensions between the positivity surrounding Obama's victory ("Yes we can!") and the progressively worsening state of the global economy...

Beginning with chants of "Obama! Obama!" and ending with an echoing, dubbed out "Yes we can" from the man himself, Beniton The Menace's Recession explicitly references the political situation but concentrates more on the personal and practical consequences of an economic downturn:

MP3: Beniton The Menace - Recession

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It's a recession but I'm still gonna party
Tell these bill collectors please don't call me
Cos it seems like they want me go the jail route
Finally we have a black man inna di White House

It's a recession yes I'm gonna have fun
And try my best not to pick up the gun
The people dem say dem want a better income
More funds, more funds

Dem can't stop the yout dem weh a hustle pon the street
Can't stop the yout dem cah dem need food fi eat
Can't trust nine to five cos the government a tief

Mavado, Cocoa Tea and Capleton expressed their support for Obama. Sizzla has offered his congratulations to the president-elect. Now Beenie Man chips in with the imaginatively-titled Obama, a song of upliftment:

MP3: Beenie Man - Obama

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No more ghetto youth fi a wipe no car window
Every youth fi try turn president like obama
Every ghetto youth fi wise up
Every youth fi rise up
Open unno eyes up

Lee Scratch Perry, as ever, has his own esoteric take on the whole thing, focusing on the lame duck president George Bush and former prime minister Tony Blair.

MP3: Lee Scratch Perry - Chase The Devil (Special)

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This dubplate special recorded for reggae sound Sideways Outernational also has Perry ranting inexplicably about the British royal family, which despite his rather lacklustre delivery is nonetheless pretty entertaining.

Stupid George Bush - your days are numbered in office
George Bush - you are the devil
Tony Blair - you are satan

Queen Elizabeth - you are a old whore
Prince Philip - you're the Nazi
Prince Charles - you can see you killed Diana...you couldn't stand Diana power

George Bush - you're a Freemason
Tony Blair - you're a Freemason

By Gabriel_Heatwave |
Wednesday 19 November 2008 |
3 comments |

Gregzinho on 24 November 2008

"You're a Freemason"?! That hasn't been a legit political attack in the U.S. since the 1830s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Masonic_Party

I know Lee Scratch Perry is old, but c'mon now.

agh on 21 December 2008

hahaha amazing!

Craig V on 16 January 2009

President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of Nancy Killefer to head the office is part of the economic stimulus package that is the first goal of Obama in his first term on order to boost the ailing economy of the United States. Her duty will be to eliminate unproductive government programs and ensure that taxpayer money does not go to waste. A Chief Performance Executive makes sure that the services or products that a company offers performs up to standards, like payday loans, and the Obama administration will need all the help it can get. In these dire times in the economy, we cannot afford to waste any more money on unnecessary dealings. Hopefully Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan will bring the American country out of recession and restore confidence into the heart of its people. Of course, like I stated earlier, accomplishing this goal will need the full support of the entire Obama administration.