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Topic History of: Freeeeeee.... Nelson Mandela! Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)
Author
Message
DJones
The message is even reaching the Americans:
"Today the United States moved closer at last to removing the great shame of dishonoring this great leader by including him on our government's terror watch list," said Senator John Kerry.
The bill now heads to the White House, where it is expected to be signed by President George W. Bush in time for the anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner's 90th birthday on July 18."
DJones
Yes Mart, you are right. There is a very strong link between the song and the changing attitude of the british society -especially the Tories - to Mandela and his gang of terrorists, the ANC.
Mart
I was boringly politically aware at the time of original release and found it very odd hearing his name being sung by people that knew or cared nothing of the subject.
They were odd days really.
Everybody protested about everything and had a party whilst doing so.
Only a couple of years earlier, it was difficult to find a gap between the protest groups.
We started marching to Hyde Park in about `78, with the Rock Against Racism people, were asked to join the Communist party on the way, ended up walking along with the original Gay Pride people and then finally ended up with the CND!
All I really remember that was important at the time is that the Clash played!
I have to ask...Is the power of music so strong it freed Mandela?
And I tell you what I believe, it played a very large part indeed.
zooloo
DJones wrote: Before the song, almost nobody knew who Nelson Mandela was.
When the single was released, it was the high time of marketing gimmicks. And many DJs / music journalists etc. were searching inside the cover for their free Nelson Mandela.
When I hear "Free Nelson Mandela" I mentally add "...in every box".
I have no soul
DJones
Before the song, almost nobody knew who Nelson Mandela was.
When the single was released, it was the high time of marketing gimmicks. And many DJs / music journalists etc. were searching inside the cover for their free Nelson Mandela.