Prince Continues His Legacy of Activism Through Music With New Tune ‘Baltimore’
Prince is best known for hits like “Purple Rain,” “Raspberry Beret,” and “1999.” But his songs are about more than partying. His newest release, “Baltimore,” protests the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of the police.
It has a surprisingly upbeat feel, given the subject matter. Against a simple guitar melody, Prince drops thoughtful messages like “Peace is more than the absence of a war.” He dates the song to the present moment by mentioning the deaths of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, and then a choir leads into a chant of “If there ain’t justice, then there ain’t no peace.”
The song ends on an foreboding note, with a news forecaster saying, “We have to interrupt our regularly scheduled programing to bring you up to date on a developing situation in Los Angeles,” likely a reference to the L.A. riots in the 1990s and fear of future unrest.
“Baltimore” isn’t Prince’s first foray into activism through music. In 1981, his antinuclear anthem, “Ronnie, Talk to Russia,” paired feverish lyrics with the sounds of bombs exploding. He slammed Wall Street bailouts with 2010’s “Ol’ Skool Company.” 2014's “Marz” is a call to the streets: He brings attention to socioeconomic barriers with the line “I couldn’t watch another black child go to school/With nothing to eat.”
Prince released the protest song on Saturday in anticipation of his Sunday “Rally 4 Peace” event. He’ll perform the song at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena; celebrity artists are rumored to be joining him onstage. Attendees are encouraged to wear gray in Freddie Gray’s honor, and a portion of the concert’s proceeds will benefit youth charities in the area, according to a press release. The event will be livestreamed through Jay Z’s new music service, Tidal.
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• Pussy Riot’s New Song Slams American Police Brutality—and It’s Beautiful
Original article from TakePart
