The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gil Scott-Heron

About The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a poem and song by Gil Scott-Heron. Scott-Heron first recorded it for his 1970 album Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, on which he recited the lyrics, accompanied by congas and bongo drums. A re-recorded version, with a full band, was the B-side to Scott-Heron's first single, "Home Is Where the Hatred Is", from his album Pieces of a Man (1971). It was also included on his compilation album, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974). All these releases were issued on the Flying Dutchman Productions record label. The song's title was originally a popular slogan among the 1960s Black Power movements in the United States. Its lyrics either mention or allude to several television series, advertising slogans and icons of entertainment and news coverage that serve as examples of what "the revolution will not" be or do. The song is a response to the spoken-word piece "When the Revolution Comes" by The Last Poets, from their eponymous debut, which opens with the line "When the revolution comes some of us will probably catch it on TV". It was inducted to the National Recording Registry in 2005. 


Year:
2009
3:08
133 
#2

Lyrics currently unavailable…


Gil Scott-Heron

Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and '80s. His collaborative efforts with musician Brian Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues, and soul, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. His own term for himself was "bluesologist", which he defined as "a scientist who is concerned with the origin of the blues." His music, most notably on Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. more »

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10 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" falls under the genre of Spoken Word, R&B, Jazz and proto-rap with a strong political message.
Release Date
Originally, Scott-Heron released it as a spoken-word piece on his 1970 album "Small Talk at 125th and Lenox". However, it was later re-recorded with a full band and released in 1971 on his "Pieces of a Man" album.
Lyrics Significance
The song's title phrase has been used in various forms of media and popular culture, often referencing the need for tangible action instead of passive observance.
Song Message
The message is influenced by the Black Power Movement, challenging listeners to actively participate in social change rather than passively watching it unfold on their television screens.
Symbolic Meaning
The song is symbolic of critiques directed towards mass media in the United States, suggesting that the media failed to provide accurate news during civil rights issues.
Role of Artists
Gil Scott-Heron is considered one of the progenitors of hip-hop due to his combination of spoken word and music.
Early Reference
The phrase "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was originally a popular slogan among the 1960s Black Power movements in the United States.
Cultural Impact
The song's phrase has over time become common verbal and written shorthand for protest and activism, expressing the idea that significant societal change occurs through active involvement rather than passive consumption.
Musical Composition
The full-band version featured attributes of a funk sound, with congas, bongos and additional percussion played by Eddie Knowles and Charlie Saunders, whereas the original version was minimalist with only voice and percussion.
Recognition
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is considered Scott-Heron's most influential song and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018 reflecting its historical, cultural, and significant aesthetic importance.

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