Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gil Scott-Heron

About 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. more »

Year:: 1970
: 3:21
: 109 Views
Playlists:: #1

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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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Jazz

11 facts about this song

Genre Classification "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron is often categorized as a blend of Jazz, Soul, and Spoken Word. It has been identified as a progenitor of the Hip-Hop genre.
Title Significance The song's title, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," is now a popular catchphrase. Scott-Heron used it to suggest that genuine social change would not be broadcasted or commercialized but would be internal and personal.
Release Time It was first recorded for Scott-Heron's debut album, "Small Talk at 125th and Lenox," in 1970.
Live First Version The first version of the song was recorded live in a nightclub setting, accompanied only by conga drums and Scott-Heron's energetic vocal.
Instrumentation Changes On the studio version of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" released a year later, Scott-Heron re-recorded the track with a full band, giving it the distinct edgy flavor of black power movement music.
Inspiration The song was largely inspired by the Black Panthers and the turbulent 1960s civil rights movement.
Cultural Impact "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" has had a significant cultural impact, being sampled and referenced by various musicians and named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll.
Famous Samples It has been sampled by notable artists such as Kanye West in his song "Lost in the World" and Dr. Dre in the song "Deep Cover" featuring Snoop Dogg.
TV Network Reference The song includes the phrase "NBC will not be able to predict the winner at 8:32", which is a satirical jab at the TV network's claim to predict election winners mere minutes after polls close - a critique of mass media's power and impact on society.
Awards and Accolades In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as one of the “Top 20 Political Songs”.
Poetic Elements While "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is commonly classified as a song, its lack of melody and Scott-Heron’s spoken delivery make it more akin to a poem set to music.

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"Revolution Will Not Be Televised Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 30 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/26359840/Gil+Scott-Heron/Revolution+Will+Not+Be+Televised>.

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