Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement – Various Artists | TheUrbanMusicScene.com

Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement – Various Artists

Sam Cooke’s poignant – “A Change Is Gonna’ Come.” David Bowie’s epic pop hit – “Changes.” The Pointer Sisters’ gospel powered workout -” Yes We Can Can.” These
are just a few chart toppers since the rock and roll era began in the
fifties that moved our souls and in some ways made us feel hope about
what the future could bring. Besides those aforementioned musical statements, there were also non-musical individuals who made their presence known.

One
prime example was a young African American minister and civil rights
leader from the sixties, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who dedicated his
service for the sake of change. The Nobel Peace
Prize winner in 1964 continued championing the rights of blacks to vote
and the freedom from discrimination amongst his accomplishments until
his death in 1968.

We now fast forward to Tuesday, January 20^th, 2009, a historical change will be witnessed a critical historical shift for the United States with the first person of color stepping into the presidential realm. In the unusual compilation entitled Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement,
past, the present, and new musical voices were chosen to represent a
soundtrack, more or less, centering on new President Barack Obama’s
campaign experience. The vision birthed from Hidden Beach Recordings
began two years ago in gathering songs of hope and encouragement, challenges to avoid complacency, and calls to change, from artists
representing various genres. The one-hundred fifty songs selected were eventually narrowed down to eighteen.

After I scoped Yes We Can,
those chosen selections should strike a cord with impassioned music
fans; something for the soul lovers, something for the R&B lovers,
plus doses of world, country, and pop styles in between. Despite
the wide mix of genres, the song sequencing accentuates the material, a
rare asset in the production of compilation projects. Even
though most tracks are favorable, there are a few exceptional moments
based on stronger lyrical substance and stirring performances. In
no particular order, Jill Scott drops a sassy vocal about our
uniqueness, a recipe with neo-soul sprinkled with Spanish flavor, “One
Is The Magic.” “Promised Land” sends a message to the human race about concentrating on the issues today. The messenger is versatile poet/actor Malik Yusef, in tandem with Kanye West and Maroon 5 s Adam Levine. Acoustic
bluesman Keb’ Mo’s unadulterated perspective on “America The Beautiful”
should be in line with past renditions, yes including Ray Charles. In reality, it is near impossible to redefine one of rock music’s definitive moments, “In The Name Of Love.” However, John Legend pulls off a solemn reading of the U2 classic. John
Mayer’s “Waiting On The World To Change” may suggest some cynicism, but
this pop hit from 2006 sends a slow burning soulful wake up call to not
become complacent with the media’s deceptive ploys. Finally, Gospel great Bebe Winans sheds light on the cry for all persons of faith and color to live harmoniously: “I Have A Dream,” which is interspersed with snippets of Dr. King’s world famous ‘Dream’ speech.

Granted Yes We Can
is another fundraiser compilation that will be comprehended as more of
a marketing move for the record label and the fundraising cause. However, Yes We Can
sincerely goes beyond that concept when a collective of potent
songwriting and vocal forces are finally willing to participate for a
legitimate change to come for this country’s well-being.

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene