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The revolution does in fact go better with Coke.

Posted 2 months ago by ProjectGemini07    [ Reply ]
At the last No Kings demonstration someone was wondering around playing this on their boom box (or todays equivalent).  I was impressed.
Posted 2 months ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
My kingdom for an 11. 
Posted 2 months ago by TLynneHenry    [ Reply ]
EXCELLENT CHOICE. Instant 10. 

Can't believe I never heard this on RP before.
Posted 2 months ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
 folkes.tom wrote:

I have not seen one comment that gets it. This from a Malcolm X speech.  I used to use it on the splash page of my website. I now use a Helen Keller quote. A couple of people I respect.  They both left it all on the court. 



While Gil Scott-Heron was likely inspired by Malcom X's "There's a worldwide revolution going on" speech from 1965, I think the song totally stands on its own. Scott-Heron's message is all about complacency and passively consuming information instead of actively participating to change society.
Posted 6 months ago by boffyflow    [ Reply ]
Thank you to William and Alana for playing this song. I am grateful every time I hear it. And I am grateful to GSH for giving it to us. Here is another song of his that I hope to hear on Radio Paradise: Jose Campos Torres
Posted 7 months ago by bkrans9    [ Reply ]
And right after "Compared to What"!
Posted 7 months ago by awhfman    [ Reply ]
 liveaudio608 wrote:
 
 
Not everything is getting televised today. They might not be a full scale revolution but there have been all these large protests happening in US cities recently, and against other governments in other countries, that don't always get covered on mainstream TV news. I know about them from social media posts, and even those are throttled on certain platforms.
Posted 9 months ago by Koan    [ Reply ]
 hayduke2 wrote:

may each of tRump's tweets lead him and his entire crew of ass kissing hench-men into prison, then the healthcare rights of women, working people, our children and the state of the environment can be a priority

Great Artist GSH 


this has not aged well
Posted 9 months ago by NeuroJoe    [ Reply ]
Poor old Gilbert was wrong!
Posted 9 months ago by awhfman    [ Reply ]
While watching Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl half time show my husband commented that the poem/song  Mr Lamar referenced (The Revolution will not be televised ) was something he had heard multiple times on RP.  
Posted 11 months ago by rowgal    [ Reply ]
 ce wrote:

Yes (I guess), yes and yes. 
Unfortunately. 



I  Agree completely!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 stevesaw wrote:

This was quite eye-opening at the time. Seems almost tame now. Unfortunately it's still relevant.


Yes (I guess), yes and yes. 
Unfortunately. 
Posted 3 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
 liveaudio608 wrote:

Gil had no way of knowing that everything in the world we live in now IS 'televised'.



True.  Perhaps he should have teamed up with Tom Waits on "Step Right Up" so that he could have properly marketed and televised the revolution.  
Posted 3 years ago by bc    [ Reply ]
A bit dated now, albeit interesting in its historical context.
Posted 3 years ago by obispo    [ Reply ]
wow... 
Posted 3 years ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
Gil had no way of knowing that everything in the world we live in now IS 'televised'.
Posted 3 years ago by liveaudio608    [ Reply ]
 SnapDragon66 wrote:

Only 6.7?!?!
This is legendary!!


It's up to 6.8 now, maybe my 9 helped, or maybe since BillG is playing it once in a while in the 'main mix' means folks are liking it?  And dang if a segue to some Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash or even Englebert Humperdinck would by HI-larious!!

LLRP
Posted 3 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
What? No Bullwinkle?  Aww man..
Posted 3 years ago by timatmit    [ Reply ]
 KevinM wrote:

my opinion of this POS hasn’t changed in 11 years


I notice you've dropped the full stops in your acronym though - I think you're probably warming to it.
Posted 3 years ago by Jakethemuss    [ Reply ]
 Hippostar wrote:

He has a pretty strong condemnation of "white people" in general.  

If only we had a word for that?



'Opinionated' seems apt.  I don't detect bias in him, just anger.
Posted 3 years ago by Jakethemuss    [ Reply ]
He has a pretty strong condemnation of "white people" in general.  

If only we had a word for that?
Posted 3 years ago by Hippostar    [ Reply ]
 KevinM wrote:
This is one huge P.O.S. 

1
 
my opinion of this POS hasn’t changed in 11 years
Posted 3 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
GSH is a genius (he's immortal thru his lyrics)... more pls Bill
Posted 3 years ago by jkforde    [ Reply ]
Only 6.7?!?!
This is legendary!!
Posted 3 years ago by SnapDragon66    [ Reply ]
Blowing a bugle and leading a charge by John
Mitchell, General Abrams and Mendel Rivers

correction:

Mendel Rivers has become Spiro Agnew. 
Indeed, apparently, he was never Mendel Rivers in the first damn Gil Scott Heron place

Posted 4 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
I have not seen one comment that gets it. This from a Malcolm X speech.  I used to use it on the splash page of my website. I now use a Helen Keller quote. A couple of people I respect.  They both left it all on the court. 
Posted 4 years ago by folkes.tom    [ Reply ]
The revolution will not be televised, it will be livestreamed
Posted 5 years ago by wildhorse    [ Reply ]
 DanielHLloyd wrote:
Excellent. Unfortunately just as apropo today as it was in 1970. 
 
Yeah, I wish this song was irrelevant today. Replace the old ad slogans with social media memes, and it writes itself. The more things change...

Godspeed, Mr. Heron.
c.
Posted 5 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Looks like Gil was only partially right. The revolution is only partly televised - shown only as isolated pockets of cities like Portland. Never is it portrayed in the media as a national uprising, only specific problems in these otherwise unconnected cities.
Posted 5 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
Wow. Ahead of his time.
Michael Franti  was obviously a fan.
Posted 5 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
Excellent. Unfortunately just as apropo today as it was in 1970. 
Posted 5 years ago by DanielHLloyd    [ Reply ]
RIP Chadwick Boseman.
Posted 5 years ago by h0n0rb    [ Reply ]
This was quite eye-opening at the time. Seems almost tame now. Unfortunately it's still relevant.
Posted 5 years ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]
So there are lots of pictures of pigs shooting brothers on instant replay, not sure what that means.
Posted 5 years ago by sajitjacob    [ Reply ]
 lgonzale803 wrote:
The revolution will be live.....
 
And it will definitely be all over the media.  About time too.
Posted 5 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Televised or not - I wish the revolution will finally put those in the driver's seat that should be in the driver's seat
Posted 5 years ago by Soopertimes    [ Reply ]
The revolution will be live.....
Posted 5 years ago by lgonzale803    [ Reply ]
Saw Gil Scott-Heron in concert at U MD Tawes theatre in the 70s .  Front row, small venue, great concert 
Posted 5 years ago by lindaurq    [ Reply ]
I've heard this before, but it must have been a cover version.  Who else did this?  Very cool song.
Posted 5 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
 merobreno wrote:
Boring. Irrelevant. Annoying.
 

The opinion, not the track.  This fellow is among the root rappers. In his day he raised a lot of consciousness, and still can, for those who don't proclaim it boring. 
Posted 5 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Boring. Irrelevant. Annoying.
Posted 5 years ago by merobreno    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this in many years. Wow.

GSH fell into a spiral of drugs (crack I think). Damn shame.

c.
Posted 5 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Yeah, this guy use to be a bad ass!
Posted 5 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Not as dated as it once was (paraphrasing BillG)

Oh, dear gods yes.
Posted 6 years ago by eeastridge    [ Reply ]
This tracks's twin by another mother (of invention) is Zappa and the Mother's Trouble Every Day. 
Posted 6 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 peter_james_bond wrote:
He's right, these days the revolution will not be televised, it will be tweeted and facebooked.

 
may each of tRump's tweets lead him and his entire crew of ass kissing hench-men into prison, then the healthcare rights of women, working people, our children and the state of the environment can be a priority

Great Artist GSH 
Posted 6 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
what an interesting song, first time hearing it. Not as out of date as you'd think
Posted 8 years ago by SheRidesABeemer    [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
strong artist (only experienced when psd'ing), imo this is historically vital music
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
When in college, I listened to this with awe. It was always brilliant, always will be.  Next: his jaw-dropping Johannesburg. 

Poor man and his junk habit. 
 
Posted 10 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
love the psd option and how I get the strong spirit of GSH, important history in his songs
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
right on!
got GSH on a psd today and I thank you, this is vital music from an inspiring artist made at a historically important time

 
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
I see that GSH was played a year ago, would so love to actually re-experience him and his awesome music here on RP
PEACE 
Posted 12 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
The revolution will be fought by internet bloggers.
Will anyone else know it? 
Posted 13 years ago by MirageRF    [ Reply ]
 Shesdifferent wrote:
Too bad we don't have a you tube video of this
 
ha ha that would be ironic {#Clap}
Posted 14 years ago by suesblues    [ Reply ]
Not into it.
Posted 14 years ago by mikexican    [ Reply ]
Yes, thank you Bill...
Posted 14 years ago by Sleepytyme    [ Reply ]
Thanks Bill
Posted 14 years ago by MannAudioltd    [ Reply ]
Too bad we don't have a you tube video of this
Posted 14 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]

The revolution will not be re-run brothers 
The revolution will be live 
 

Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
RIP Brother.
Great musician, great music.
Have a lovely day Gil.

Yes and all I really wanna say
Is that the problems come and go,
But the sunshine seems to stay
Hey

Just look around
I think we've found
A lovely day

Sometimes it rains
And I feel kinda strange
Because it seems like my problems begin
Without the sunshine on which I depend
And all that make me feel like I need to hear the sun say

Hey, just look around
I think we've found
A lovely day

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-HnVvAxabc




Posted 14 years ago by preineil    [ Reply ]
RIP Gil....released in 1970...it had a huge impact at the time....great music...
Posted 14 years ago by Organotha    [ Reply ]
MORE.
Posted 14 years ago by pinnyrat    [ Reply ]
Rest in peace Mr. Scott-Heron
Posted 14 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
whoa! what ever happened to peace, love and understanding?  {#Eek}
Posted 15 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
He's right, these days the revolution will not be televised, it will be tweeted and facebooked.
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
This is one huge P.O.S.

1
Posted 15 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
Oh so THIS is where Wesley Willis got his style from... interesting
Posted 15 years ago by Duluoz    [ Reply ]
{#Clap}
Posted 15 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
great song!
Posted 15 years ago by sziggle    [ Reply ]
Doesn't he mention CNN in this song?  And didn't CNN come after 1974?

Posted 15 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Totally random connection - but check out the bass line on "Metronomic Underground" by Stereolab. The inspiration is evident!
Posted 15 years ago by chamrousse1450    [ Reply ]
Musical coincidence:  This song came up on our 12k song iPod this morning and now again here.
Posted 15 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]

Play it again Sam!


Posted 15 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
 tonypf wrote:
Wow, Gil!  Actually the revolution wasn't televised, but it did happen... more quietly and persistently than we could have imagined at the time.   Look around.
 
You're thinking of the coup? That happened back in '00 and '04. Word. {#Cool}
Posted 15 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
Those lyrics are awesome.
Posted 15 years ago by tputkey    [ Reply ]
Okay, I'm over the fact this song is from the 70's and it was an original Rap song.  This song just sucks!  Of course, I can't stand Rap music.
Posted 15 years ago by Guyeeno    [ Reply ]
Wow, Gil!  Actually the revolution wasn't televised, but it did happen... more quietly and persistently than we could have imagined at the time.   Look around.
Posted 15 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
Lets give a HOORAY! for RP playing something different.
Posted 15 years ago by Joy4life    [ Reply ]

Credit due to Gil for being instrumental (so to speak) in the creation of 'Rap" as a genre.

Unfortunately, his message on this track and personal story haven't blossomed as well as they might.


Posted 16 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
Thank God that playlist is over. I'm leaving to get some aspirin... I'll be right back (maybe not...Bill's now playing cosmic Love Child... good-bye)
Posted 16 years ago by jinthefields    [ Reply ]
 fran_tarkenton wrote:
How Ironic.  If the revolution is not televised it will be irrelevant.  Case and point the many protests during the Bush Era which received little to no press coverage.  Lots of people out there were pissed off and were letting the government know.  The evening news conveniently forgot to cover them for the most part, likely due to the risk of appearing unpatriotic!  Chicken Sh*#**t's
 

What's even more ironic is now that we have a President in the White House who falls on the opposite side of the party line of Bush, et al, we find the conservative "revolution" (in the guise of the Tea Party and the like) all over the television, all the time.
Posted 16 years ago by tapatia1072    [ Reply ]
One of the first Rap songs?   From 1974 - sounds a lot like Rap of today.   Hopefully Rap dies a quick death!  Along with boys underwear showing out of every wannabe rapper's back side!

Posted 16 years ago by Guyeeno    [ Reply ]
Long before there was rap, there was Gil Scot-Heron.

I saw him several times in various Chicago venues.  One time, in a rather small club, he came out by himself, so unobtrusively that, at first, no one paid any attention to him, thinking he was a stage hand fiddling with the equipment.  Then he sat down in front of the mike and began (something like):  "They say I'm a protest singer. But I'm not a damn protest singer.  If you put your hand in my pocket and grab my wallet, and I say, "What the f*** are you doing?" That's not a protest."    

Posted 16 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
We've come a long way since then. (But not all the way)
Posted 16 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
Wait..........what?
Posted 16 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
How Ironic.  If the revolution is not televised it will be irrelevant.  Case and point the many protests during the Bush Era which received little to no press coverage.  Lots of people out there were pissed off and were letting the government know.  The evening news conveniently forgot to cover them for the most part, likely due to the risk of appearing unpatriotic!  Chicken Sh*#**t's
Posted 16 years ago by fran_tarkenton    [ Reply ]
Classic.

In this age of 24/7 cable news coverage, it is even more apparent that the Revolution will NOT be televised. We are all lulled to sleep by what we see on television and believe to be true, while the true reality happens behind the scenes and off camera.
Posted 16 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
The revolution won't just be televised, it will be streamed, podcasted, tweeted, Facebooked, YouTubed and blogged. What remains to be seen is whether there will be a revolution, and what it will revolt against.

Posted 16 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
These days? The revolution will be a reality show on FOX.
Posted 16 years ago by g-rod    [ Reply ]

Who is going to break it to him that the revolution was, in fact, televised?


Posted 16 years ago by finkle007    [ Reply ]
Whoa, Zappa and this. Instant flashback to college and that friend everyone has that always knows the latest, coolest music. He was a big Zappa fan, and turned me on to this. It was pretty avant garde at the time.


Posted 16 years ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]
Wow, it's not very often that I want to turn of RP, but now is one of them.
Posted 16 years ago by slackpacker    [ Reply ]
Well, it was a great thought. But instead becoming irrelevant, TV just morphed into the internet, ipods, and video games.
Posted 16 years ago by ceviche    [ Reply ]
Woof.  Tuning out.
Posted 16 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
Damn, I missed hearing this one. I was shocked to see it in the current playlist. I love this piece if for nothing more than looking back to what it represented in its day. Heron, along with The Last Poets were originators in the stylings of spoken word performance and spoke powerfully to the black experience of the 60's. So cool to hear this here at RP.
Posted 18 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
Darkmatter wrote:
Time has proven this song wrong, the revolution will be televised for sure. Or maybe posted on Youtube.
Or maybe "The Revolution" will do in television altogether! Maybe the revolution will not have occured until television (among many other things, of course) have been disposed of first?
Posted 18 years ago by Jimmy86    [ Reply ]
Darkmatter wrote:
Time has proven this song wrong, the revolution will be televised for sure. Or maybe posted on Youtube.
I agree with that! Everything is televised--especially if it is violent. The peaceful revolution is what is not being televised--the teachers, counselors, etc. working behind the scenes to make life better for all.
Posted 18 years ago by artmarcia    [ Reply ]
Another cut from my vinyl collection lives! This really isn't rap. GSH is more of a poet/spoken work performer backed by a jazz group. FYI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Scott-Heron
Posted 18 years ago by Monoman    [ Reply ]
Good lyrics. To bad about rap. SIDS?
Posted 18 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Time has proven this song wrong, the revolution will be televised for sure. Or maybe posted on Youtube.
Posted 18 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
Hedwig wrote:
television is the opiate of the masses
or perhaps the Coliseum? What ever this song freakin' kicks! 9
Posted 18 years ago by OldFrenchie    [ Reply ]
10. An absolute classic. And not only will the revolution not be televised, neither will the war. They didn't expect that when this one came out. I, for one, would love to hear more hip-hop here. Seriously doubt that will happen.
Posted 18 years ago by supergroverx    [ Reply ]
milehighYinzer wrote:
I agree that some rap sucks, but this is good. Listen to the bass and flute in this song, it is awesome.
Guess that was an "over-generalization". I do like some of what GSH does; just not this track. Eminem & the like I can live without.
Posted 18 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
ramette wrote:
Did he say the theme song would not be written by Jim Webb? As in senator Jim Webb from Virginia? (I must say I would not mind if he did write the theme song. I really like JW.)
I think he's referring to Oklahoma native/Nashville songwriter Jimmy Webb. He wrote a number of country hits and has recently teamed with Vince Gill to write the Oklahoma State Bicenntenial song, "Oklahoma Rising." I wouldn't expect to hear it on RP anytime soon. Long live the revolution.
Posted 18 years ago by thelester    [ Reply ]
queenjill wrote:
You said it. I think television is what's preventing the revolution.... That said, I'm all psyched about Grey's Anatomy this week! Do you think she's gonna die?
i wouldn't know. i like to think i walk my talk
Posted 18 years ago by Hedwig    [ Reply ]
I hate Rap music, but I can appreciate that fact that he is not talking about shooting cops, dealing drugs, slapping ho's, or rollin 24's on his escalade. Also no cursing. Current rap "artists" should take notes.
Posted 18 years ago by biggeorge    [ Reply ]
On_The_Beach wrote:
Rap sucks, whatever the decade.
I agree that some rap sucks, but this is good. Listen to the bass and flute in this song, it is awesome.
Posted 18 years ago by milehighYinzer    [ Reply ]
Hedwig wrote:
television is the opiate of the masses
You said it. I think television is what's preventing the revolution.... That said, I'm all psyched about Grey's Anatomy this week! Do you think she's gonna die?
Posted 18 years ago by queenjill    [ Reply ]
I like this a lot. Noted the 70s flute. Some lines cracked me up. Its important to remember that all the TV that's on now, was on in the past or that will come later can be saved for the nursing home years from now. It's important to live now, enjoy all the people and experience you can in your life while you're young and vibrant.... PS-this has been a great set in a blah workday. Heron, Franti, Wonder and now Welch...
Posted 18 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
So let's get off our asses and make it happen!
Posted 18 years ago by rscherm    [ Reply ]
Rap sucks, whatever the decade.
Posted 18 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Did he say the theme song would not be written by Jim Webb? As in senator Jim Webb from Virginia? (I must say I would not mind if he did write the theme song. I really like JW.) Edit: never mind, I found the answer: (click here)
Posted 18 years ago by ramette    [ Reply ]
-snap- -snap- Diggit!
Posted 18 years ago by hanssachs    [ Reply ]
Nice retrospective of an idealistic era. Considering what's going on nowadays, we could use an updated version of this piece.
Posted 18 years ago by Skyhawk    [ Reply ]
Right on, man.
Posted 18 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
Wow! I have not heard this in ages. Got any H2O blues?
Posted 18 years ago by paganpete    [ Reply ]
the revolution will be streaming on RP.
Posted 18 years ago by mjaded    [ Reply ]
television is the opiate of the masses
Posted 18 years ago by Hedwig    [ Reply ]