On his release, Mandela thanked Jerry Dammer for this anthem. South Africa awarded him a medal for his part in the fight against apartheid. He also thanked the people of the UK who boycotted South Africa, even when Thatchers government refused to.
These were the sounds I grew up to with my friends. Great times. The track normally doesn't fade, you get just the singers 'Free Nelson Mandela'. The world needs more Ska and Reggae
I was in the Anti Apartheid Society at Uni here in the UK when this came out, protesting that our then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, refused to impose sanctions on South Africa. This tune sort of became a theme tune for the Anti Apartheid movement and it was another six years after this was released that Nelson Mandela was finally released.
Yes, I remember when she boasted about how minuscule the sanctions she levelled against South Africa. I will never forget how arrogant and dictatorial that woman was.
@@Dirtyvinyl23 She referred to Mandela as a terrorist, while having dinner with Chilean dictator Pinochet. She was an absolute scourge on Britain, she destroyed millions of people lives for political gain. I still hate her now.
I was 14, I marched with my placard to the local rugby club to protest that the Springboks were touring during apartheid, I was spat on, punched, bit it didn't stop me protesting. Thatcher called Mandela a terrorist while she had afternoon tea with Pinochet. Dark times in the UK, that seemed to be largely airbrushed out of our history now. I will always tramp the dirt down.
Not many things make me proud to be British, this is definitely an exception. Shout out to Scotland for changing the street name the South African Embassy sat on to Nelson Mandela Square.
The specials were a local band to me. Could not go anywhere without hearing this song, it really helped to drive the message home to those who were ignorant to the apartheid in South Africa. Amen
This era of music was special....blacks and whites coming together in the love of SKA music...many bands were mixed race..all brothers in arms against racism.
You do have reactions to a couple other Specials songs -- A Message to You Rudy and Ghost Town. This song was released during the final years of apartheid in South Africa, while Mandela was still imprisoned.
My first year in college is when they finally freed him. I was so happy to witness this piece of history. I've never heard of this song though. It's nice.
The band's name is slightly confusing, as they first charted as The Special AKA, but soon shortened it to The Specials. Then, when three of them left to form Fun Boy Three, the remainder of the band reverted to the full name before their final split. The surviving members of the band (minus a possibly justified sulking Jerry 'who got my teeth' Dammers) all got together again for tours in the late 2000s, and actually released a brand new album a few years back. It's a pretty good listen, but then almost anything the Specials did was good in one way or another.
You had them, the Beat and the Selector promoting their unique brand of Ska and reggae all from the late 70s and early 80s. Ah, I can’t leave out UB40 but they were more reggae than Ska ( rip Astro who died last week!) around that time. I haven’t heard this song in such a long time indeed! One thing I could say about your channel Jammin’, is that it’s taken me, as well others, quite a few times down memory lane and made me realise how these tunes have stood the test of time. They’re being expose to a younger generation that are bored with the numerous auto-tune vocals and once in a while want to appreciate good musicianship and good song writing ✍️. Thank you so much for reviving this tune and also the person who nominated it for you to react to.
You haven’t reacted ghost town from them? I could of sworn you have a lot of your videos don’t always pop up but good reaction nice request love it ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I just luv this song and video from The Specials (or Special AKA). They are from South Africa, the country with 11 official languages. If they adopt Kiswahili as expected, then they will have 12 LOL. In this video obviously everything is done in English✨✨
They're actually from Coventry in England, UK. They started the ska revival movement in the late 70s into early 80s on their own label called Two Tone...which became synonymous with this movement. Three of the original band left prior to this song including lead singer Terry Hall. Do check out Too Much Too Young if you've not already done so.
On his release, Mandela thanked Jerry Dammer for this anthem. South Africa awarded him a medal for his part in the fight against apartheid. He also thanked the people of the UK who boycotted South Africa, even when Thatchers government refused to.
These were the sounds I grew up to with my friends. Great times. The track normally doesn't fade, you get just the singers 'Free Nelson Mandela'. The world needs more Ska and Reggae
I was in the Anti Apartheid Society at Uni here in the UK when this came out, protesting that our then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, refused to impose sanctions on South Africa. This tune sort of became a theme tune for the Anti Apartheid movement and it was another six years after this was released that Nelson Mandela was finally released.
Yes, I remember when she boasted about how minuscule the sanctions she levelled against South
Africa. I will never forget how arrogant and dictatorial that woman was.
@@Dirtyvinyl23 She referred to Mandela as a terrorist, while having dinner with Chilean dictator Pinochet. She was an absolute scourge on Britain, she destroyed millions of people lives for political gain. I still hate her now.
I was 14, I marched with my placard to the local rugby club to protest that the Springboks were touring during apartheid, I was spat on, punched, bit it didn't stop me protesting. Thatcher called Mandela a terrorist while she had afternoon tea with Pinochet. Dark times in the UK, that seemed to be largely airbrushed out of our history now. I will always tramp the dirt down.
Dennis Thatcher had investments in Africa.
And look what a shite hole it's turned into , your welcome
Not many things make me proud to be British, this is definitely an exception. Shout out to Scotland for changing the street name the South African Embassy sat on to Nelson Mandela Square.
The specials were a local band to me. Could not go anywhere without hearing this song, it really helped to drive the message home to those who were ignorant to the apartheid in South Africa. Amen
This era of music was special....blacks and whites coming together in the love of SKA music...many bands were mixed race..all brothers in arms against racism.
then again 7 years later when techno and house came over from Chicago and Detroit to the UK
I was 13 when this came out and had never heard of Nelson Mandela or apartheid. It started my research and boosted my interest in fighting inequality
Jerry dammers is the brains behind the ska revival in the UK in the late 70s.
Jerry Dammers is a genius.
You do have reactions to a couple other Specials songs -- A Message to You Rudy and Ghost Town.
This song was released during the final years of apartheid in South Africa, while Mandela was still imprisoned.
Yeah I remember the ghost town one.
gotta have Gangsters and Nite Klub too
Loved the Specials!
The Nazis tried to obliterate Coventry in WWII. This was Coventry's revenge. Only one winner. Love, love, love.
My first year in college is when they finally freed him. I was so happy to witness this piece of history. I've never heard of this song though. It's nice.
This was a Favorite when it came out in the 80's!!
It was massive in the uk
The band's name is slightly confusing, as they first charted as The Special AKA, but soon shortened it to The Specials. Then, when three of them left to form Fun Boy Three, the remainder of the band reverted to the full name before their final split. The surviving members of the band (minus a possibly justified sulking Jerry 'who got my teeth' Dammers) all got together again for tours in the late 2000s, and actually released a brand new album a few years back. It's a pretty good listen, but then almost anything the Specials did was good in one way or another.
I think they always used the two names interchangeably.
This brought back some great memories for me.. LOVED Ska.. And reggae.. AND the style of clothes that went with it!
☮️ And 💗 from the 🇬🇧 UK 🙏
Mandela is my all time hero in my life. No one surprises him. 🙏🏼
Wow not heard this in years .Loved it .
Thank you - loved this since it came out in US!
You had them, the Beat and the Selector promoting their unique brand of Ska and reggae all from the late 70s and early 80s. Ah, I can’t leave out UB40 but they were more reggae than Ska ( rip Astro who died last week!) around that time.
I haven’t heard this song in such a long time indeed! One thing I could say about your channel Jammin’, is that it’s taken me, as well others, quite a few times down memory lane and made me realise how these tunes have stood the test of time. They’re being expose to a younger generation that are bored with the numerous auto-tune vocals and once in a while want to appreciate good musicianship and good song writing ✍️. Thank you so much for reviving this tune and also the person who nominated it for you to react to.
First saw this on the tube. UK was a decent country then. Used to feel an affinity wiry young people here then. Now ..,😢
Sounds good to me.never heard this before.
i think you may have reacted to ghost town by them.
i see that El Estepario TShirt you have on
You need to check out The Pilfers man. Awesome ska band from the early 2000's
Excelente canción!!!
I remember this and my mother being shocked to think I know who he was
Yes! Damn, I wanna be at that club right now! I think you reacted to one of they're songs when you were visiting a ghost town maybe...👻👻👻👻👀
RUDE BOYS FOREVER !!!
You haven’t reacted ghost town from them? I could of sworn you have a lot of your videos don’t always pop up but good reaction nice request love it ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Yes he has about a month ago. If you look 👀 in the archives you’ll see his reaction to it.
@@Dirtyvinyl23 I thought so because I've seen it thank you
The Specials One Step Beyond , check it out sometime
That's Madness 😁
I just luv this song and video from The Specials (or Special AKA).
They are from South Africa, the country with 11 official languages.
If they adopt Kiswahili as expected, then they will have 12 LOL.
In this video obviously everything is done in English✨✨
They're actually from Coventry in England, UK. They started the ska revival movement in the late 70s into early 80s on their own label called Two Tone...which became synonymous with this movement. Three of the original band left prior to this song including lead singer Terry Hall. Do check out Too Much Too Young if you've not already done so.
Quick question, did ska or reggae ever take off in the states?
The Specials and Special Aka are different bands.
Wrong.
@@mitchellbaker9434 no I am not.
REACT TO k 7 come baby come
Back when political songs weren't crap.......
Skrewdriver and the specials were the best.
"Screwdriver" nazis
The Specials.... Woke, long before it was cool to be woke.
Free Nelson Mandela, with every purchase over $10 dollars.
It funny but in the final days of this earth, most will be shocked how evil Mandela truly was…