The opening was from Malcom X's speech "Message to the Grass Roots". The title was penned by Nikita Khrushchev in response to Joseph Stalin "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences". Other historical figures seen and heard in this video include JFK, FDR, MLK, Benito Mussolini, and Mahatma Gandhi. According to Vernon Reid, "a famous German" was originally also in the lyrics but was pulled due to fear that referring to him would be misconstrued and too controversial.
Definitely one of the best written songs ever....and as others have said, is still very relevant today. The lead guitarist, Vernon Reid, was picked by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 guitarists (and Prince wasn't) and the lead singer, Corey Glover, was one of the stars of the movie 'Platoon'
Reid’s lyrics hint at how blindly following people based on their words alone can enable the worst kind of behavior on a grand scale. “I exploit you, still you love me,” Glover sings. “I tell you one and one makes three.” But the drawback to gaining so many adherents to your beliefs is that you’re likely to cultivate enemies as well: “Neon lights, Nobel Prize/When a leader speaks, that leader dies.” The names dropped in the song prove that a cult can form around anyone from peaceniks (Gandhi) to fascists (Mussolini), as long as the people listening vault them to an unrealistic pedestal: “I’m every person you need to be.”
I saw them open for the stones during the stones steel wheels tour. They killed it and the singer wore the banana suit he has here, it was an epic day at RFK.
Powerful lyrics. Especially the last couple of verses: "You game fortune! You gave me fame! You gave me power in your god's name! I'm every person you need to be!"
One of my favorites since it blasted out over the airwaves. The singer, Corey Glover, was my favorite Judas in the rock opera "Jesus Christ, Superstar." These lyrics are at least as relevant today.
Cult of Personality is about charismatic leaders, (both good and bad), who are able to attract millions of people to follow them, sometimes for better, but more often for worse. The song encourages us to recognize when you are being enticed to give a single man the power to control your thoughts and actions. Hitler, the most obvious example of this, is surprisingly not mentioned. I can think of another far more recent example who shall remain nameless. (Video includes images of Mussolini (Italy), Joseph Stalin (Russia), both dictators. Also shown: Gandhi (India) and of course Martin Luther King Jr.. The first voice was Malcolm X. At the end, the voices of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.)
Gads.. the idea that you weren't even born yet in '88. I loved this group, "old school metal head" that I am, and was sort of disappointed they never went much further in terms of popularity. But for their time, they were, well, bangin'... BTW, subbed. 😋
Ok White People, it's ok to comment that they are an all black hard rock band. I watch a few of these reactions & often ppl don't want to talk about how rare an all black hard rock band is. It's not racist. It's an amazing thing. It should be celebrated. Bc they were incredible. Sure black or white, whomever makes great music should be celebrated. But c'mon... they were a rarity.
When Corey Glover says when a leader speaks that leader dies he was referring to MLK and JFK which were both featured in the video but that was going on as far back as JC when those in power don't like what you say they do everything in their power to silence you either through discrediting or assassination.
They have a lot of amazing songs! Many of them have very powerful, socially conscious lyrics! I would recommend Desperate People, Elvis Is dead, Open Letter to a Landlord to name a few!
"Cult of Personality" refers to the manipulation tactics that political, religious, and social leaders use to gain the trust and support of the masses, and maintain control of a population. It's about how easily we as a society give away our power to those we see as "charismatic" or "influential".
I was a music-addicted 20 y/o when this song was released and rockin' my world. 😊 🤘🤘🤘 The funny part about watching RUclips reactions is black people being shocked the band's black....and also white people trying NOT to pretend they're not stunned for the same reason! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 ~ Jenn-X ☕
in the late 80s and early 90s, for sure, things were getting funky and groovy and sorta 60ish and poppy. hair metal was so corporate and overproduced, it was embraced by the mainstream, almost sanitized. so Nirvana brought the dirty, nasty counterculture of grunge back to the forefront. maybe if these guys hit a little later.
Honestly it's more about people who are cult of personalities these don't just apply to politicians although it's a good example it's more the people that can just sway the masses and make them follow and believe anything they say blindly for better or for worse
Strange back then ...... an all black Metal-band. Still strange now I guess. Although the band was awesome, I can't remember after this one, an all black band followed in their footsteps, or am Can anyone tell me why not?
There was also Bad Brains, which is metal/punk and Death in the 70s which has been described as proto-punk.also Fishbone, probably not metal,perse.also Body Count.Those are the ones I know off the top of my head.
One of the greatest written songs ever that still holds truth to this day.
When a leader speak that leader dies it is one of the hardest truths ever.
Any wrestling fans know this song as the theme song for the voice of the voiceless CM PUNK! Great song
100$, absolutely
His first sing was “This Fire Burns” by Killswitch Engage I wish he still had that one lol
you know what’s up 👊🏼
@@shane_earl_official I’m a CM Punk fan lol so yeah
@@BugsyTB89I can't recall Punk in WWE having a bad theme
The opening was from Malcom X's speech "Message to the Grass Roots". The title was penned by Nikita Khrushchev in response to Joseph Stalin "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences". Other historical figures seen and heard in this video include JFK, FDR, MLK, Benito Mussolini, and Mahatma Gandhi. According to Vernon Reid, "a famous German" was originally also in the lyrics but was pulled due to fear that referring to him would be misconstrued and too controversial.
Definitely one of the best written songs ever....and as others have said, is still very relevant today. The lead guitarist, Vernon Reid, was picked by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 guitarists (and Prince wasn't) and the lead singer, Corey Glover, was one of the stars of the movie 'Platoon'
Reid’s lyrics hint at how blindly following people based on their words alone can enable the worst kind of behavior on a grand scale. “I exploit you, still you love me,” Glover sings. “I tell you one and one makes three.” But the drawback to gaining so many adherents to your beliefs is that you’re likely to cultivate enemies as well: “Neon lights, Nobel Prize/When a leader speaks, that leader dies.” The names dropped in the song prove that a cult can form around anyone from peaceniks (Gandhi) to fascists (Mussolini), as long as the people listening vault them to an unrealistic pedestal: “I’m every person you need to be.”
I saw them open for the stones during the stones steel wheels tour. They killed it and the singer wore the banana suit he has here, it was an epic day at RFK.
Powerful lyrics. Especially the last couple of verses: "You game fortune! You gave me fame! You gave me power in your god's name! I'm every person you need to be!"
Living Color were a very unique band and were a lot better than they got credit for.
They are still playing and they are still amazing - I saw them in a couple of months ago and they were beyond awesome!!!
I saw Living Color in 1988 with my best friend Fred (RIP)! It was a great show!!
One of my favorites since it blasted out over the airwaves. The singer, Corey Glover, was my favorite Judas in the rock opera "Jesus Christ, Superstar." These lyrics are at least as relevant today.
Not many people knew that Corey was in JCS. Wanting to play Judas was what started his musical career.
Cult of Personality is about charismatic leaders, (both good and bad), who are able to attract millions of people to follow them, sometimes for better, but more often for worse. The song encourages us to recognize when you are being enticed to give a single man the power to control your thoughts and actions. Hitler, the most obvious example of this, is surprisingly not mentioned. I can think of another far more recent example who shall remain nameless.
(Video includes images of Mussolini (Italy), Joseph Stalin (Russia), both dictators. Also shown: Gandhi (India) and of course Martin Luther King Jr.. The first voice was Malcolm X. At the end, the voices of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.)
Vernon Reid is fire on that guitar! Your little just walked in. What a cutie!
Great band, I still own this CD. Bought it in 1988 when it was released.
Gads.. the idea that you weren't even born yet in '88. I loved this group, "old school metal head" that I am, and was sort of disappointed they never went much further in terms of popularity. But for their time, they were, well, bangin'... BTW, subbed. 😋
Saw them open for the Rolling Sones on the Steel Wheels tour they were amazing live
Ok White People, it's ok to comment that they are an all black hard rock band. I watch a few of these reactions & often ppl don't want to talk about how rare an all black hard rock band is. It's not racist. It's an amazing thing. It should be celebrated. Bc they were incredible. Sure black or white, whomever makes great music should be celebrated. But c'mon... they were a rarity.
Great guys too. Met them when they played at the rock club where I was working in the 80s in college. Vernon Reid owns the guitar.
Y’all cute together. Y’all made me feel so old not even being born when this came out. I was a teen lol
I was in USAF Tech School. LOL
Such a good band and song; even to this day this song fits.
When Corey Glover says when a leader speaks that leader dies he was referring to MLK and JFK which were both featured in the video but that was going on as far back as JC when those in power don't like what you say they do everything in their power to silence you either through discrediting or assassination.
They have a lot of amazing songs! Many of them have very powerful, socially conscious lyrics! I would recommend Desperate People, Elvis Is dead, Open Letter to a Landlord to name a few!
CM Punk 👌
Nice to see your son with late 80's hair. Lol
"Cult of Personality" refers to the manipulation tactics that political, religious, and social leaders use to gain the trust and support of the masses, and maintain control of a population. It's about how easily we as a society give away our power to those we see as "charismatic" or "influential".
When a leader speaks. Thy die.Great band
I was a music-addicted 20 y/o when this song was released and rockin' my world. 😊 🤘🤘🤘
The funny part about watching RUclips reactions is black people being shocked the band's black....and also white people trying NOT to pretend they're not stunned for the same reason! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
~ Jenn-X ☕
Haha, true!
This was the theme song of cm punk
of course you've heard this, it is part of the culture now. Mick Jagger produced the album.
Your baby boy is so cute!
Dude.. you have a Guns n Roses poster in the back, and you didn't know what Hard Rock was in the 1980s LOL🫢
👍🔥👍🔥
This couple is out of touch❤❤
Guns n' roses Hard Rock they put them in a heavy metal category
in the late 80s and early 90s, for sure, things were getting funky and groovy and sorta 60ish and poppy. hair metal was so corporate and overproduced, it was embraced by the mainstream, almost sanitized. so Nirvana brought the dirty, nasty counterculture of grunge back to the forefront. maybe if these guys hit a little later.
Tom what happened to the Zeit reaction? I can’t seem to find it now.
It got blocked again. I assume its because I am from the US and copyright laws are quite severe unfortunately
Reactors failed to hear the lyrics. Really? The song is about knowing governmental power that oppresses the masses. Is it so hard to hear? FFS.
Honestly it's more about people who are cult of personalities these don't just apply to politicians although it's a good example it's more the people that can just sway the masses and make them follow and believe anything they say blindly for better or for worse
Strange back then ...... an all black Metal-band. Still strange now I guess. Although the band was awesome, I can't remember after this one, an all black band followed in their footsteps, or am Can anyone tell me why not?
There was also Bad Brains, which is metal/punk and Death in the 70s which has been described as proto-punk.also Fishbone, probably not metal,perse.also Body Count.Those are the ones I know off the top of my head.
Do your homework please. This band is legendary. Please stop ignore black rock
1988
CM PUNK
fuck me i'm old.
CM Punk CM Punk CM Punk CM Punk CM Punk CM Punk