“Mr. President”
Janelle Monae
From the album Metropolis (Bad Boy Records/Wondaland 2008)
www.jmonae.com
Although this song was not meant for the gospel market, its message is not out of place for an urban inspiration station that takes chances.
From her science fiction concept album Metropolis, which she produced with Sean “P Diddy” Combs and the Wolfmasters, GRAMMY-nominated neo-soul singer Janelle Monae delivers an impassioned plea to the President to make things right. Prince-inspired guitars swirl around Janelle as she sings, “A book is worth more than a bomb any day.” Her references to the president as “Father” give the song a sacred touch.
In the context of the album’s theme – Janelle is a fugitive android named Cindi Mayweather seeking a better life in the midst of a futuristic Sodom and Gomorrah – the song may not seem especially religious, but its message of equality and peace spans timeframes and genres. In other words, don’t think of spaceships and androids and instead hear it as a call to governments everywhere to improve education and cease hunger, poverty, illness, and build a better world. What can be more inspirational than that?
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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