Free Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (in the U.S. and Italy, and later versions also available as: Free Nelson Mandela ) is a song written by Jerry Dammers, that of his band The Special AKA was added. Nelson Mandela was released in 1984 and is a protest song against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela. The song is an uptempo rock song with lots of influences from the South African music. Produced the recording of Elvis Costello. Nelson Mandela appeared on the album In the Studio. The single release reached # 9 on the British charts and was in some countries such as New Zealand, a number -one hit, but also in Africa, the song was very popular.

History

Dammers told the Radio Times about the origins of the song:

" " I knew very little about Mandela until I went to to the anti-apartheid concert in London in 1983, Which gave me the idea for " Nelson Mandela ," I never knew how much impact the song would have, it was a hit around the world, and it got back into South Africa and what played at sporting events and ANC rallies -it Became of anthem. "

"I knew very little about Mandela until 1983 I attended an anti -apartheid concert in London, which I had the idea to" was Nelson Mandela. " I had no idea would have this song once what effect; it became a worldwide hit and it came to South Africa and was played there at sporting events and ANC rallies - it was an anthem " ".

Lead singer Stan Campbell left the band after the recording of Nelson Mandela were completed, but could be persuaded not to sing on the video for the song, and during an appearance on Top of the Pops. The background voices came from Rhoda Dakar, and the three known as Afrodisiak singers Caron Wheeler, Claudia Fontaine and Naomi Thompson.

1988, the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela, was released a new version of the song, now under the title Free Nelson Mandela with the parties already on the original musicians Elvis Costello, Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger and Lynval Golding and with Ndonda Khuze and Jonas Gwangwa. Produces this was by Dammers with Fred Tom Ricke.

The 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela in June 2008, the band sang the song in London's Hyde Park with Amy Winehouse as a singer. But instead of Free Nelson Mandela, she sang Free Blakey My Fella ( a reference to her husband, Blake Fielder- Civil, a drug dealer, who is in prison ).

In 2010, the English newspaper New Statesman described the song as one of the top 20 political songs.