Dark
Light

Suggestions

Solange, Smokey and Obama

December 15, 2024
2 mins read

CAPTURING THE ZEITGEIST

By Tokumbo Bodunde

Tuesday, February 11, 2009.

One of my favorite songs of 2008 was “I’ve Decided” by Solange Knowles, the much under-appreciated younger sister of Beyonce.

Weeks ago, while driving around in freezing Chicago, my sisters and I had the song on repeat, LOUD. It took me a minute to figure out why I liked the song so much. The Neptunes-produced single takes the most delicious, feet-stomping part of The Supremes’ “Baby Love” and loops it throughout.

Solange’s song–as is evidenced by the video– is very much of this moment, my generation (not sure what we’re being called these days), searching for some kind of identity. Colorful and pastichey, the piece pays homage to all that is in this generation’s cultural imagination, and about the political culture of the Motown and beyond era.

Quick flashes of raised-fisted Olympians from 1968, Malcolm X, people being water-hosed, Rubik’s cubes spinning, and the Berlin Wall falling appear amid Solange crooning and the stomping beat. To make meaning of the video is work, a student of mine complained.

There’s a clear difference between the display of events being shown in the video for the Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ “Tears from a Clown.”

Its three sequences reveal a clear narrative of the cultural turmoil and grief experienced by the moments and movements surrounding the JFK and MLK assasinations, and the Vietnam War.

“Smiling for the public eye,” sings Smokey. “Don’t let my glad expression give you the wrong impression.” Very much a statement of the times–smiling outside but dying inside.

I was born in 1979, a decade plus after those assassinations and a few years post-Vietnam. Smack dab in the birth of hip-hop and advent of an extreme right-wing, fiercely developing global capitalist world (not unrelated phenomena in the least). The stylistic elements of Solange’s song and video are telling, in that they represent how I and most of us under 30s understand the events of Smokey’s song. The song’s pulsating claps and the video’s refusal to distinguish between cultural-poltical turmoil and social fads mute any sadness we might have even had.

It’s all about that beat. Or not. At least, it shouldn’t be. Not in this moment, the simultaneous 50th anniversary of Motown Records and the election of America’s first black president. The final minute of Solange’s video stands in abrupt contrast to the frenetic collage of iconic images of the past 40 years. Slower, more comtemplative and futuristic, its shades of blue-grays lets her imagine (at least in her love life), some other-world type sh*t. What will we do with the equally compelling and troubling elements of the world that we, and Obama, are inheriting?

What was most promising about Obama’s candidacy, in fact, was the spark it produced in our populace, its positioning within the perfect storm of just enough right-wing ridiculousness, contradictions in capitalism, and technological-savvy. What a unique political moment!

The generation that will come of age in it ranges from being once or twice removed from Motown and Smokey, devoid of the grief of Smokey’s “tears,” yet with an existence and way of looking at the world that has been shaped, in part, by them.

It’ll be critical that we, in our political activity, artistic endeavors, and social relationships, act in this world in a fashion that lets us appreciate the “best” parts of those old songs while keeping in mind the implications of the history and political moments that produced them.

And yeah, I’m gonna be bumping some Solange as we do so.

Tokumbo Bodunde is a Professor of Communication and Women’s Studies at Manhattan College and William Paterson University. She also works for the non-profit filmmaking organization, Chica Luna Productions. Her documentary, “Black Girls Face: R. Kelly” was featured in the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival. She will be presenting at the Women, Action & Media Conference near Boston next month. She blogs at Tokspace.

Please email comments to comments@thenewblackmagazine.com

Solange, Smokey and Obama

Post Views: 2,148

SholaAdenekan

147 Comments

  102. Greetings from Carolina! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, wonderful blog!

    Reply

  105. Thank you for another fantastic post. Where else could anybody get that type of information in such a perfect way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.

    Reply

  106. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing on your rss feed and I hope you write once more soon!

    Reply

  108. This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

    Reply

  110. Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

    Reply

  113. Good ?V I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related info ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, website theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..

    Reply

  114. I’ve recently started a web site, the information you offer on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work. “‘Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” by George Washington.

    Reply

  119. I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I?¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂

    Reply

  122. This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

    Reply

  123. Great site you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get feed-back from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Many thanks!

    Reply

  125. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such wonderful information being shared freely out there.

    Reply

  126. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

    Reply

  127. The subsequent time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could possibly repair for those who werent too busy looking for attention.

    Reply

  132. I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site :).

    Reply

  133. Does your website have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to send you an e-mail. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.

    Reply

  139. Hi! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?

    Reply

  142. Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Safari. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Cheers

    Reply

  143. An impressive share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a bit evaluation on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If attainable, as you turn out to be experience, would you thoughts updating your weblog with more details? It is extremely helpful for me. Large thumb up for this weblog post!

    Reply

  144. I think this is one of the most significant info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The website style is perfect, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

    Reply

  145. What i don’t understood is in fact how you’re no longer actually much more smartly-liked than you might be now. You are very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly relating to this matter, made me for my part believe it from so many numerous angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested until it?¦s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. All the time maintain it up!

    Reply

  146. Oh my goodness! an incredible article dude. Thank you Nevertheless I am experiencing subject with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical rss drawback? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Curtistok Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

Tammi Terrell: Like Sweet Morning Dew

Next Story

The Remaking of Kanye West

Latest from Blog