Living Colour - 'Cult of Personality' REACTION! Never Elevate Your Leaders to Godlike Status!
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
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"Cult of Personality" is a song by the American rock band Living Colour, released in 1988 as the lead single from their debut album, "Vivid." The song was written by the band's guitarist, Vernon Reid, and addresses the phenomenon of charismatic political figures and the impact of their personas on society.
Here are some key points about the song:
Lyrics: The lyrics of "Cult of Personality" explore the theme of leadership and the influence of powerful individuals on the masses. It references several historical and political figures, including Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, and Mahatma Gandhi, among others. The chorus highlights the concept of a "cult of personality," wherein leaders are elevated to almost godlike status by their followers.
Music Video: The music video for "Cult of Personality" gained significant attention upon its release. Directed by Joshua White, it features a mix of performance footage of the band and images of various political leaders and events, including footage of Adolf Hitler, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video in 1989.
Commercial Success: "Cult of Personality" was a commercial success, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It also received critical acclaim for its innovative blend of hard rock, funk, and metal elements, as well as its socially conscious lyrics.
Legacy: The song has endured as one of Living Colour's signature tracks and remains a staple of rock radio playlists. It has been featured in various films, television shows, and video games over the years, cementing its status as a classic of 1980s rock music.
Impact: "Cult of Personality" is often cited as a powerful commentary on the nature of fame, power, and propaganda. Its message about the dangers of blindly following charismatic leaders continues to resonate with audiences, making it a timeless anthem of resistance and critical thinking.
Overall, "Cult of Personality" remains one of Living Colour's most iconic songs, known for its catchy riff, memorable lyrics, and thought-provoking message.
We don't talk enough about Vernon Reid.
💯🔥🔥🔥🔥
He's a force,genre bustin / blendin, creating unique viruoso- solo work - "mysterious power" - czcams.com/video/nUUFQX0LybM/video.htmlsi=kGRoY0jhSInMMfld
❤️
Outstanding guitarist.
TRUE!!
The lyrics to this are deep and timeless...
The fact that they were Black surprised a lot of people back in the day, but NO ONE was turned off by that. Their music was legit.
This song is still relevant and fresh today in 2024
More relevant now imo
I saw these guys one week ago and they're as tight and ferocious as they were the first time I saw them in '89. Corey sounds like no time has passed and Vernon is a beast. Criminally overlooked band.
wow! thought Corey had a new group.
Are they still touring with Extreme?
@@waynecanning4122Not the show I saw but I think maybe later in the year.
Dig their bassist to the great Doug Wimbish !!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought Corey had gone gospel. I'll have to see when they're coming to my city.
Besides being a hard rocker, it's a really intelligent song that still applies today.
One of the most intelligent, wise songs ever written: "Only you can set you free" ♥️
Brilliant musicians! Lead singer Cory Glover also had a big role in Platoon. Lead guitar genius is Vernon Reid.
The speaker at the beginning is Malcolm X. ❤
They still perform!
I suggested this masterpiece. Their albums are amazing.
Another great song by them is Letter to A Landlord.
Glamour Boys is another good one. Vivid is the album in which all these songs are on. It is a great album. Funny Vibe is a very groovy song too. Great band.
Will never lose its appeal.. total musical package.
Thank you so much for this suggestion. You never disappoint. 😊👍🏿
Good choice and I also recommend Letter To A Landlord!! Also I recall they covered Talking Heads 'Memories Can't Wait' and Bad Brains 'Sailin' On'
@@carlpeterson8182Love Rears Its Ugly Head is a great one too.
"You gave me power in your gods name" remind you of anyone?
"I exploit you. Still you love me." Damn.. its like they were predicting the future.
It definitely reminds me of someone. If I say the name then someone will say it’s the other guy yo. Lol
true@@jessepinkman7349
It’s an evergreen concept, dude. Ain’t nothing new about it. A thousand years from now, humanity will still be tripping over its own feet over this. True freedom is and has always been a niche interest for the human population and even fewer people even poses the capacity to live a life of responsibility for the kind of freedom that negates the need for political leadership. Humans will always be decided into tribal camps and making petty arguments about why their leader is so much better than the other guy.
And that’s why songs like these hit so hard.
They were predicting the future by looking at the past. This is how it’s always been and how it’s always going to be because people are too stupid to think for themselves and continue to make heroes out of people who lie to them.
I've loved this song since I became aware of it 20 years ago or so and it's relevant as hell in a few countries right now.
This band is so overlooked, man. This song is in my top 10 of greatest songs ever written.
Corey Glover started out trying to be an actor and even landed a part in “Platoon.” In a documentary, some of the cast said when shooting days were finished, Corey and Johnny Depp, an avid guitar player, would do jam sessions in the bar at the hotel.
I had the pleasure of seeing this amazing band in concert in 1989. They were the featured band playing before the Rolling Stones! This was the second time in a big concert venue that the "warm up" band stole the show from the Stones! I waa already a fan of Living Colour but to see them live was a very great experience for me! They ROCKED that show!!
That was the Stones" Steel Wheels reunion tour. I bought 16 tickets and scalped them for huge cash. I only wanted to go to the show to see Living Colour. I did see them at the original Lalapalooza festival and loved them
@@pridehunter2507 Excellent, Man! Yes, it was Steel Wheels!
I saw them on that tour in DC, at the old RFK Stadium. Amazing show.
@@michlkwitz Excellent! Glad we both got to enjoy them. Great music memories to have!!
Same! I saw them in Atlanta when they opened for the Stones & they totally stole the show.
It was me that suggested this song, as in America NOW, THIS SONG IS STILL SO RELATIVE !!
I've loved them from jump, and even though they are not the first Black rock band they are one of the most important. AND I'm excited that they are on tour NOW and I'm going to see them this coming Monday night!
Vernon Reid played guitar on Public Enemy's first 2 albums, Yo Bum Rush The Show and It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. One song from this album called "Funny Vibe" features Chuck D and Flavor Flav helping on vocals.
One of the greatest rock songs ever!
I met them at my college when they performed in concert to promote their first album. They were so down to earth. I have been a fan ever since, every album is amazing. They deserve more recognition for what they have contributed to music.
One of the most powerful songs and videos still to this day.
These guys are amazing! Corey Glover is so well respected in the metal/hard rock community. Vernon Reid (lead guitar) can play any genre at an incredibly high level and produces, etc - a true genius. A much loved band!
I saw Living Colour live in 1989 when they opened up for the Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels tour. They ROCKED it!
Same here.
Living Colour is definitely a rabbit hole worth going down. “Open Letter To A Landlord”, “Glamour Boys”, “Elvis Is Dead”, “Type”, “Under Cover of Darkness”…….so many tunes worth pursuing!
Solstice of You is another great song.
One of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. Vernon Reid played guitar on the first Public Enemy record & their eventual bass player Doug Wimbish was a studio musician for Sugarhill records & played on a bunch of classic hip hop songs. Vernon Reid’s solo albums are criminally underrated as well.
''Vivid'' is a masterpiece...
2024 still on tour , the great Doug Wimbish on bass
Living Colour Is One of The Best Hard Rock Bands Ever!!!
One of my favorite songs. The meaning is good too.
Someone enjoyed it so much that he rubbed his beard on the microphone. 😂
You guys should check out the Bad Brains. They are 4 black dudes from DC that played Jazz together. They noticed this gowing Punk thing happening and they decided to get on the Punk train. That was the late 70's by 82 or about that time they were the most influential and most innovative Hardcore Punk Band around.
Still considered one of the most important Hardcore Bands today. They played a mix of Hardcore Punk and Reggae and they had a stage presence that was out of this world. The singer H. R. (Human Rights) was a wild doing flips on stage. Check them out. Any song on youtube from this live concert film "bad brains live cbgb 1982" maybe Banned in DC or The Big Takeover or Pay to Cum or Attitude its about having a positive mental attitude. the songs are real short you could mix in one of their reggae joints like I and I Rasta. It;s amazing footage of downtown NYC in the early 80's where Hardcore Punk and Hip Hop were freely mixing a lot of special art came from that time and place.
YES YES YES...Bad Brains are essential, critical, indispensable. Just make sure you it's NOT the album Rise...gotta react to the HRA era.
Facts. Bad Brains are central to understanding the black voice in rock. And they are some of the most respected in the genre regardless of race. Truly an example of Black Excellence.
The minute I heard this song I spent weeks practicing the guitar licks. The chorus melodic playing opens it up and elevates the entire song. Just awesome.
This song was used on a "soundpage" in an issue of Guitar Player magazine- Vernon Reid was on the cover and this was my introduction to Living Colour.
It tore my head off. I went to school the very next day (I was 16 and guitar obsessed) and told EVERYONE who'd listen that this was a song that needed to be heard. Still resonates to this day. Timeless.
This song was everywhere when it came out. I always loved it for both the music and the meaning. Great song!
I remember being 7 when this came out and cranking the TV so loud the speakers damn near popped! My mom would hate it but we were all like "THIS ROCKS, MOM"! My dad raised me on classic rock and heavy metal and I thank him so far for that. Thank you Living Colour for doing your thing. i got into hip hop myself a few years earlier and my mom got me into country, pop, Motown, etc. I found rap on my own thank you to The Fat Boys.
Two of the things that made them really stand out from most hard rock bands was their wardrobe and their stage movement. Most metal bands were in that pre-glam look: lots of denim and black leather. On stage, they either stood stock still, headbanged, or did that power stance. These guys wore really bright colors, neon, athletic wear, almost a psychedelic look. Their movements on stage, especially guitarist Reid, were much more anarchic and punk rock. They were a real breath of fresh air...
Three things. Their social commentary.
@@spongo Yes. Good mention...
Visually they owe a lot to 70s era funk bands. It's that style merged with the glam metal style a bit. Think George Clinton.
@@marctoadFunny you mention George Clinton, because I was gonna say Living Colour and the Red Hot Chilipeppers were heavily influenced by George Clinton, in style and music.
That song has my favorite guitar solos ever. Great song to this day.
When this song came out, it completely changed my life. I was 9 years old Dominican New Yorker it fucked me up in a great way. ✌🏽🇩🇴🔥🔥🔥🔥
Dominican also from the Bronx but a little older than you and was and still into LED Zeppelin, stones, Metallica etc. most of my family and friends thought I was weird!
Saw them in Fall 2023. They were fantastic! Corey’s voice is still great. Vernon shreds! Great band. Great show. Will see them again when possible
Living Colour changed this white kid's perspective and worldview. A life-changing experience. Grew up in a small, Wonder Bread white town, surrounded by racists and saw that I was turning into one myself. 35 years later and I'm still a huge fan. Met the guys back in '09 and they're genuinely nice guys. Humble, friendly, and Vernon asked me for my autograph. I could've talked to him for hours, never feeling starstruck.
Reid really shreds it on this AND Glovers voice is still this powerful today. It’s a crime that this song didn’t make it to #1 in 88’/89’. It’s timeless and better than anything else on the charts at this time.
So Lucky I Grew Up On This, Thee Most Underrated Guitar Solo Ever!!! They Were Added To The Bowie Tribute Last Year!! 🔥
I saw them open for The Rolling Stones in Atlanta in 1989. Fantastic!!
I bought the album (Vivid - Mick Jagger was a producer, I think)) - still one of my favorites. I used this song in my history class to teach the concept of “cult of personality.” It not only provided an excellent lesson, it also gave me some unexpected cool points with the students when they discovered I owned the album.
Also see by them:
Open Letter (To a Landlord)
Glamour Boys
I just started watching this channel and I was going back through videos and was wondering if this was back here. This is one of my favorite songs
Man what a song..when it came out we were all shook.
Vernon Reid rocks my world! Go see them live! I saw them open for Extreme recently. I'll go whenever they are in Los Angeles. ❤
Always loved this performance. Great reaction guys!!!
Vernon Reid shreds it OMFG 😮
I love love love Living Colour. My brother introduced me to them in 1986. The lead singer was in the movie Platoon the same year this song was released ❤️❤️❤️ Great channel. Love you guys 🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️
One of my very favorite songs of all time. So relevant even all these years later.
Awesome song. Awesome singer. Incredibly awesome guitarist. Awesome band. Heard they put on a great show but never got a chance to see them.
I loved this song the first time I heard it as a teenager. The symbolism in the video was powerful, too. These guys and RATM opened my eyes to a lot of issues when I was a young kid. I lost my way for a bit, but the ideals that these guys put into a lot of their music resonates with me even more strongly today.
Vernon is a baaaaaaaad man... saw them for the first time at the first Lollapalooza in 1991 and a few times over the years, they are always great live!
😃 Nice to see you guys finally got around it this band💞. I remember when they came out on MTV, and then they came to town,😎
Death was one of the first American punk bands and they were black.
The Urge’s singer is black and they were early ska.
But yeah I remember when this album dropped. It was one of the first CDs I ever bought. I used to listen to it and read the liner notes. “An Open Letter (to a landlord)” was a slow sad song. Whole album was good, but this one is so iconic.
Death is a great band!
One of my favorite rock songs of all time both for the music as well as message...
dang good music right there...massive hit...still hear it on my local rock-metal station to this day!
Thanks guys for reintroducing me to this
Living Colour. I've been a fan since they first came out. They are incredible musicians. Great music all around. You guys should listen to their albums. You are going to be blown away by their music.
I heard Living Colour in the 90s, fantastic band, greetings from Poland
Living Colour was just on tour here in Albuquerque. They played a small but strong venue on a weeknight, only about 250 capacity. But remember New Mexico is low population so I'm sure it's one of their smallest gigs. I missed it because I'm broke, but I wanted to go. Shout out to black rock bands Zulu and Soul Glo etc
If the world is to change, it will be thru music. James Marshal Hendrix. He he he we love great music. Hell yeah.
It was awesome seeing y'all watch this for the first time. Vernon Reid (who is British) is such a fabulous guitarist. This is one of my favorite solos, and what a great song. The message is certainly still pertinent.
Trump and Maga prime example.
@@donthomas7090 yeah, because anti war trump is the problem.
This song and VIDEO was a game changer in 88, i was a fan straight away
Simply spectacular.
I just found and subscribed to this channel and now I'm binge watching their videos and I subscribed
Thank you for coming along with us on this journey!
Even though people consider rock and metal to be "white" music, hard rock fans have ALWAYS welcomed and appreciated any black artists who wanted to jump in into the game! Hendrix, Phil Lynot (thin lizzy), Living Color.... we love it! One big fam.
This song totally rocked! Love it to this day
always great to see more people discover this amazing song.
hard to believe its now 36 years old. i was a junior in High School when it came out. i played the cassingle in my car!
Such, an awesome song. My brother saw their concert in SLC, and said it was great.
Never gets old. Great album too.
Saw them play this summer and they're still amazing.
35 years late but well worth the wait
When the mirror speaks the reflection lies...100%
This was a great album and great band. And Vernon Reid was an amazing guitarist.
Doug Wimbish(bass) and Vernon Reid(guiter) are two of the reasons I picked up bass guitar. Epic. This album never gets old. Pure banger.
The lyrics are A+ The guitar playing is A+++++++
Vernon Reid was/is a guitar legend. The man could shred
Thank you for playing this. I really thought you would like it. Check out some more of their music, a lot of solid messages.
Living Colour still doing shows and going strong!
I was 17 when it came out, I've had this since then. They are incredible. The whole disc is great.
My wife and I saw them on our 1st date in 1988 and the saw them again.on out 35th wedding anniversary 🎉great band!
Brings me back to the skating rink days
This song got LOTS of radio play. What a jam!
Great band !!
They are actually touring again !
Saw them in the late 80's with another band you should check out - Kings X - and they were among the top 3 or 4 bands I have ever seen live. They are remarkable. I saw them last year 30 years later and they are just as great today. Check out Kings X's song Pray. You won't be disappointed. Cheers.
New subscriber. I was 28 when this came out. OMG! I was and am a forever fan of Living Colour! Rock ON, people! Sending hugs and love out into the universe! Peace!
I was 20 years old when this came out.
Man this hasn't aged a bit!!!
Musically I agree with ya... Those threads though 🤣🤣🤣
1988 Debut album "VIVID" they had a heavy rotation on MTV and BET. The Band: Cory Glover - Lead Vocals, Vernon Reid - Guitar, Muz Skillings - Bass, and Will Calhoun - Drums.
I agree with barrydiller542, Vernon Reid was a brutal guitar monster! I f**cking love that guy!
So one needs to resurrect Vernon Reid’s (guitarist) awesome suit. Man! ❤
Better late than never! Glad you ol heads enjoyed this, and now ya know...
Amazing!
Will always adore this work. The brilliance of rock teaching history!
I love when people listen to this song for the first time and totally fuk up the reaction not saying you guys did I've been watching a lot of people and it's like nobody really gets the full message they just say oh wow great song 😅 the message in the song is pretty heavy way ahead of the time plus the dude's voice was incredible
It is ALL our music! These are my musical HEROES!! As a young, black guitarist, I was tired of only being associated with Jimi Hendrix (who made me start playing).
This song even more relevant in 2024 after Cm Punk’s wwe comeback.
I met Vernon Reid after a show at Baltimore’s “Hammerjacks” in the early 90s. I was so gobsmacked at what I had just seen and heard that I couldn’t form sentences. I just said, “WOW”! He probably thought I was an idiot.
This was sooooo big when it came out. Riding in the car windows down radio cranks up.
This is like, in the top ten of best songs ever.
Still completely relevant for our time. Cult of personality is so detrimental to our society.
I feel like the reason this has such lasting power and is still so vital is they didn't have to do professionally (all had various career success), they needed to do it artistically and emotionally! They needed to spit but they aren't rappers, they're rockers! So they killed it. But couldn't sustain with the pressures of so many opportunities to do other things.
What we need are more black heavy metal bands!!!
Never get the credit they deserve. Amazing band!
Whenever I hear this song, I crank it up BIG time