Naleighna Kai
The O ’ Jays
Naleighna Kai
Here too , as I watched the opening to the O ’ Jays performance unfold , brought about feelings of sorrow and hopelessness . The reminder of what my ancestors experienced then and is also a direct correlation to today ’ s experiences with injustices against Black , Brown and all People of Color being met with indifference and apathy . The song , Ship Ahoy , does not give the listener false hope that “ everything ’ s going to be alright .” The work is chilling and profound , and is something that everyone should listen to , then take a visit to an O ’ Jays performance to witness it firsthand .
The New York Times reviewed the album and called the song “ dark and occasionally spine-chilling .” The Miami Herald said it was “ a dark , atmospheric , frightening masterpiece that ’ ll send a shiver up your spine .” Truth ! The album cover shows the band in a ship ’ s slave hold with a powerful image of slaves cramped together in a tight formation . The imagery already warns that this isn ’ t usual O ’ Jay ’ s musical fare . The love songs , the lighter themes of family and togetherness .
Equally , I later learned that one other song from the album , Don ’ t Call Me Brother was something The Los Angeles Times considered “ the cream of the vocal trio ’ s angry music — a nearly nine-minute long album track that protests hypocritical claims of racial unity from backstabbers . Hmmmmm . Brings to mind a few Black politicians and Black leaders , eh ? A year before , their song , Backstabbers was inspired by Smiling Faces , The Undisputed Truth . All of this brings to mind , the times during slavery where the drums , music , and dance were secretly used to convey messages without the master ’ s knowledge , tell history that some didn ’ t want to be forgotten , and express emotions that could not be voiced in the presence of those who enslaved them .
Marvin Gaye ’ s socially aware , Trouble Man , which followed an even more socially conscious album , What ’ s Going on ? was monumental , not only , in the fact that he had fought with Berry Gordy , the head of Motown , for the freedom to produce songs of his choice ; but also that what he preferred to focus on at that time was a deep , chilling , and sometimes inspiring message in the face of war and injustice . Though , unsure of the reception , songs from Gaye ’ s album not only shared the Black experience through music and words , but became his most controversial and successful work to date .
Using melodies and messages , Gaye , Undisputed Truth , and The O ’ Jays , were trying to tell our grandparents , parents , and now us , something . The album has been reissued by several records labels : Philadelphia International , Epic Records , Legacy Records , Columbia Records , Sis Records , Sony Records with a bonus track , a live version of “ Put Your Hands Together ” recorded in London in 1974 .
That albums also brings to mind their most famous song , “ For the Love of Money ” which has meanings and truth that are as relevant today as it was in 1973 , when the album first released . New Jack City brought the song to the forefront as Eddie Levert ’ s sons , Gerald ( with is fine self !) and Sean along with Marc to sing a remixed version of the song that blended with vocal group , Troop , crooing , Living Just Enough for the City — a Stevie Wonder classic . The song , which tells that money would make people do bad things , is not too far off the mark , as our witnessed by the current political regime , the rampant use of drugs and the addicted in America , and the underbelly class who preys on the average working man and woman . Queen Latifah puts some dynamic prose that shares insight to the drug world , then encourages the singers to “ Kick the ballistics .” What all of them were kicking was absolute truth .
We would do well to give these songs a good listen and figure out what has or has not happened in the over forty years since its initial release . Progress toward equality , justice , and humanity has been slow or stagnant indeed . I love music , any kind of music . Especially , when it provokes emotions and experiences we should not forget .
NKLC Magazine | 51