Let Robeson Sing

Last updated

"Let Robeson Sing"
Let Robeson Sing.jpg
Single by Manic Street Preachers
from the album Know Your Enemy
Released10 September 2001
Recorded2000
Genre
Length3:46
Label Epic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Manic Street Preachers singles chronology
"Ocean Spray"
(2001)
"Let Robeson Sing"
(2001)
"There by the Grace of God"
(2002)

"Let Robeson Sing" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in September 2001 by record label Epic as the fourth and final single from their sixth studio album, Know Your Enemy . It reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart. [2]

Contents

Content

The song is a tribute to the black American actor, singer and civil rights campaigner Paul Robeson. It shares its title with a book by Phil Cope and others, published jointly by the Paul Robeson Cymru Committee and the Bevan Foundation in 2001, with a reprint being published by the National Library of Wales in 2003. [3] All three members of the band – James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire – share the writing credits. [4] "Let Robeson Sing" was the commercial billing used for one of the first remote concerts when Paul Robeson sang live from New York to an audience at the St. Pancras Town Hall in London, held on May 26, 1957 over a newly installed high quality transatlantic telephone cable despite the US government's restrictions on his freedom of movement. [5]

The CD includes the B-sides "Masking Tape", "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" – previously sung by Robeson – and the promotional video. The 12" vinyl edition contained "Fear of Motion" as well as two remixes of the title track, one by Ian Brown and the other by Felix Da Housecat. [6]

Release

"Let Robeson Sing" was released on 10 September 2001 by record label Epic as the fourth and final single from the band's sixth studio album, Know Your Enemy. The single reached number 19 in the UK charts on 22 September 2001, [2] and was their lowest-charting single since "She Is Suffering" reached number 25 in 1994.

On 17 December 2011 "Let Robeson Sing" was the tenth of thirty-eight songs performed at the one-off A Night of National Treasures live performance at The O2 Arena (London). The lead vocals were performed by special guest Gruff Rhys of the Super Furry Animals, with James Dean Bradfield explaining to the audience that Rhys had been set to perform the song at the band's 2001 performance in Havana, Cuba, but circumstances had prevented this from happening. [3]

Video

The video was directed by Andrew Dosunmu and filmed at the Paul Robeson Theatre in Brooklyn. [7]

Track listing

All music written and composed by Nick Jones, James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore.

CD single 1
  1. "Let Robeson Sing" – 3:46
  2. "Masking Tape" – 4:11
  3. "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" (Traditional) – 2:07
  4. "Let Robeson Sing" (video)
CD single 2
  1. "Let Robeson Sing" – 3:46
  2. "Let Robeson Sing" (Ian Brown Mix) – 5:01
  3. "Let Robeson Sing" (Felix Da Housecat Mix) – 6:17
  4. "Let Robeson Sing" (Live at Teatro Karl Marx, Havana, 17 February 2001)
  5. "Let Robeson Sing" (Video from Cuba)
12" vinyl
Side A
  1. "Fear of Motion" – 2:46
  2. "Let Robeson Sing" (Ian Brown Mix) – 5:01
Side B
  1. "Let Robeson Sing" (Felix Da Housecat Mix) – 6:17

Personnel

Manic Street Preachers
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 19 [2]
UK chart performance
UK Top 40
Week01
Position
19

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manic Street Preachers</span> Welsh rock band

Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Welsh rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, in 1986. The band consists of cousins James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore, plus Nicky Wire. They form a key part of the 1990s Welsh Cool Cymru cultural movement.

<i>Know Your Enemy</i> (Manic Street Preachers album) 2001 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Know Your Enemy is the sixth studio album by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 19 March 2001 by record label Epic. It was supported by four singles; two of them, "So Why So Sad" and "Found That Soul", were released on the same day for promotional purposes.

<i>Forever Delayed</i> Manic Street Preachers album

Forever Delayed is a greatest hits album and DVD by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released in 2002 by record label Epic. The album included three singles which had never appeared on earlier albums, as well as two new songs, the single "There by the Grace of God" and "Door to the River".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Stole the Sun from My Heart</span> 1999 single by Manic Street Preachers

"You Stole the Sun from My Heart" is a song by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, released as the third single from their fifth studio album, This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998), on 8 March 1999. All three members of the band—James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore, and Nicky Wire—share the writing credits. The song reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and number two in Iceland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsunami (Manic Street Preachers song)</span> 1999 single by Manic Street Preachers

"Tsunami" is a song by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, released as a single on 5 July 1999 through Epic Records. It was the fourth and final single released from their fifth studio album, This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998). All three members of the band—James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire—share the writing credits. The single peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Why So Sad</span> 2001 single by Manic Street Preachers

"So Why So Sad" is a song by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, jointly released in February 2001 as the first single from their sixth studio album, Know Your Enemy (2001), alongside "Found That Soul". All three members of the band—James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire—share the writing credits. The song reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, one place above "Found That Soul".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Found That Soul</span> 2001 single by Manic Street Preachers

"Found That Soul" is a single by the Manic Street Preachers, released on 26 February 2001 from the Know Your Enemy album. Writing credit was shared by all three members of the band, James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire. The song reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Is Suffering</span> 1994 single by Manic Street Preachers

"She Is Suffering" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in October 1994 by record label Epic as the third and final single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible. It was their last single to feature Richey Edwards before his disappearance on 1 February 1995. The single reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart on 15 October 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revol (song)</span> 1994 single by Manic Street Preachers

"Revol" is a song by the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in August 1994 by the Epic record label as the second single from their third studio album, The Holy Bible, which was released later in the month. The song reached number 22 in the UK Singles Chart on 13 August 1994.

<i>New Art Riot</i> 1990 EP by Manic Street Preachers

New Art Riot E.P. is an EP by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. Released on 25 June 1990 by the Damaged Goods record label, it was the band's first release to feature the four-piece line-up of James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore.

<i>Postcards from a Young Man</i> 2010 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Postcards from a Young Man is the tenth studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 20 September 2010. The Manics began recording the album in October 2009 at their Faster Studio in Cardiff and finished in June 2010. The album was intended by the band as "one last shot at mass communication".

<i>Rewind the Film</i> 2013 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Rewind the Film is the eleventh studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was recorded in 2013 and released on 16 September 2013 by record label Columbia. The sound is very different from previous records and is more acoustic-driven. It features guests Lucy Rose, Cate Le Bon and Richard Hawley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me the Wonder</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Show Me the Wonder" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album, Rewind the Film, on 9 September 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthem for a Lost Cause</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Anthem for a Lost Cause" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It is the second single released from the band's eleventh studio album, Rewind the Film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Futurology (song)</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Futurology" is the second single released by the Manic Street Preachers from their twelfth studio album, Futurology. The song features keyboards from Super Furry Animals member Cian Ciaran. The single was released on 22 September 2014. It is a duet between James Dean Bradfield, the main vocalist, and Nicky Wire, the band's bassist.

<i>Resistance Is Futile</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Resistance Is Futile is the thirteenth album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 13 April 2018 through Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Blue</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"International Blue" is a song by Manic Street Preachers, released as a single in December 2017. This song is the first single for the album Resistance Is Futile (2018), written by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distant Colours</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Distant Colours" is the second single taken from the Manic Street Preachers' thirteenth album Resistance Is Futile (2018). It was released on 16 February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan & Caitlin</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Dylan & Caitlin" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers, released on 9 March 2018, taken from the album Resistance Is Futile (2018), and written by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore.

"Rosebud" is a song by Manic Street Preachers originally meant to be released as a part of their 2001 album Know Your Enemy until the band only released one album as opposed to the original two that were planned, cutting out another unreleased song "Studies in Paralysis". It was released on 22 July 2022, along with its music video directed by Kieran Evans. The music video contains 1970s footage from the BBC archive.

References

  1. Pareles, Jon (8 October 2009). "A Mass of Angry Ideas, Set to Martial Melodies". The New York Times . Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Manic Street Preachers | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 Power, Martin (17 October 2010). Manic Street Preachers. Omnibus Press.
  4. "Let Robinson Sing".
  5. "Robeson sings: the first transatlantic telephone cable". Science Museum. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. "manic street preachers discography".
  7. Jacobs, Sean (16 November 2009). "Let Robeson Sing". Africa Is A Country. Retrieved 29 May 2009.