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Complacency Is the Enemy

by Jafala

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about

I wrote this Afrobeat influenced tune in response to low voter turnout for the 2016 Presidential U.S. election. As a composer, one of my main inspirations is the music of Afrobeat inventor Fela Kuti. In his pieces, he utilizes poly-rhythms between the various instruments, which usually included two guitars, drums, keys, bass, lead and background vocals, and multiple congas and horns. With so many interlocking repeating phrases, one truly gets the feeling that the "sum of the parts is greater than the whole."

Additionally, Fela was an activist both as a person and with the lyrics of his music. He was not afraid of speaking out, and often was arrested and tortured by the Nigerian police after releasing an album. Fearless, he did not let his oppressors stop him from speaking his truth. My goal was to capture the joy of the Afrobeat groove in "Complacency is the Enemy," and combine this with socially conscious lyrics.

lyrics

One man, puts in overtime, between his sleep and vote he must choose.
Two women, on Nov. 9th, see the consequence of media’s false truth.
Three, students party hard, miss their ride to the voting booth.
U.S. citizens, their selfishness, bring benefits to the chosen few.

Complacency is the enemy - Hate crimes, on the rise now.
Complacency is the enemy - Bigotry will find it’s way if we don’t pay attention.

Complacency is the enemy -- What’s the cost to children?
Complacency is the enemy - Privileged few are placed on top of suffering of others.

Now’s the time - take a stand and fight for citizen’s rights!
Now’s the time - the future needs a push for justice light!

Engage, organize, speak up, care for, see it, criticize, stand up, help out, protest, challenge.…complacency is the enemy.

The declaration written by our founding fathers claimed that “all...are created equally” and yet: 
The lack of commitment to this vision has created a silent majority, while a vocal minority supports a regime bent upon banning “others.”
Where is the sense of decency in this country tis’ of thee?
Not so sweet land of liberty.
Opportunistic land of super rich nobility, which leads to 
Enmity, hostility and toxicity. 
Of thee I sing, of thee I sing.

Ignorance is a felony - What’s the cost to children?
Ignorance is a felony - Hate crimes, on the rise now.

This is why - take a stand and fight for citizen’s rights!
This is why - the future needs a push for justice light!

Engage, organize, speak up, care for, see it, criticize, stand up, help out, protest, challenge, listen, educate…Ignorance is a felony.

Engage, organize, speak up, care for, see it, criticize, stand up, help out,
Engage, organize, speak up, care for, see it, criticize, stand up, help out.

credits

released November 16, 2019
Jafala (Jay Cook): Composition, production, instruments, vocals.
Jafala.com

Gurusangat Singh: Bass, guitar, digital editing, mixing and mastering engineer.
Gurusangatsingh.com

Michael Fraser: Song editing, musical direction.
Michaelfrasermusic.com

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Jafala Brattleboro, Vermont

Jafala's inspirations include, among others, vocalist Bobby McFerrin, African musicians Fela Kuti and Thomas Mapfumo, and Sylvan Esso (electronics and vocal duo.) His artistic intention is to tell a story through his music, one that moves his audience towards a spiritual journey with danceable grooves, socially conscious lyrics,“invented language”, world instruments and soulful sound design. ... more

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