Gil Scott Heron "Televised Revolution" Funk T-Shirt
Everyone in the world knows this cool phrase by now... but I don't think even 10% of you actually know where it came from... hmmm? Well, the classic quote on this wicked jazz t-shirt is from the spoken-word 70's funk-master, Gil-Scott Heron... one of the godfathers of hip-hop and black activism!!
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is the second track on his debut live album "Small Talk at 125th & Lenox" (1970), as well as the first song on his followup studio album "Pieces of a Man" (1971) (both on Flying Dutchman Records)... this street beat poet took a very unconventional approach to his music AND his recording career!
Anyway, if you haven't heard this funk poem yet, you really need visit YouTube right now and listen to it... then come back and buy this shirt for it's dual purpose message... ONE: Gil-Scott Heron is the coolest mofo to ever live among us...and TWO: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised!
Here's a small portion of the culture references used in the song... seriously, this is only a short list:
- "Plug in, turn on, and cop out" (play on Timothy Leary's LSD quote "Turn on, tune in, drop out")
- "Skag" (a street term for heroin)
- "Xerox" (manufacturer of photocopying machines)
- "Steve McQueen" (awesome action film star)
- "Give your mouth sex appeal" (Ultra Brite toothpaste campaign)
- "The revolution will not get rid of the nubs" (Schick razor campaign - Nubs = beard stubble)
- "Instant Replay" (television term used for sports and news)
- "Watts" (referring to the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles)
- "Green Acres" (television show)
- "The Beverly Hillbillies" (television show)
- "Eleven o’clock news" (general phrase for television news)
- "Jackie Onassis" (John F. Kennedys wife, seen repeatedly on TV after his assassination)
- "Francis Scott Key" (author of "The Star-Spangled Banner")
- "Rare Earth" (all-white band on Motown Records)
- "White Tornado" (ad campaign for Ajax bathroom cleaner, "Ajax cleans like a white tornado")
- "White Lightning" (slang for moonshine, as well as a psychedelic 70's rock band)
- "Dove in your bedroom" (TV ad imagery for Dove Deodorant Cream)
- "Tiger in your Tank" (ad campaign for Esso gas stations)
- "Giant in your toilet bowl" (Liquid Plumber television ad, "like having a giant in your toilet bowl")
- "Go better with Coke" (Coca-Cola soda campaign, "Things go better with Coke")
- "Fight the germs that may cause bad breath" (Listerine commercial)
- "Put you in the driver’s seat" (national ad campaign for car rental company, Hertz)
Phew, and that's only the half of the propaganda that's jammed into this famous song... so you can see why we wanted to bring you this Gil-Scott Heron t-shirt... he's quite prolific in his criticism of television and media in general.
This is one of those cool cult tee shirts that you'll regret not buying when you had the chance! Whether you're a big acid jazz fan, a soul-funk-rock music groover, a spoken-word poetry slam junkie, or simply an anti-television pro-activist, this retro Maxell man shirt will get some people's attention!
Dig it man, Rock on...one of our top 5 favorites!!
TAGS: Poetry, Political Rap, Poet, Social Commentary, Fusion, Contemporary Jazz, Funk, t-shirt, t-shirts, shirt, shirts, tee, tees, tee shirt, tee shirts, tshirt, tshirts
