Tag: american anthem

Make America Love Again – THE REMIXES is released on September 17^th in all digital stores. The video, which has now won 12 film festival awards across the world including ‘Best Film For Social Change’ ‘Best Music Video’ ‘Best Song’ and ‘Best Original Short’ is available to view on YouTube. 

“Francesca Confortini and Maxine Sparkles serenade the spirit of America with the soulful offering…”

Matt Cassidy, Indie Eye Film Festival

The Woolfman was inspired by the words of American filmmaker Spike Lee on BBC TV and wrote the song in a dream. Driven by the wish to “Heal the Soul of America” the songwriter and producer collaborated with one of the UK’s leading independent filmmakers Tone Davies to make a music video for release during lockdown 2021. Shot in the UK on mobile phones the global pandemic has helped shape this video. It has gone on to catch  the eyes and ears of music lovers the world over. At this time in history the message embedded in ‘Make America Love Again’ is more poignant than ever. 

“Sometimes it’s the simplest of words and expressions that can resonate deeply within someone…”

Music Vein

Capetown- born, The Woolfman left South Africa for the last time at the age of 16 repelled by the inequities of the apartheid system which were in full force at the time. Since then, he has been a vocal and active opponent of racism and all forms of injustice. This has been a consistent theme in his songwriting. In 2018 he watched director Spike Lee being interviewed on BBC television saying : “We only have to make America Love again…”. This sentiment reminded him that what happens in America can often have an effect around the world. That same night, a tune came to him… the lyrics emerged all at once, as if from outside himself and a new American anthem was created. 

“Director Tone Davies utilizes this old adage perfectly, by forgoing the bells and whistles of big shiny sets, decorative costumes, and stunning visual effects. Instead choosing to focus on what is really important to the world right now.”

Dream Machine International Film Festival

The Woolfman collaborated with singers Sparkles & Francesca Confortini on the original ‘gospel’ version of the track, which is fast becoming a new American Anthem, they also feature on the remixes along with the amazing Martha Lewis.

The Woolfman acknowledges: “Obama once said ‘Do we care to match the reality of America to its ideals? I am not yet ready to abandon the possibility of America.’ This is the message of  ‘Make America Love Again’ – the possibility of America as a beacon of democracy, hope and justice, leading the way in an increasingly turbulent and unpredictable world.” 

Make America Love Again – THE REMIXES is released on September 17^th in all digital stores.

1. Make America Love Again “Spike Says “ Deep Remix
2. Make America Love Again “Spike Says” Club Remix
3. Make America Love Again “Spike Says” Club Remix Radio Edit

We are in the final – another film festival success for our project. For those of you who missed it I wrote “Make America Love Again”  after hearing Spike Lee – in a moment of inspiration find those words. They inspired me and I wrote the song that night.

I have asked myself repeatedly if this ambition – to create a new American Anthem is of any value given the bigger picture, given the reality of what is happening in the USA. Can I really make a difference?

My answer fluctuates between “no” and “maybe”. In the “no” is a sense of powerlessness, at the seeming immutability of racism in the police and institutions in the US and across the world. In the “maybe” is the knowledge that change only comes when individuals have ideas, connect with others and start to agitate for change. Emma Dabiri says “linking our struggles together is the work of coalition-building, a vision wherein many people can see their interest identified and come together for the common good. We can start to tell new stories rather than fall back on fault lines that were designed to divide us”.

Thus I can and do care, I do feel connected and solidarity with George Floyd and all the other victims of brutality and violence. I have been subjected to brutality and violence in my on life. I have been bullied and picked on, scared for my life. I was once asked if I had any connection to the Holocaust. I was angry, for every Jew the Holocaust experience is ingrained in every cell and so is the fear of being singled out, that it could so easily happen again.

There is a part of me constantly vigilant, on a dark night, in a crowded bar – wondering who is out to get me, how can I be safe. WHO WILL BE NEXT? WILL I BE NEXT? If this is only a small degree of the experience of the experience of being focused on for the colour of your skin it is still too much and sometimes unbearable. Cultural trauma lives on through the generations and in our fight against racism and injustice we are looking for healing on an individual and a societal level. In Spike Lee’s film Black Klansman Ron Stallworth says “If one black man, aided by a bevy of good, decent, dedicated, open-, and liberal-minded whites and Jews can succeed in prevailing over a group of white racists by making them look like the ignorant fools they truly are, then imagine what a nation of like-minded individuals can accomplish.”

I conclude that my efforts mean something, that they are worth it, that I can try in my own way to make a difference, to promote unity and solidarity. As Emma Abiri says “I am doing something not just saying something”. That is enough for me to keep at this for a very long time!

“Spike Lee – meet your thoughts in Cannes! Our  New American Anthem, ‘Make America Love Again” is Official Selection at Cannes World Film Festival”

Dear Spike Lee,

We have been selected for Cannes World Film festival. You will be the official Cannes Film Festival https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/ jury President! Thank you for inspiring our song and our project. This is the most important act of a lifetime and came from that extraordinary moment of inspiration I witnessed when you spoke to the BBC.

 Ron Stallworth speaks for me and millions of others when he says: “If one black man, aided by a bevy of good, decent, dedicated, open-, and liberal-minded whites and Jews can succeed in prevailing over a group of white racists by making them look like the ignorant fools they truly are, then imagine what a nation of like-minded individuals can accomplish.” – Ron Stallworth, Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime

For me it is poignant that he mentioned the Jews because I believe that we have a shared experience and a natural alliance. Most Jews will acknowledge the innate fear of a Klan that comes in every country, in many forms, in bars, supermarkets at school, college and the workplace.

Felix Kendrickson: You are going to take this lie detector test. Take a seat.
Flip Zimmerman: What is this? Is this your Jew den? Is this where you make your candles, you know, and your lampshades?
Felix Kendrickson: No, you’re going to take this lie detector test.
Flip Zimmerman: Open the damn door. This is some lame bullshit.
Felix Kendrickson: Lame or not, you’re taking this Jew lie detector test.

So we sometimes try and hide but the fear of being called out and attacked – and the experience of these things is always present.

In the dialogue between Ron and Flip:

Flip Zimmerman: Well, I’m not risking my life to prevent some rednecks from lighting a couple sticks on fire.
Ron Stallworth: This is the job. What’s your problem?
Flip Zimmerman: That’s my problem. For you, it’s a crusade. For me, it’s a job. It’s not personal, nor should it be.
Ron Stallworth: Why haven’t you bought into this?
Flip Zimmerman: Why should I?
Ron Stallworth: Because you’re Jewish, brother. The so-called chosen people. You’ve been passing for a WASP. White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, cherry pie, hot dog, white boy. It’s what some light-skinned black folks do. They pass for white. Doesn’t that hatred you’ve been hearing the Klan say doesn’t that piss you off?
Flip Zimmerman: Of course it does.
Ron Stallworth: Then why you acting like you ain’t got skin in the game, brother?
Flip Zimmerman: Rookie, that’s my fucking business.
Ron Stallworth: It’s our business.

It is all our business and these are dark times. Barack Obama said he believes in the “possibility of America”. This is the message behind Make America Love Again. It is even more important today when both Ukraine and Taiwan face possible invasion. Only the USA stands powerful enough to protect us across the world, the same as during World War 2. There is much wrong with America but much can be right, but thank goodness America is there – right now.

Spike – thank you again…
https://40acres.com/