(July 6, 2017) Songs become anthems after being adopted in that role by fans. There is something in the song’s lyrics or the story that connects to a desire or need of the fan base and the listeners respond – sometimes in totally unexpected ways. Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is a song about a woman who lets her ex know that his departure prompted her to find a strength that she did not know that she had. However, the tune has become an anthem for anyone who survived any crisis.
(July 6, 2017) Songs become anthems after being adopted in that role by fans. There is something in the song’s lyrics or the story that connects to a desire or need of the fan base and the listeners respond – sometimes in totally unexpected ways. Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is a song about a woman who lets her ex know that his departure prompted her to find a strength that she did not know that she had. However, the tune has become an anthem for anyone who survived any crisis.
I don’t know how know Ollie Gabriel’s anthem “Running Man” will resonate with listeners, but I can say with certainty that this anthem will inspire and motivate. The cut begins with a story drenched in the blues. “See, I was born without no shoes/And I told the hospital doctor cut me loose/and just as soon as my legs could move/I told my mama there was something I had to do.” The songs fuses lyrics that have those blues sensibility, delivered by a Louisiana based singer with an old soul raspy baritone, backed by sanctified piano playing, and a driving and insistently funky bass line that propels the song forward. It will be a welcome addition to my workout playlist. Check it out.
Ollie Gabriel – “Running Man”