In light of his passing, we have dedicated this week’s Throwback Thursday to Nelson Mandela with Tracy Chapman’s Talking ‘Bout A Revolution, performed at his 70th Birthday Tribute concert.
It comes with great sadness to announce the passing of Nelson Mandela at the age of 95. The former South African president and activist died peacefully in his sleep after many years of illness and it only seems fair that we pay tribute to his unfathomable work against apartheid and for the rights of so many. In 1988, a 70th Birthday Tribute concert was staged at the old Wembley Stadium in London. A plethora of major stars turned out for the concert including Whitney Houston, The Bee Gees and briefly, Stevie Wonder, despite an infamous incident involving a lost hard disc. One of the performance that day came from Tracy Chapman and her short but moving rendition of Talking ‘Bout A Revolution was one of three songs she sang. The emotion behind her lyrics were more than evident and her performances inadvertently shot her to stardom. Fortunately, it would be only two more years of incarceration for Nelson Mandela before he was finally released.
Stream it below and if you can, watch more of the performances from that day. Rise In Power, Mandela.
