16 Bars is a new recurring column at MusiQology. When we want to get a sense of the discourse around a particular pop culture moment or event, we search the web, highlighting diverse voices across social media and aggregating them in a kind of thematic digital verse, with our own Genius-style annotations where necessary. A sign of a rapper’s ability is his or her ability to freestyle 16 bars—MusiQology’s piece is an improvisational sampling of speakers in concert.
As the curtain lifted on Sunday’s Academy Awards and Chris Rock strutted onto the stage in his white tuxedo, there was no operatic swell of romantic strings to remind viewers of the magic of the movies. There was no classical music, no orchestration, no standard-issue fine fare. Instead, of all songs, Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” blared from the speakers on Hollywood’s biggest night.
Beginning and ending the show with the song—which was written for Spike Lee’s iconic (yet Oscar-snubbed) Do the Right Thing in 1989 and at one point includes the lyric “mother f*ck [Oscar winner] John Wayne”—was a shocking choice. It seemed to be an acknowledgment that this was, as Rock would say, going to be a “different” kind of show, but was it possible to be “different” enough that this was a suitable choice?
“[We wanted to] really set the tone for what the night was going to be and do something that was representative of Chris, and who Chris was, and the vibe and tone Chris wanted to set for the evening,” music supervisor Byron Phillips told EW. “A lot of Oscar award show music hasn’t been super aggressive. We wanted just, overall, the music to be more aggressive in the show this year.”
And yet, the decision–ostensibly a provocation–left many scratching their heads, unsure of how to react. The New York Times‘ Jon Caramanica called it “good theme music for an assault from within.” HOT97 host Peter Rosenberg was apoplectic: “To see the awards show end with this powerful song playing and just rich white actors laughing with each other, Jared Leto in his rose tie and Charlize Theron in her scoop neck dress, the whole concept to me was so offensive,” he said. And Public Enemy member Professor Griff had the final word, telling TMZ the next day: “The show can’t claim the blackness of Public Enemy’s message.”
Did the Oscars get it right? Or was the tribute a bit too on-the-nose from an institution that was about to be skewered by Rock himself? Was the broadcast laughing at itself, or did the choice suggest a kind of entitled self-congratulation? Had they earned the right to use the song?
Twitter represented a similar progression—from disbelief to elation to befuddlement. Here’s our 16 Bars.
Chris Rock enters to Fight the Power. #Oscars #IMDbOscars
— IMDb (@IMDb) February 29, 2016
Chris Rock comes out to "Fight The Power". HERE WE GO. #Oscars
— Ryan McGee (@TVMcGee) February 29, 2016
Chris Rock coming out to Fight the Power is already a win #Oscars #Oscars2016
— Jason Weintraub (@JRtheWriter) February 29, 2016
.@chrisrock made the quite the entrance. #FightThePower #Oscars https://t.co/osSo3z206Q
— Genius (@Genius) February 29, 2016
Chris Rock held it down for us in the Oscars monologue. Said what needed to be said. And he came out to "Fight the Power." #OscarsSoWhite
— Jesse Washington (@jessewashington) February 29, 2016
Spotlight is fantastic. Super excited that they won Best Picture! #Oscars Fight the power!
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) February 29, 2016
Ending the telecast with "Fight the Power" seems beyond disingenuous. #Oscars
— Kyle Anderson (@FunctionalNerd) February 29, 2016
OSCARS SO WHITE ENDS WITH FIGHT THE POWER LOL FOREVER
— Robert Greene (@prewarcinema) February 29, 2016
WHO HIJACKED THE AUX CORD FROM THE OSCARS?!?! FIGHT THE POWER AT MIDNIGHT?!?! WHAT?!?!?!
— 6'5 (@six5media) February 29, 2016
Hmmm… I’d have gone with “Burn Hollywood Burn,” but “Fight the Power Works.” #Oscars #PublicEnemy
— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) February 29, 2016
LOL They’re playing “Fight the Power.” It’s the OSCARS — this is the official ceremony of The Power.
— Michelle Garcia (@mzMichGarcia) February 29, 2016
The real MVP of the Oscars are the @ABCNetwork producers who had the ballz to use "Fight The Power" as the backdrop. Salutes! #PublicEnemy
— A-King (@Its_AKing) February 29, 2016
Oscars: Yeah let's play "Fight the Power" for the closing credits!!…Staff: So who's the "Power"?…Oscars: That would be us…🤐
— Ben Williams (@benwmsonbass) February 29, 2016
Worth remembering that "Fight the Power" wasn't even nominated and "Do The Right Thing" didn't win any Oscars. But NOW "we" recognize them.
— Ben Carrington (@BenHCarrington) February 29, 2016
The song FightThe Power is beyond me & the crew.The point of the song is a call to making change eventually not just applauding the thought
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Art speaking. Fight The Power. Make change.Demand respect. Do your own awards RIGHT & give indie artists & actors a chance to make a LIVING
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
