“What’s Going On?” Song Choices

“What’s Going On?” Kris & Adam discuss Simon Fuller’s song choices for the Finale with Ryan Seacrest (‘What’s Going On’  for Kris and  ’A Change is Gonna Come’ for Adam).

K – That Simon Fuller song, What’s Going On, is a huge song, and I think a lot of pressure is on that song, and so it didn’t come off the way that everyone thought it was going to, but, uh -

A – I really liked it.

K – Thanks.

A – I thought it was gorgeous.

K – Fuller picked some huge message songs, I feel like -

A – Yes, they’re both really socially conscious.

K – Yeah, and especially for what’s going on right now. I mean, what’s going on?

A – What is going on? What is going on?

Q – You two are so much alike. It’s really going to be tough for America to decide on this. [Everyone laughs].

K – I know, right?

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Adam talks about the symbolism in his songs:

For me, picking a song, it had to mean something to me, in some way.

When I chose Black or White I knew that it had the original intent, which is very appropriate with our country right now, you know, with our President and what not. And then the other civil rights issues I thought, you know, people would figure that out if they were savvy enough. And they did, which was cool. It always has to mean something. In his Rolling Stone cover interview Adam said: I performed this around the time that the pictures of my ex-boyfriend and I kissing came out, and I thought that the lyrics fit the situation. They also related to the change that the country was going through, with Obama. I wanted to sing something that I could believe in, at that moment

I think Mad World is kind of symbolic, it talks about people who don’t feel like they fit in.

Change is Gonna Come is also symbolic, in that I think anybody who feels oppressed can relate to that song. It’s been a Civil Rights anthem for a long time. There’s also the new Civil Rights issues that are coming up right now. Change is Gonna Come came as a surprise, I wouldn’t have picked that for myself, but when Simon gave it to me I looked at the words and it really moved me and I feel like I connected to it. Change is Gonna Come turned out to be a really cool moment. I think that it had a lot of social relevance considering all of the press that I’d been getting and everything, I thought it was really cool. I really had fun with it. I really felt that it had a powerful message at the heart of it, and that’s the way that that song is supposed to be done. And I got to wear a really cool tie. In his Rolling Stone cover interview Adam said: This civil rights movement is near to my heart, and it felt really good to sing [Change is Gonna Come]. I’m not asking to get married in your church, but you don’t have any right to tell me I can’t do it.

 

Kris sings WHAT’S GOING ON (Studio version)

Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today – Ya

Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what’s going on
What’s going on
Ya, what’s going on
Ah, what’s going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on
Ya, what’s going on
Tell me what’s going on
I’ll tell you what’s going on – Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby
 

Adam sings A CHANGE IS GONNA COME (Studio version)

I was born by the river in a little tent
And just like that river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die
Cos I don’t know what’s out there beyond the sky
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

And then I go to see my brother
And I ask him to help me please
And he just winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees

There were times when I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

Adam sings MAD WORLD (Studio version)

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Goin’ nowhere, goin’ nowhere
Their tears are fillin’ up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dyin’
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
‘Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Mad world, mad world

Children waitin’ for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sits and listen, sits and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dyin’
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
‘Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Mad world, mad world

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dyin’
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
‘Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Mad world, mad world
A raunchy young world
Mad world

Adam sings  BLACK OR WHITE (Studio version)

Black Or White lyrics
I Took My Baby
On A Saturday Bang
Boy Is That Girl With You
Yes We’re One And The Same

Now I Believe In Miracles
And A Miracle
Has Happened Tonight

But, If
You’re Thinkin’
About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

They Print My Message
In The Saturday Sun
I Had To Tell Them
I Ain’t Second To None

And I Told About Equality
An It’s True
Either You’re Wrong
Or You’re Right

I Am Tired Of This Devil
I Am Tired Of This Stuff
I Am Tired Of This Business
Sew When The
Going Gets Rough
I Ain’t Scared Of
Your Brother
I Ain’t Scared Of No Sheets
I Ain’t Scare Of Nobody
Girl When The
Goin’ Gets Mean

[L. T. B. Rap Performance]
Protection
For Gangs, Clubs
And Nations
Causing Grief In
Human Relations
It’s A Turf War
On A Global Scale
I’d Rather Hear Both Sides
Of The Tale
See, It’s Not About Races
Just Places
Faces
Where Your Blood
Comes From
Is Where Your Space Is
I’ve Seen The Bright
Get Duller
I’m Not Going To Spend
My Life Being A Color

[Michael]
Don’t Tell Me You Agree With Me
When I Saw You Kicking Dirt In My Eye

But, If
You’re Thinkin’ About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re Black Or White

I Said If
You’re Thinkin’ Of
Being My Brother
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

Ooh, Ooh
Yea, Yea, Yea Now
Ooh, Ooh
Yea, Yea, Yea Now

It’s Black, It’s White
It’s Tough For You
To Get By
It’s Black , It’s White, Whoo

It’s Black, It’s White
It’s Tough For You
To Get By
It’s Black , It’s White, Whoo

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