They Don't Care About Us
Kelly Rowland and Sam Perry take on Michael Jackson's protest song on The Voice Australia
Sam Perry is one of the most unusual contestants to have ever been on an edition of The Voice. He’s a looper and does the most incredible things with his voice. I highly recommend checking out his journey on the show. It was not without controversy because he didn’t define himself as a singer, however, he was using his voice and the show is called The Voice, so…¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I want to talk about this performance. On the show, in the finale it’s traditional to do a duet with your celebrity coach. Sam’s coach was Kelly Rowland, who came through Destiny’s Child to have a solid solo career. She convinced him to join her at his audition when after everyone was making the case as to what they would do for him she said, “The question is, what do you want to do? Because I’m the coach that’s just gonna make you do you.” Throughout the season she stretches him but always keeping his style at the core. That blossoms here where not only he gets to do him, she gets to do her. And it’s glorious.
I was busy with other things because I missed this song when it came out. The song was wrapped in controversy about some lyrics being anti-Semitic but Jackson insisted it wasn’t. He had the single re-released with a changed vocal saying he recognized that he unintentionally caused harm. The lyrics speak of police brutality and Black Lives Matter adopted the song at protests. This is what Rowland is referencing here.
Out of respect for Jackson’s abuse victims, I’m not going to link to any of his versions of the song but you’re welcome to search them out, especially the video that he shot highlighting the poverty in Brazil shot by Spike Lee. Enjoy your song of the day.