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| "Sun City" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byArtists United Against Apartheid | |
| from the albumSun City | |
| B-side | "Not So Far Away (Dub Version)" |
| Released | October 16, 1985[1][2] |
| Genre | |
| Length | 5:45 |
| Label | Manhattan |
| Songwriter(s) | Steven Van Zandt |
| Producer(s) |
|
"Sun City" is a 1985protest song written bySteven Van Zandt, produced by Van Zandt andArthur Baker and recorded byArtists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to theSouth African policy ofapartheid. The song declared that all the artists involved would refuse to perform atSun City, a resort which was located in thebantustan ofBophuthatswana, one of a number of internationally unrecognized states created by the South African government to forcibly relocate its black population.
Steven Van Zandt was interested in writing a song about theSun City resort, in theNorth West Province of South Africa, to make parallels with the plight ofNative Americans.Danny Schechter, at the time a journalist withABC News'20/20, suggested that the song should be a different kind of "We Are the World", or as Schechter explained, "a song about change not charity, freedom not famine".[3]
Schechter suggested that Van Zandt include the names of the artists who had played at Sun City in defiance of thecultural boycott on South Africa imposed for its policy ofapartheid. "I was probably still thinking of 20/20's exposé of conservative Africanists 15 years earlier", says Schechter.[citation needed]
References to performers who had played at Sun City appeared in the demo but were omitted from the final version.[4][5] The songwriterPaul Simon declined to contribute, as he felt the list of names was inappropriate: "You've got to give people a chance to say, 'I shouldn't have done that.'"[6] Among the names was Simon's friendLinda Ronstadt.[6] Simon defended Ronstadt, saying: "I know that her intention was never to support the government there ... She made a mistake. She's extremely liberal in her political thinking and unquestionably antiapartheid."[6] Simon also felt his upcoming albumGraceland, recorded in South Africa and released the following year, would be his "own statement" on the issue.[7] Ronstadt provided guest vocals onGraceland.[7]
When Van Zandt was finished writing "Sun City", he, Baker and Schechter spent the next several months searching for artists to participate in recording it. Van Zandt initially declined to inviteBruce Springsteen, not wanting to take advantage of their friendship, but Schechter had no problem asking himself; Springsteen accepted the invitation. Van Zandt also had reservations about inviting jazz giantMiles Davis, whom Schechter also contacted; with minimal persuasion, Davis also accepted. Eventually, Van Zandt, Baker and Schechter gathered a wide array of artists, includingDJ Kool Herc,Grandmaster Melle Mel,The Fat Boys,Rubén Blades,Bob Dylan,Herbie Hancock,Ringo Starr and his sonZak Starkey,Lou Reed,Run-DMC,Peter Gabriel,David Ruffin,Eddie Kendricks,Darlene Love,Bobby Womack,Afrika Bambaataa,Kurtis Blow,Jackson Browne andDaryl Hannah (his girlfriend at the time),Bono,George Clinton,Keith Richards,Ronnie Wood,Peter Wolf,Bonnie Raitt,Daryl Hall andJohn Oates,Jimmy Cliff,Big Youth,Michael Monroe,Peter Garrett,Ron Carter,Ray Barretto,Gil Scott-Heron,Kashif,Nona Hendryx,Pete Townshend,Pat Benatar,Clarence Clemons,Stiv Bators, andJoey Ramone.[citation needed]
The song combines elements ofhip-hop (which was beginning to achieve mainstream popularity at the time),R&B, andhard rock. The main hook is multiple successive artists singing "I, I, I, I, I, I", followed by all the artists together singing "ain't gonna play Sun City!"
A music video directed byJonathan Demme withGodley & Creme was also produced.
"Sun City" reached No. 38 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart in December 1985 (and #42Cash Box).[8] Only about half[citation needed] of American radio stations played "Sun City". Some stations objected to the lyrics' explicit criticism of US PresidentRonald Reagan's policy of "constructive engagement", particularlyGeorge Clinton's andJoey Ramone's lines in the song "Our government tells us / We're doing all we can / Constructive engagement is / Ronald Reagan's plan." (Ramone also expressed open discontent and criticism towards him with theRamones song "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg".)[9] "Sun City" was banned in apartheid South Africa itself.[10]
The song did somewhat better overseas, reaching No. 21 on theUK Singles Chart, No. 8 in Ireland, and peaking at No. 4 in both Australia[11] and New Zealand.[12] It achieved chart action in a number of European countries, becoming a Top 5 hit in Sweden, Belgium and The Netherlands.[13] It was also a top ten single in Canada in December 1985 and January 1986.[14]
Billboard magazine's review of the single stated that it "showcases an overwhelming array of all-star voices, keeps up a blistering urban/dance tempo, and pulls no punches on the message."[15]John Leland atSpin said, "while the catchy hooks gather momentum on the main vocal lines, the hottest action is between them when everyone fights to scat the fill. Even the breakfast-cereal stars here sing hard and gruff."[16]
"Sun City" was selected as Record of the Year by some of the most influential music critics, because it topped the prestigious internationalPazz & Jop Critics Poll for best single of the year.[17]
Van Zandt and Schechter also struggled to get their documentary seen.Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) refused to broadcast thenon-profit filmThe Making of Sun City[18] even though it won theInternational Documentary Association's top honors in 1986. PBS claimed the featured artists were also involved in making the film and were therefore "self-promoting".[citation needed] In 1987,WNYC-TV, the New York City-ownedpublic television station, aired an updated version of the documentary, produced by filmmakerBill Lichtenstein along with Schechter. The film included updates about the Sun City resort and apartheid, as well as the success of the Sun City video. In addition to airing the documentary, WNYC-TV made the film available over the PBS system to public television stations across the country for broadcast.
The album and single raised more than US$1 million for anti-apartheid projects, but it paled in comparison with the popular and financial success of "We Are the World". It premiered at theUnited Nations, thanks to the Special Committee Against Apartheid and UN officers such asAracelly Santana.[citation needed]
Oliver Tambo and the ANC's school inTanzania "was sure happy when we gave them a big check", according to Schechter.
In South Africa, "Sun City" inspired musicianJohnny Clegg to create a local organization similar to Van Zandt's. "Sun City" also became the catalyst for the 1988-91South Africa Now TV series.
"Sun City" was not the firstpop song to attack apartheid.Gil Scott-Heron had recorded his song "Johannesburg" in 1975, followed byPeter Gabriel's "Biko" (1980),Randy Newman's "Christmas in Capetown" (1983),the Special AKA's "Nelson Mandela" (1984), andStevie Wonder's "It's Wrong (Apartheid)" (1985). The integrated African bandJuluka, featuring Johnny Clegg, also recorded songs in the 1980s that criticized apartheid.[19]
