Sun City (song)

"Sun City" is a 1985 protest song written by Steven Van Zandt, produced by Van Zandt and Arthur Baker and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to the South African policy of apartheid. The song declared that all the artists involved would refuse to perform at Sun City, a resort which was located within the bantustan of Bophuthatswana, one of a number of internationally unrecognized states created by the South African government to forcibly relocate its black population.

"Sun City"
Single by Artists United Against Apartheid
from the album Sun City
B-side"Not So Far Away (Dub Version)"
ReleasedOctober 25, 1985
Genre
Length5:45
LabelManhattan
Songwriter(s)Steven Van Zandt
Producer(s)Steven Van Zandt

Recording

Van Zandt was interested in writing a song about South Africa's Sun City casino resort, to make parallels with the plight of Native Americans. Danny Schechter, at the time a journalist with ABC 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."[1]

As Van Zandt was writing it, Schechter suggested that he include the names of the artists who had played Sun City in defiance of a United Nations-sanctioned cultural boycott. "I was probably still thinking of 20/20's exposé of conservative Africanists 15 years earlier", says Schechter.

References to specific performers who had played in Sun City appeared in the demo but were omitted from the final version.[2][3] Paul 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.'"[4] Among the names was Simon's friend Linda Ronstadt.[4] 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."[4]

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 invite Bruce 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 giant Miles Davis, whom Schechter also contacted; with minimal persuasion, Davis also accepted. Eventually, Van Zandt, Baker and Schechter gathered a wide array of artists, including DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Melle Mel, The Fat Boys, Rubén Blades, Bob Dylan, Herbie Hancock, Ringo Starr and his son Zak Starkey, Lou Reed, Run DMC, Peter Gabriel, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Darlene Love, Bobby Womack, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, Jackson Browne and Daryl Hannah (his girlfriend at the time), Bono, George Clinton, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Peter Wolf, Bonnie Raitt, Hall & 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 and Joey Ramone.

303 tracks were mixed down to create "Sun City".

Composition

The song combines elements of hip-hop (which was beginning to achieve mainstream popularity at the time), R&B, and hard 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 by Jonathan Demme with Godley and Creme was also produced.

Reception

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."[5]

"Sun City" reached No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1985.[6] Only about half of American radio stations played "Sun City". Some stations objecting to the lyrics' explicit criticism of US President Ronald Reagan's policy of "constructive engagement", particularly George Clinton's and Joey 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 the Ramones song "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg".)[7] "Sun City" was banned in Apartheid South Africa itself.[8]

The song did somewhat better overseas, reaching No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart and peaking at No. 4 in both Australia[9] and New Zealand.[10] It achieved chart action in a number of European countries, becoming a Top 5 hit in Sweden, Belgium and The Netherlands.[11] It was also a top ten single in Canada in December 1985 and January 1986.[12]

"Sun City" was selected as Record of the Year by some of the most influential music critics, because it topped the prestigious international Pazz & Jop Critics Poll for best single of the year.

Documentary

Van Zandt and Schechter also struggled to get their documentary seen. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) refused to broadcast the non-profit film The Making of Sun City even though it won the International Documentary Association's top honors in 1986. PBS claimed the featured artists were also involved in making the film and were therefore "self-promoting." In 1987, WNYC-TV, the New York City-owned public television station, aired an updated version of the documentary, produced by filmmaker Bill 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.

Impact

The album and single raised more than US$1 million for anti-apartheid projects, but it paled in comparison to the popular and financial success of "We Are the World". It premiered at the United Nations, thanks to the Special Committee Against Apartheid and UN officers such as Aracelly Santana.

Oliver Tambo and the ANC's school in Tanzania "was sure happy when we gave them a big check", according to Schechter.

In South Africa, "Sun City" inspired musician Johnny Clegg to create a local organization similar to Van Zandt's. "Sun City" also became the catalyst for the South Africa Now TV series.

References
  1. Goldberg, Denis (2015). A Life for Freedom: The Mission to End Racial Injustice in South Africa (Reprint ed.). University Press of Kentucky. p. 304. ISBN 9780813166858. Retrieved August 10, 2018 – via Google Books.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1986-09-23). "South Africa Romance". The Village Voice. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  3. Lynskey, Dorian (2011). 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs. Ecco.
  4. Fricke, David (23 October 1986). "Paul Simon: African Odyssey". Rolling Stone.
  5. "Singles" (PDF). Billboard. October 26, 1985. p. 79. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  6. "Hot 100". Billboard.com. December 14, 1985.
  7. "Rock History 101: The Ramones' 'Bonzo Goes To Bitburg'". Consequence of Sound (Cos). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  8. "Stevie Wonder and 5 Other Artists Banned in Apartheid South Africa: The Beatles, Pink Floyd and More". Music Times. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  9. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 Singles 1986". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  10. "New Zealand Charts". Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  11. "Dutch Charts". Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  12. "Top Singles". collectionscanada.gc.ca. 43 (17). January 18, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2016 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  • Artists United Against Apartheid at African Activist Archive Project; including documents, photographs and the video "The Making of Sun City" (1987) that includes the original video
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