Get to know this song

**Dr.Knuckles** · 12th April 2010 04:22 PM

This song was originally written and performed by a Canadian artist named K'naan - a Somali immigrant to Toronto.

Somehow it came to the ear of Producer Bob Ezrin who was putting together a song by a collection of young Canadian artists to raise money for Hati relief (ie We are the World, tears are not enough etc)

The result came out pretty good and it's been on charts and regular radio and music video rotation across Canada.

Now the FIFA World Cup in South Africa has picked the original up as their official anthem.

This guy can now go back to Somalia and buy it.

The irony is, as he sings in English and Western music is banned in Somalia - he is, and will remain, totally unknown in his country of birth.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB7L1BIDELc&feature=fvsrhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB7L1BIDELc&feature=fvsr[/media]

**Fishmint** · 12th April 2010 06:31 PM

I saw K'naan live at ACL festival and I was a little dissapointed it was all acoustic, but I'm still a fan. I haven't listened to him in a while, and I honestly don't think he will get that much bigger in America. I actually didn't know he was a Canadian I only knew about his Somali background.

**Blueneck** · 12th April 2010 06:36 PM

The irony is, as he sings in English and Western music is banned in Somalia

I thought Somalia didn't have a government.

**Dr.Knuckles** · 12th April 2010 08:16 PM

I've never heard of the guy until this video was on as TV filler all the time.

Blue - I guess Warlords keep their fiefdoms free of perverted Western influences. Like Snoop Dog and Touched by an Angel.... and medicine.

**Feslin** · 16th April 2010 10:11 PM

[quote name='Blueneck' date='12 April 2010 - 04:36 PM' timestamp='1271119008' post='138913']

I thought Somalia didn't have a government.

[/quote]

Anarchy always gives way to something, generally feudalism. Use Post-Roman Western Europe as an example. Power vacuums fill.

**Bourne** · 16th April 2010 10:17 PM

Celine Dion has competition.

**Zaragrunudgeyon** · 17th April 2010 11:38 PM

There is probably a fatwa issued for his head in Somalia.

**Burning Giraffe** · 18th April 2010 04:01 AM

more pointless self-indulgent pop-music. Sweet! Thanks Canada!

**Dr.Knuckles** · 18th April 2010 09:34 PM

YOUNG Artists for Hati... As in teenagers and youths.

One of those kids was 13. You want Justin Beiber to come up with "The Joshua Tree" during recess?

**Burning Giraffe** · 19th April 2010 03:42 AM

[quote name='Dr.Knuckles' date='18 April 2010 - 11:34 PM' timestamp='1271648060' post='140978']

YOUNG Artists for Hati... As in teenagers and youths.

One of those kids was 13. You want Justin Beiber to come up with "The Joshua Tree" during recess?

[/quote]

That doesn't mean they have to suck.