Cult Of Personality

"Cult of Personality" is a song by the funk metal band Living Colour and the lead single from their debut album, Vivid. The lyrics and melody were written by guitarist Vernon Reid, who wrote most of their songs. Its music video earned two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Group Video and Best New Artist. Released in 1989, "Cult of Personality" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It also won the Grammy award for "Best Hard Rock Performance" in 1989. The song was named the 69th best hard rock song of all time by VH1 and the solo was ranked 87 in Guitar World's "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" list. The song begins with an edited quote from the beginning of "Message to the Grass Roots", a speech by Malcolm X. As it appears in the song, the quote is: ". . . And during the few moments that we have left, . . . We want to talk right down to earth in a language that everybody here can easily understand." The unabridged beginning of the speech is: "...And during the few moments that we have left, we want to have just an off-the-cuff chat between you and me -- us. We want to talk right down to earth in a language that everybody here can easily understand." At 4:35, John F. Kennedy is quoted, saying"Ask not what your country can do for you," and the song ends with Franklin D. Roosevelt saying "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." "Cult of Personality" was performed live during the April 1, 1989 edition of Saturday Night Live with host Mel Gibson. It was also performed on The Arsenio Hall Show that same year. WWE wrestler CM Punk used this as one of his entrance themes while wrestling for Ring of Honor. In 2004, a shortened version was featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack on Radio X. In 2007, Living Colour re-recorded the song for the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, with the re-recorded guitar solos being higher in tempo than on the original recording. In 2009, the song was used by the WWE in a video promoting Stone Cold Steve Austin's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. As of 2011, WWE wrestler CM Punk has been once again using this song as his entrance theme. The popularity of the aformentioned mediums have contributed to a growing fanbase for the band.

[Intro: Malcolm X] And during the few moments that we have left, we want to talk, right down to earth, in a language that everybody here can easily understand [Verse 1] Look in my eyes, what do you see? The cult of personality I know your anger, I know your dreams I've been everything you wanna be, oh I'm the cult of personality Like Mussolini and Kennedy I'm the cult of personality, the cult of personality The cult of personality [Chorus] Neon lights, Nobel Prize When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies You won't have to follow me Only you can set me free [Verse 2] I sell the things you need to be I'm the smiling face of your TV, oh I'm the cult of personality I exploit you, still, you love me I tell you one and one makes three, oh I'm the cult of personality Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi, oh I'm the cult of personality, the cult of personality The cult of personality [Chorus] Neon lights, Nobel Prize When a leader speaks, that leader dies He won't have to follow me Only you can set you free [Guitar Solo] [Outro] You gave me fortune, you gave me fame You gave me power in your God's name I'm every person you need to be Oh, I'm, the, cult, of, per, so, na, lity I am the cult of, I am the cult of, I am the cult of, I am the cult of I am the cult of, I am the cult of, I am the cult of, I am the cult of Personality [Spoken Outro: John F. Kennedy & Franklin D. Roosevelt] Ask not what your country can do for you The only thing we have to fear is fear itself