The Specials AKA - Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door!
2 Tone CHS TT 26 (1984)
The Specials AKA were formed back in 1977 and were the leaders of the UK ska revival. By the time of this single the band's line-up had changed with lead singer Terry Hall having left in 1981 (to form the Fun Boy Three)
Vocals on this single were performed by Stan Campbell who, just as the single was released, also parted ways with the group. He was however persuaded to front the band on two live appearances on the BBC Top Of The Pops programme.
Written by band member Jerry Dammers who admitted that just prior to writing the song he had no idea who Nelson Mandela was and at the time not many people outside South Africa knew of him. He had he in the early 80s been labelled a terrorist by the British Conservative government . Dammers attended an anti-apartheid concert in London in 1983 which gave him the idea to write the song. The song had an almost immediate worldwide impact including in South Africa where it was played at ANC rallies although it was banned by the white government.
The song easily achieved its intent, bringing Mandela’s intentions and anti-apartheid message to the forefront of many conversations. Mandela was was released unconditionally on 11 February 1990, after spending 27 years in prison. This release happened after the Apartheid government had previously offered him conditional freedom in 1985 which he refused. He was elected as the President of South Africa in 1994.
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