MADE ME CRY! Living Colour "Open Letter To A Landlord" | REACTION

[@Frankincensedjb123]

You have stumbled upon one of the best hard rock groups of the 90s, and, yes, very political. Go deep, young man, a LOT to discover. Message is great, but the music is awesome too, and let's not forget Vernon Reid on the axe. Vivid and Time's Up are probably their best albums. Played the hell out of them in the car.

[@peterottes6900]

Man, I blasted this tape (yes I'm that old that I remember cassette tapes!)everywhere I went. Corey Glover's vocals just blew me away and Vernon Reid floors me with his abilities.. This band is amazing and this song should be sung from the rooftops. The idea was that neighborhoods were being or still are being bulldozed so gentrification can take place.. People's lives were being disrupted by shady landlords. Mysterious fires happening so buildings could be torn down. Just recently there was a case in North Carolina where a 92 yo. woman was threatened by a developing firm that they were going to sue her because they said her property line was encroaching on their development. A go Fund was set up in her name to fight this development firm. Some very big names donated to her cause as well as people like myself. She won thankfully and the home will stay in her family. Unfortunately, she recently passed away. The property had been in her family from right after slavery was abolished.. Sorry, I got a little long-winded..

[@derkabronen]

I used to play all the way... not a lot of albums are a 100% "listenable"... but this one is all around good

[@dlomane1965]

I'm 59 years old and when Living Colour first hit the scene, we "Brown folks" said, "Naw, it will never work, this is "white folk's music. Don't get me wrong, I'm an 80s child, deep into the pop scene, but I didn't think this would work. That is until I heard Cult of Personality, and especially this song. That soulful introductory "statement" from Corey Glover was IT, and THEN to top THAT off, the message was on point. From that point on, I was a Living Colour fan. The ending of the song - forrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr your neighborhood - just SEALED it ALL.

[@chrisgermany5919]

@dlomane1965 as a white guy 50 yrs old, grew up in rural run-down old houses that usually fell down on their own not long after moving out, I can tell you it's us white people too. It's a money thing.

[@modulator7861]

I love this band… They’re the most Punk-Rock, METAL version of R & B ever performed. This song is a masterpiece…

[@01laris]

Dude, we would not have metal music if it wasn't for black people. You guys rock!!!

[@skins28dg]

This song is absolutely about gentrification. A serious subject still happening in many cities. Corey showed off his gospel chops at the beginning of the track. The video is poignant. But the music is absolutely fire 🔥. Listen to that funky bassline pushing along this song. Listen to this great guitar work. Those arpeggios played by Vernon Reid in a staccato pattern that is played so clean and tight to accentuate that chorus. It's musically master crafted, along with some of the most hard hitting lyrics you will ever hear. Check out some of their live performances. They are still touring and are just a great live today. Corey hasn't lost a single step with his voice.

[@stefonwilliams9790]

I really miss my childhood memories my hometown Chicago Illinois you ain’t the only one bruh I feel your pain

[@ianjones2731]

Love that you reacted to this tune I've loved it since 1987. Living Color are incredible...the Black Van Halen 😎

[@lmkeniston216]

I so love that you get it. Great reaction Mug. That’s what makes you real and special. They’re still touring and putting out new music!! Go see them dude. They still rock hard. You will love their message. Try reacting to History Lesson or Type or Funny Vibe or Cult of Personality or … basically everything on their 5 (?) albums

[@terryvansickle6846]

Great friggin song by a great band. Living Color is still in my top 3 concerts I’ve ever seen. I saw them about 4 times back in the day in Atlanta at the Center Stage.

[@Psyop_Within_A_Psyop]

Loved Living Colour since they first came out. Check out "Type." The lyrics are on POINT. If you know, you know.

[@RRRR-mi6pn]

Living Colour - love rears it's ugly head is fantastic

[@justaguy6129]

I second that... Their best imo.

[@goaway152]

i have lived in my poor white neighborhood my whole life. we take in people from other walks races and faiths. i have no want to leave. home is home. period

[@stoneybass5981]

They’re so good in concert! Saw the Vivid and Time’s Up tours - also after Wimbish joined the band.

[@charliemac64]

Fucking powerful tune. Always have loved it an any F the man song. F the man.

[@ENTE-METAL]

I'm a metalhead from the late 80s and 90s who has listened to and seen a lot of metal and hard rock bands. But the impact that Living Colour made on me back then with the fresh sound and the important messages has never really gone away. Incredible band. Love and peace from Germany.

[@athanatic]

This song should be an anthem around the unhoused in the world!

[@beatingcovid1957]

Amazing message. Opened this white man's eyes to the struggles of others for someone's greed.

[@chucku00]

Wall, Ausländer, Behind the sun, Flying, Information overload... Living Colour has incredible bangers with damn real lyrics.

[@peterlois1086]

laundry list of great songs

[@przemekz4]

I absolutely love their album Time's Up from 1988. Pure hard rock masterpiece.

[@charlesdavis7461]

I see my Grandfather's house, which his Father built. It has 2 small bedrooms, a kitchen, fireplace and a old iron pot stove he cooked on. He had six kids when my grandmother ran away. It reminds me of the Kenny Rogers, "you took a fine time to leave me lucille. With 6 hungry children and crops in the field" exactly. Every time I see it, it just is more fallen apart with wild bushes every where. Makes me cry too. Oh he had a great well too.

[@user-eg2zo4kz6w]

This is such a great song! My fav outside of cult of personality glad your doin this one! So much meaning! Really hits us all!! Great lyrics well written! Always loved this band!

[@Bucketdrummer]

One of my all time influences playing music. Deep and profound lyrics, heavy riffs and amazing arrangements. Coming from a white boy in N Michigan. This song made me tear up then as well.

[@gotyour6guitars]

Powerful song. I recommended this during black history week in a comment for you. Saw your review today, spot on Mug. With the power of the lyrics, you miss the band's awesomeness. Living Colour band are insanely talented. Sorry it made you sad.😢

[@smn1085]

music talks to the soul is what i love about music

[@charliejaworski2562]

This whole album is great. I wore it out on cassette tape and had to buy a 2nd copy in the late 80's. This is definitely one of their best, especially lyrically. Fun fact: Their lead singer, Corey Glover, was an actor who played "Francis" in a Vietnam War movie classic, called Platoon". He decided singing in a rock and roll band was a better career choice and I'm glad he did.

[@rollotomassi4768]

One of the most beautiful written and performed songs ever.

[@starlawilson9011]

In the late 80s, we expected our entertainers to have something to say. This was not frowned upon, and this band had a lot to say!!

[@allenlocke1935]

Powerful song wasn't it? I saw them a little while back in Wichita Ks.and they still got it. They were fierce! You gotta do "Desperate People", "Funny Vibe", "Elvis Is Dead ", "Type", "Nothingness", and "Leave It Alone". They all be 🔥

[@stefonwilliams9790]

Living Colour Glamour Boys

[@garse70]

It’s a powerful song…with a funky beat. 1988. Love this band.

[@amtran8454]

Great tune. Great record!

[@MeldaTheWitch]

It's okay, I cried when I first heard this song too and it still makes me misty and gives me the chills. Very powerful lyrics and vocalization is what gets me, and the message it holds ofc.

[@patmatheson4679]

These guys are legend!

[@SisterFromAnotherPlanet]

Yeah, this song gets me every time. 😭

[@geofffitz1497]

One of the most important pre-grunge bands. The gap from 80's to grunge was spanned by this kind of important, real rock. Living Colour belongs in the Rock Hall. No question.

[@Ray-vs2tk]

Cory Glover was actually in the movie “Platoon”. Left acting to pursue music. Great choice imop!!

[@SD-kp1yk]

this song is their masterpiece. Vernons guitar tone is superb.... and its probaobly one of the best base lines in rock during that time

[@melanieheathbeasley133]

I didn’t think I knew another Living Color song.

[@01laris]

You a beautiful person. So are they.

[@angelaolson2025]

Awesome song ❤ Love the whole album! So Much talent 👏 😊

[@teriwilkinson7816]

I loved them

[@EricVikings]

I’m a 57 year old white boy raised as an only child by his mama. She told me as a child, “never speak down to others because of their color. “There’s only one race,....the human race!” “Be a good human!” I have always loved this song for its message and musical flair. Thank you for your reaction to this!

[@stevemccraw8481]

1988. The rock landscape was dominated by glam hair metal bands. Along comes Living Colour with Vivid. Next level musicianship and scathing social commentary. This album was way ahead of it's time and as a result, not nearly appreciated enough. Best album of the 80's hands down.

[@Objectified]

Rock at that point was also dominated by the likes of Metallica and Guns n Roses, both of which were hitting heavy topics. And ILC was wildly appreciated and wildly popular.

[@KyleS3m3noff]

Mate, you *need* to check out their track "Type". That riff is fucking GOATed.

[@KipArmadillo]

Consider hitting "Type" off their second album. It's an incredibly song. Funk metal grooves for days. Top five charting rock track - and, yes, more timeless social commentary that's as pertinent today as it was back then.

[@joshuabeall9380]

Yep.

[@user-ij3kv2lc5z]

Vivid is a masterpiece. I have it on vinyl.

[@oldschooldude7729]

The guitar player wrote the lyrics and the music. This song is Vernon's baby.

[@scottNNJ]

After bein exposed to the deep side of Living Colour, the next logical song has to be “Which Way to America?”

[@mstorrboy]

Great album. I think the sounds is so close, but I always think of Extreme's Pornograffitti when I hear these guys.

[@memyself4ever1]

1988 this album was released. I finished high school later that year. Do the math!

[@ncwolfe]

I don't know why more people aren't talking to you about the meaning of the song. They were talking about landlords who would literally burn their own buildings to claim insurance money and sell the property for redevelopment for gentrification. But beyond that, they weren't talking about just a home for some people, they were talking about whole communities (mostly Black) being destroyed for the enrichment of (mostly White) landlords. And the whole insurance fraud angle is probably the least damaging. These families couldn't get loans for the big houses in White neighborhoods, they got pushed into worse and worse housing, just like when the states or cities would approve highways running right through Black or Mexican neighborhoods. They did not give them compensation, they did not give them new houses elsewhere, and most importantly they broke up actual communities. If you ever thought Black communities were always messed up, no they weren't. They were poorer than White communities, but they were still communities with homes and families. Just because what happened in Tulsa didn't happen everywhere doesn't mean the White majority wanted strong Black communities near them. They attacked them in many ways other than with violence. This song is just the story of it happening in one place and time. The guys are great musicians, but also telling you things you need to know to understand why the country is the way it is. Them and Rage Against the Machine.

[@trebayoung3338]

Quest?

[@DVSNTHERE]

Ok Please don't say business is business. As a small biz owner I hate that. I ask GOD every day to make sure I'm doing HIS glory and not my own. Businesses are meant to be run righteously. Thing we all need to remember is this. No one is alone on this planet. Thats the biggest problem with people. Is that too many people will step on whomever to raise themselves higher. We need each other. Like it or not.

[@dlomane1965]

Social commentary was the thing back then. You had Public Enemy, KRS 1, Grandmaster Flash, and the Furious 5, etc., and that was WAY before Living Colour hit the scene. Today, I'm utterly embarrassed at the state of music, especially hip-hop. Back then, socially conscious lyrics were the norm. Nowadays you only have a few and the rest is garbage music focused on "bans," "bitches," and other "ignant" s*&^.

[@48mastadon]

You pause the song twice in the first five seconds of the song? What is wrong with you? Fail...

[@dtop668]

@@48mastadon No offense, but that’s what react videos do. The good reactors pause, rewind, and REACT. I understand the desire to hear the whole song, but that’s not what react videos are for. They’re here to listen to the reactors commentary on the song in question.

[@48mastadon]

@@dtop668 It's the frequency that is the problem especially if nothing of importance is being said. Good reactors keep their pauses minimal and have something constructive to say when they pause.

[@buddyryan4029]

Great another talker that likes to hear his own voice ugh just play the song geez

[@buddyryan4029]

Your so annoying dude

[@alandhopewell]

@@buddyryan4029 Pot, meet kettle.

[@buddyryan4029]

@@alandhopewell lmfao

[@buddyryan4029]

@@alandhopewell truth hurts ya eh lmao

[@tamikellercapotorto]

♥️🙏😎