- Curtis Mayfield is a genius for this soundtrack.
It’s October, y’all! We’re celebrating what we call Black Cinema Month at Soul Music Society! That means we are highlighting some of the most legendary films from the 70s including their stars and their music. Get all the way into this iconic song, “Freddie’s Dead,” from Super Fly.
Curtis Mayfield didn’t just compose “Freddie’s Dead,” he sang it, too. The song is the theme to the greatest Blaxploitation soundtrack – one of the finest soul albums of all-time – for the blaxploitation film Super Fly. The lyrics are clever and never preachy. That’s part of the magic of Curtis Mayfield.
The lyrics of “Freddie’s Dead” are about a man who wasted his life by making bad choices, but then Curtis Mayfield expands the personal story to society at large when he wrote:
We’re all built up with progress
But sometimes I must confess
We can deal with rockets and dreams
But reality, what does it mean
Ain’t nothing said
‘Cause Freddie’s dead
Purchase the Super Fly soundtrack here.
In this article
Curtis Mayfield was one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious music, especially from an African-American lens. And it’s no wonder this song made it up to #4 on the U.S. Pop chart and #2 on the R&B chart.
Check out the other classic films that we’re celebrating for Black Cinema Month. You might rediscover an old favorite or discover something new!
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our DISCLOSURE for more info.
You may also like
The Original Cast of The Wiz
Featuring an all-Black cast, The Wiz is still iconic! The Wiz starred Diana Ross, Michael
The Power of Wattstax
The Power of WattstaxGoing Beyond Music with a Gathering of 100,000 in 1972.....
We Love “Here I Come” by Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy’s signature hook and his original song “Here I Come” was a big hit
The Influence of 70s Soul Music on Hip-hop
The Influence of 70s Soul Music on Hip-hop70 Ways That Soulful Sounds Shaped the Hip-hop
Leave a comment