I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free: Amex UNSTAGED

Performing a song originally written by Billy Taylor and canonized by Nina Simone, at Terminal 5 in New York City, September 23, 2010. "An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times." - Nina Simone.

Directed by Spike Lee. Part of UNSTAGED, an original series from American Express.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• Legend
• The
• Roots
• Wish
• Knew
• How
• It
• Would
• Feel
• to
• Be
• Free:
• Amex
• UNSTAGED
• VEVO
• R&B/Soul
• Rap/Hip-Hop

[namuhemos]

Does anyone realize, that this song is called, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" and it is presented by American Express??

[thesingerperson]

Lol I'd love to be walking down the street and then witness this LOL 

[MissTrudger1967]

Well I liked it... it was different... and one of the risks all songwriters/singers/musos take is that the song may be 'commercialized'... occupational hazard... it was still pretty cool... what isn't commercial these days...

[bigsoso20]

them drums sound so SICK and look how casual he looks when he's playing it... thats amazing

[vibrantlight1103]

@tlatkc When you have someone sponsor anything for you and they very clearly display that they sponsored it, that is a form of advertisement. It is a very clear endorsement of the sponsor. Regardless of who got paid how much, they are using that song to endorse American Express.

[tlatkc]

@vibrantlight1103 Im well aware of the whole album and all the artist who wrote the songs they recorded. They did the album with the most gracious intentions of expressing and correlating whats going on in the world today and what these songs represent.AMEX sponsored the show ie paid for it.The musicians didn't get a check from them for playing the show they probably got a cut of the ticket sales.They arent even using her song for advertisement so your argument is false to began with.

[vibrantlight1103]

@tlatkc My apologies. I became defensive and let myself be sidetracked from the point of my initial comment. My point was specifically about the song they were using (which is not "their music", it was made famous by Nina Simone). I feel that if you were familiar with the song you wouldnt be making these asinine arguments. Singing this song for an Amex commercial is like chanting the Catholic Profession of Faith for a pro-abortion commercial.

[tlatkc]

@vibrantlight1103 yea so were do you answer my question dumbass? how can a musician make money of record sales or ticket sales? they cant anymore so they advertise there music. John legend is far from selfish and is known for being at more charity events donating his money then going out to clubs.Questlove is not loaded either hes middle class musician who makes great music. your stupid bias probably liberal who points there finger at the rich for making some money. YOUR A JOKE

[vibrantlight1103]

@tlatkc then let them do it with their own goddamn music. furthermore do you seriously think john legend, ?uest love and spike lee really need money to "pay the bills"? do you even know who they are? they make plenty of money to "pay the bills" without having to suck the credit industries dick. when gift of gab sold one of his songs to i cant remember which soda company i didnt hold it against him. ive been to lots of his shows. i know he's working to "pay the bills". but these guys? ummm, no.

[tlatkc]

@vibrantlight1103 someones gotta pay the bills and there aren't many ways to make money with music because no one buys records anymore so advertising is one of the best ways to do so. Sorry its not 1991 and everyones not wearing snapbacks

[vibrantlight1103]

i'm not even gonna finish watching this. if Nina Simone knew this song was being used for Amex advertising she'd kick john legend, ?uest love and spike lee in the nuts. shame on them.

[jcnba28]

john legend used to be cool.