Patti Smith Still Believes 'People Have the Power'

Patti Smith Still Believes 'People Have the Power'

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/11/16/Bill_Kelly_in_Conversation_with_Patti_Smith

Singer-songwriter Patti Smith says she still believes in her song People Have the Power, though she feels society has become "disenfranchised" by the "impenetrable walls" of government and corporations. The punk icon heralds political activist Ralph Nader's philosophy on the spirit of relentless protest: be prepared to lose, but make certain you are counted.

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In this new series, Graduate Center President Bill Kelly explores great minds that have shaped our cultural landscape. Over the course of the year, he will speak, one-on-one, with a diverse group of vital contemporary thinkers, artists, and visionaries who have indelibly impacted the fields in which they work. This debut evening features Patti Smith whose body of work encompasses poetry, fiction, essay, music, film, photography, and more. - CUNY

Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses. Called the "Godmother of Punk", she integrated the beat poetry performance style with three-chord rock. Smith's most widely known song is "Because the Night", which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978.

In 2005, Patti Smith was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, and in 2007, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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[foofwolf22]

I find her to be absolutley, positivley beautiful. Better looking the her punk counterpart, Debbie Harry. Her wisdom makes her extremley attractive.

[marniespeaks]

truth is truth

[zogzogable]

love patti and her voice even though i don't always agree....hey! i was one of those "disenfranchised" artist/poets and she is and will be a great inspiration to many....however, now she just needs to get on the right side of the tracks.....lol

[Karenanna]

I just found Patti Smith...silly me. Patti is saying what all of us "disinfranchised" need to realize...there are more of us than them.

[definemaybe]

@laurahippieprospe my wifes British Im American, When ya say Mate that means Friend. when ya say Dude that could be both neg or positive, understand Mate? that dude stinks, or hey dude (friend) how have ya been :)

[no1dane]

@butobuto1 - I agree with you . Wonder where it will all end ?

[butobuto1]

@no1dane i've seen bits and pieces of the whole world, lived in asia for quite a while and such.. i don't even feel european, just human. just saying this coz i'm anti EC, anti 'world government'

just look how europe is taking away the independence of the smaller countries, how it's being taken over by corporate lobbyists, going the same way as the US

that's why i'm making the exercise to be nationalist and world citizen at the same time

[metalfalsetto]

That interviewer has some nice gams.

[911insidejo8]

@Guitarscreech06 ...I know, I hate the impending communist world government. And I like Patti Smith, I voted for Nader in both 2004 and 2008 (even though I'm more of a libertarian) but I'm disappointed that she spoke about Obama as if he cares about the peasantry. Obama is not chipping away at anything Bush built up; quite the contrary, he's continuing the construction of the impending world globalist government.

[no1dane]

No I am not British, some of my friends are. I feel like European, my own country do not matter much to me anymore. Have been on the road to much for to long . Feel I have much more in common with people I meet from around the globe.

[laurahippieprospe]

HEY! YOU'RE NOT NORTH AMERICAN, YOU'RE BRITISH. BRITISH USE TO SAY MATE, NORTH AMERICANS USE TO DAY DUDE. IS THAT TRUE OR IS IT THE SAME WHEREVER YOU'RE FROM? I WAS RAISED UP ON A BRITISH FAMILY, SO I'M USED TO HEAR MATE, BUT IN NORTH AMERICAN FILMS I USE TO HEAR DUDE. PERSONALLY, I PREFER MATE. KISS FOR U.

[laurahippieprospe]

THANKS SO MUCH ALTHOUGH I TIHNK NOBODY CAN SAY HE OR SE DOES THE MOST OF THE FIGHT ON ANYWHERE, BUT, I RESPECT YOU AND ADMIRE U CAUSE YOU'RE A FIGHTER AND DON'T SIT ON YOUR SOFA TO WATCH SERIALS. I EVEN RESPECT U MORE IF YOU'RE NORTH AMERICAN, IT MUST BE VERY DIFFICULT THERE IF YOU'RE NOT A FAMOUS LAD, SOMETIMES EVEN IF U ARE. MY DOUBT WAS ABOUT BEING SOCIALIST IN THE CAPITAL OF IMPERIALISM, WHY NOT?IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG THERE? THANKS FOR UR KIND REPLY FROM SPAIN, WHERE THINGS AREN'T EASY TOO