Wildfires

Album: Untitled (Black Is) (2020)
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Songfacts®:

  • Untitled (Black Is) is a rapid response to the police killing of George Floyd released just three weeks after the murder took place. This song finds the neo-soul collective reflecting on police brutality against African Americans.

    You should be ashamed
    The bloodshed on your hands
    Another man
    Take off your badge
    We all know it was murder


    Sault take heart in their brothers' and sisters' determination not to give in to their pain. Instead, they declare African Americans will "always rise" as they compare the oppressed peoples' survival instincts to the transformative effect of "wildfire."
  • When BBC 6 music DJ Gilles Peterson first heard "Untitled (Black Is)," he was so blown away, he played the record in its 56:35 entirety that day on his show. He told Mojo magazine: "I thought, well am I just overly excited about it because I'm getting this brand new record handed to me on the day. But then I listen to it again and again and again. Not only is it a great response record, it's so full of great songs. You can feel this is just genuinely pure music."
  • The Guardian ranked "Wildfires" as their fifth-best song of 2020.

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousThis song is an amazing piece of work! The crystal clean sound of her voice has me listening to this over and over again! I'm 76 yrs old and the brutality of those who are to "serve and protect" goes beyond description! Beautiful song!
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