SONG OF THE DAY
“Changes” by 2Pac (Greatest Hits, Interscope/ Amaru/ Death Row, 1998). Written by 2Pac/ Bruce Hornsby.
INTERESTING FACTS (from wikipedia)
– “Changes” was originally recorded during 2Pac’s tenure at Interscope records, and was re-recorded and remixed between 1995-96, and wasn’t released until after his death.
– The song addresses issues close to 2Pac’s era of influence, notably racism, police brutality, drugs, and gang violence.
– The song heavily samples the 1986 hit “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and the Range.
– “The Way It Is” is a hit song by Bruce Hornsby and the Range from their 1986 album The Way It Is. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. Written by Bruce Hornsby, it made explicit reference to the American Civil Rights Movement.
– The Chris Hafner-directed music video is a compilation of a number of previous music videos 2Pac released in addition to home videos and never-before-seen pictures, similar to the format of The Notorious B.I.G.’s Dead Wrong, also released in 1999.
– “Changes” was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 2000 Grammys; it remains the only posthumous song to be nominated in this category.
– In 2008, Changes climbed to #1 on Billboard‘s Hot Ringtones chart.
– Cover versions: In 1996 Bay Area rapper E-40 sampled “The Way It Is” on “Things’ll Never Change” from his album The Hall of Game. In 2007, the song was sampled in a song by Emily King called “Alright”, from her album East Side Story. In 2008, a modified version of the piano chorus was used throughout the song “Can’t Say Goodbye” by Snoop Dogg and Charlie Wilson, which appears on the album Ego Trippin’.
| Australian Singles Chart | 7 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 6 |
| Belgian Singles Chart | 2 |
| French Singles Chart | 39 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 3 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 32 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 1 |
MY TAKE
I know what you’re thinking (if you know me from college): It was only a matter of time until I blogged a 2Pac song. And he fits into my 1990’s theme week! Perfect!
I actually was reminded of the song twice yesterday, so it seemed an obvious choice for Song Of The Day.
Moment #1: One of my students spoke this to me: “I made a G today, but I made it in a sleazy way” and I said “Damn, what is that from?” and then my student began to rap the entire song to me.
Moment #2: Watching our DVR recording of this week’s episode of Community, which ended in a Chevy Chase parody of the song on piano, and resulted in my dad humming the song on and off for a few minutes.
I had to happen, right?
VIDEO OF THE DAY
Click here for this week’s 1990’s Playlist, updated daily this week!