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Subject: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: Tony20fan4ever on 10/27/05 at 11:02 pm

Does anyone here remember Artists United Against Apartheid and the "Sun City" song? Where can I download the song and get the lyrics?
And who were the singers and rappers on the song and in the video?

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: MaxwellSmart on 10/27/05 at 11:06 pm

A remember "Little Steven," of course, because he set the whole thing up.  Stevens, if you don't recall is a longtime member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
I also recall Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil singing the line "This separation of families, I just can't understand," and wishing Garrett got a bigger role in the song because I couldn't give a cr*p about the rest of them!

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: FaultyDog on 10/27/05 at 11:52 pm


Does anyone here remember Artists United Against Apartheid and the "Sun City" song? Where can I download the song and get the lyrics?
And who were the singers and rappers on the song and in the video?


To answer your last question:

Afrika Bambaataa
Ray Barretto
Stiv Bator
Pat Benatar
Big Youth
Ruben Blades
Kurtis Blow
Bono
Duke Bootee
Jackson Browne
Ron Carter
Clarence Clemons
Jimmy Cliff
George Clinton
Miles Davis
Will Downing
Bob Dylan (yes, him as well)
The Fat Boys
Peter Gabriel
Peter Garrett
Bob Geldof (him again...)
Daryl Hall
Herbie Hancock
Nona Hendryx
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Stanley Jordan
Kashif
Eddie Kendrick
Little Steven
Darlene Love
Malopoets
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Michael Monroe
John Oates
Sonny Okosuns
Bonnie Raitt
Joey Ramone
Lou Reed
David Ruffin
Run-DMC
Scorpio
Gill Scott-Heron
Shankar
Bruce Springsteen
Zak Starkey
Ringo Starr
Tina B
Pete Townshend
Via Afrika
Tony Williams
Peter Wolf
Bobby Womack


Phew...quite the line-up, hey? ::) And yes, I've got the 7" vinyl. I'm pretty sure the lyrics were printed on the 12"...but I haven't got that one. :-[

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: whistledog on 10/27/05 at 11:54 pm

I remember that song.  I have the Sun City 45 as well as the whole album on cassette :)

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: FaultyDog on 10/28/05 at 12:07 am


I'm pretty sure the lyrics were printed on the 12"...but I haven't got that one. :-who sings what line... haven't been able to locate such a version till now. I may get back on this (unless someone else beats me to it).

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: Tam on 07/09/09 at 6:03 pm

Sun City

We're rockers and rappers united and strong
We're here to talk about South Africa we don't like what's going on
It's time for some justice it's time for the truth
We've realized there's only one thing we can do

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Relocation to phony homelands
Separation of families I can't understand
23 million can't vote because they're black
We're stabbing our brothers and sisters in the back

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Our government tells us we're doing all we can
Constructive Engagement is Ronald Reagan's plan
Meanwhile people are dying and giving up hope
This quiet diplomacy ain't nothing but a joke

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Boputhuswana is far away
But we know it's in South Africa no matter what they say
You can't buy me I don't care what you pay
Don't ask me Sun City because I ain't gonna play

I ain't gonna play Sun City

It's time to accept our responsibility
Freedom is a privilege nobody rides for free
Look around the world baby it can't be denied
Why are we always on the wrong side

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Relocation to phony homelands
Separation of families I can't understand
23 million can't vote because they're black
We're stabbing our brothers and sisters in the back

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: whistledog on 07/10/09 at 9:04 pm

Sun City was a great song!  Shame it didn't perform better in the States.  Here's what I could find on where the song was popular:

Sweeden:  #3
Australia:  #4
Netherlands:  #4
Switzerland:  #7
Canada:  #10
United Kingdom:  #21
United States:  #38

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: Paul on 07/15/09 at 4:44 pm

Due to changing world events, I suppose it's a song that doesn't get played much anymore...

...rather like 'Nelson Mandela' by The Special AKA

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: Philip Eno on 07/15/09 at 5:14 pm


To answer your last question:

Afrika Bambaataa
Ray Barretto
Stiv Bator
Pat Benatar
Big Youth
Ruben Blades
Kurtis Blow
Bono
Duke Bootee
Jackson Browne
Ron Carter
Clarence Clemons
Jimmy Cliff
George Clinton
Miles Davis
Will Downing
Bob Dylan (yes, him as well)
The Fat Boys
Peter Gabriel
Peter Garrett
Bob Geldof (him again...)
Daryl Hall
Herbie Hancock
Nona Hendryx
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Stanley Jordan
Kashif
Eddie Kendrick
Little Steven
Darlene Love
Malopoets
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Michael Monroe
John Oates
Sonny Okosuns
Bonnie Raitt
Joey Ramone
Lou Reed
David Ruffin
Run-DMC
Scorpio
Gill Scott-Heron
Shankar
Bruce Springsteen
Zak Starkey
Ringo Starr
Tina B
Pete Townshend
Via Afrika
Tony Williams
Peter Wolf
Bobby Womack


Phew...quite the line-up, hey? ::) And yes, I've got the 7" vinyl. I'm pretty sure the lyrics were printed on the 12"...but I haven't got that one. :-[
Did they all fit in one studio?

Subject: Re: Artists United Against Apartheid song "I Ain't Gonna play Sun City"

Written By: Midas on 07/16/09 at 12:21 pm


I vaguely remember the song and video when I was a kid in Arizona. I also remember being confused because Sun City was a place near Phoenix and wonder why they didn't want to play there  :D


Old people don't wanna hear that noise!  :D

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