Veteran R&B singer/songwriter/producer Joe Thomas, known for his rich and powerful tenor usually spread smoothly over classic tales of love and love-making, has decided to get sociopolitical for Black History Month on the new song “Our Anthem.”
Just in time for the celebration of historic achievements of members of the African diaspora, Joe's revamped version of the National Anthem returns the seven-time GRAMMY nominee to his more soulful and gospel-tinged roots with new lyrics and an accompanying visual that reflect the plight of Black Americans across the nation. Joe even adds an additional blast from the past with the interpolation of lyrics calling for more love and compassion that Otis Redding beckoned for in the '60s with “Try A Little Tenderness.” Joe also keeps “Our Anthem” current by including scenes of police brutality in the clip and paying tribute to a handful who we've lost to senseless tragedy in the headlines, such as Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Jr. and LaQuan McDonald, dispersing their names throughout the four-minute video.
What makes this song and visual unique isn’t just Joe’s solid vocal performance, but the message that is needed in music today. If you’re looking for a healthy portion of soul and substance to kick off Black History Month, Joe might have just nailed it.
Joe’s latest musical effort and socially conscious offering is a fresh release following his 2015 cover of Adele’s colossal hit “Hello,” which gained Joe nearly four million views on YouTube and snagged heavy radio spins to close out last year. “Our Anthem” is said to be a precursor to his twelfth studio album due this June indicating Joe is ready to champion the summer of 2016 with ease.
