Power to the People (song)
"Power to the People" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1971, credited to John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. It was issued on Apple Records (catalogue number R5892 in the United Kingdom, 1830 in the United States) and in the US peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the Cashbox Top 100. It also charted at number 6 on the British singles chart. The song's first appearance on album was the 1975 compilation Shaved Fish.
Writing and recording
"Power to the People" was recorded at Ascot Sound Studios on 22 January 1971, during early sessions for Lennon's Imagine album. The single was released on 12 March 1971 in the UK and 22 March 1971 in the US (although some sources give the British release as 8 March). The song was written by Lennon in response to an interview he gave to Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn, published in Red Mole (8–22 March 1971). As Lennon explained: "I just felt inspired by what they said, although a lot of it is gobbledygook. So I wrote 'Power to the People' the same way I wrote 'Give Peace a Chance,' as something for the people to sing. I make singles like broadsheets. It was another quickie, done at Ascot."
Power to the People
Power to the People may refer to:
Power to the people (slogan)
"Power to the people" is a cultural expression and political slogan that has been used in a wide variety of contexts.
Uses
In politics
During the 1960s in the United States, young people began speaking and writing this phrase as a form of rebellion against what they perceived as the oppression by the older generation, especially The Establishment. The Black Panthers used the slogan "All Power to the People" to protest the rich, ruling class domination of society. Pro-democracy students used it to protest America's military campaign in Vietnam.
In his 1974 book Computer Lib, Ted Nelson connected computer use with political freedom with the rallying cry "Computer power to the people! Down with the cybercrud." In the mid-1980s the People Power movement arose in the Philippines to oust Ferdinand Marcos. In the late 20th century and early 21st century the phrase has been used with regard to energy policy.
The Pakistan Peoples Party has as its creed, "Islam is our faith; democracy is our politics; socialism is our economy; all power to the people."
Power to the People!
Power to the People! (Russian: Власть — народу!, Vlast – Narodu!) was a political alliance in Russia.
History
Power to the People! was established in 1995 as an alliance of several groups, including the Russian All-People's Union, the For Social Equality movement and Popular Movement "Union". In the 1995 parliamentary elections the alliance received 1.6% of the proportional representation vote, failing to cross the electoral threshold. However, it won nine constituency seats in the State Duma.
The party did not contest any further elections; the Russian All-People's Union contested the 1999 elections alone, winning two seats.
References
