I hinted at this in my nightly “links of note” post yesterday, but a cursory Google blog search shows that nobody else has posted the topic, and I thought it worth preservation.
Kenny (“the Jet”) Smith (one of the studio commentators on TNT's NBA studio show, Inside the NBA ) was riffing off of the marketing gimmick based on the current marketing campaign for T-Mobile. The list of five for the evening was “Charles Barkley's fave5 favorite singers”.
The five were (not necessarily in this order): Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, The O'Jays, Mary J. Blige, and Elvis Presley.
Kenny Smith couldn't believe that Elvis Presley was on this list, quipping, “This is ridiculous. How could Elvis Presley be in your list over Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye? ”
Eventually, after some back and forth between Barkley, who at least pretended to like Elvis, “The Jet” started reciting parts of Public Enemy's seminal track Fight the Power, “Elvis was a hero to most”, but then realized the next couple of lines might cause a little PR problem, so didn't say them, just hummed, and finished with, “and forget him and John Wayne”.
Charles Barkley claimed the reason he chose Blue Suede Shoes over Superstition is because he is from Alabama. I wonder - did the producers have a say? Probably not, but you never know. Oh, and apparently, Barkley almost chose Kenny Rogers too, being a gambler and all.
Song file excerpted below, but I cannot find the uncensored version which is odd. Oh well. You can read along with the lyrics.
Tags: Basketball, /humor, /MP3
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant shit to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother fuck him and John Wayne
Cause I'm Black and I'm proud
I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped
Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps
Sample a look back you look and find
Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check
Don't worry be happy
Was a number one jam
Damn if I say it you can slap me right here
(Get it) lets get this party started right
Right on, c'mon
What we got to say
Power to the people no delay
To make everybody see
In order to fight the powers that be
