(July 6, 2017) Songs become anthems after being adopted in that role by fans. There is something in the song’s lyrics or the story that connects to a desire or need of the fan base and the listeners respond – sometimes in totally unexpected ways. Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is a song about a woman who lets her ex know that his departure prompted her to find a strength that she did not know that she had. However, the tune has become an anthem for anyone who survived any crisis.
I don’t know how know Ollie Gabriel’s anthem “Running Man” will resonate with listeners, but I can say with certainty that this anthem will inspire and motivate. The cut begins with a story drenched in the blues. “See, I was born without no shoes/And I told the hospital doctor cut me loose/and just as soon as my legs could move/I told my mama there was something I had to do.” The songs fuses lyrics that have those blues sensibility, delivered by a Louisiana based singer with an old soul raspy baritone, backed by sanctified piano playing, and a driving and insistently funky bass line that propels the song forward. It will be a welcome addition to my workout playlist. Check it out.
Ollie Gabriel – “Running Man”
