9 people downloaded the first song I featured. This suggests I whetted some people's appetite for R&B. It also sparked a contribution from Nathaniel, who was kind enough to share an Afro-beat song, also called Paulette. I urge everyone to check it out in the comments box.

I've been averse to afro-beat in the past, because I couldn't understand how brutal oppression breeds such happy music. But then, often struggles of the oppressed can't afford to be dark and humorless, given the very state of that struggle. And afro-funk is damn funky - as a DJ friend pointed out to me, the rhythms are way more complex than a lot of western music.

And so we sing heeeeeey, anti-government militias slaughtered the revolutionary movement...

But today I'm focusing closer to home. This track is political, and it will have you moving:

The Main Ingredient - Black Seeds

From the opening drums, to the moment the melody kicks in, Black Seeds features tight arrangements of horn, strings and guitar - every note's in place. The metaphor of black struggle as a plant that needs air to grow is simple yet brilliant. The singer lectures us against sectarianism, the mistake - often made by younger activists - that everyone in the past wasn't radical enough:

You black man
should love those brothers and sisters even in death
Because their valiant struggle in life
Made you what you are today

Most of all, it's got soul. To think a militant, political track could include band members in falsetto, humming along in counterpoint - it just shows the skill and confidence R&B reached in the early 70s. It's a sign of how comfortable the black power movement was with its message, one that still resonates today.

Black seeds - The Main Ingredient

It's off the compilation Black and Proud II: The Soul of the Black Panther Era. You may actually want to purchase this one. It's a middling disc, if only because it recycles some standards like Gil Scott-Heron's 'Lady Day and John Coltrane'. Plus, for some inexplicable reason, it includes the counter-revolutionary 'Respect Yourself' by the Staple Singers, later covered by Bruce Willis in an appropriately horrible version. But it also includes standouts like a reggae tribute to Malcolm X and some one-off political tracks by mainstream funk artists, much like The Main Ingredient. It's a testament to the reach of black power at its height.

Speaking of which...

Between 11am and 1pm I'm at the mercy of telemarketers. Today I got a call from a young South Asian woman, on behalf of the Police Alumni Association Annual Games.

"I have to say," I broke in as soon as I could, "I'm a student on a very fixed income. I don't have any money to contribute to charity."

"Well Mr. Serge," she continued, unfazed, "These games are a community event where police officers compete in a variety of fun, friendly events. All the money raised goes to support the Police Alumni Association. The tickets are very cheap, and it's for a good cause."

I felt a little point of frustration begin to bubble up. It's not enough that the police earn $70K a year to shoot children in the back; we have to pay for their retirement as well? Not to mention watch them hone the skills they developed beating up undesirables. As calmly as I could, I said,

"I actually think the police are a racist organization. I don't think they help people, instead I think they're paid to oppress communities of colour and poor people."

There was silence on the other end of the line. "I'm not blaming you," I said, as gently as possible, "I know you're just doing your job. But there's no way I could ever support any of their organizations."

There was more silence, and then she said, "Well sir, thank you for your time. You have a good day."

Honesty is often the best policy.