A lot of new music arrives with very little to say.
That isn’t necessarily a criticism. Sometimes a song is there for the beat, the mood, the night out or the three-minute escape. But every now and then, it is good to hear an artist who clearly has an opinion and isn’t interested in hiding it.
That’s where Admiral Jerry’s “Chant Down Babylon” stands apart.
The first thing to notice is how unapologetic it is. Jerry isn’t trying to make his subject matter easier to digest or wrap everything up in neat language. He puts his views on the table and lets the listener decide what to do with them.
That gives the single a personality that can be missing from overly polished releases. You can hear the individual behind it. The references to racism, inequality, education, work and the Windrush experience aren’t presented as detached talking points. They are part of Jerry’s own perspective, delivered in his distinctive style.
And importantly, the track doesn’t spend its entire running time looking backwards. There is plenty of looking ahead too. Jerry talks about achieving a better life, using education, working towards independence and refusing to accept racism as something that simply has to be endured.
That makes the song feel active rather than purely reflective.
The accompanying video helps reinforce that character. Birmingham and London provide a recognisable backdrop, while the Benjamin Zephaniah mural in Handsworth Park adds a particularly relevant visual touch.
But ultimately, “Chant Down Babylon” succeeds because it has a point of view. In an industry where it can be tempting to smooth off anything that might divide opinion, Admiral Jerry has chosen to speak freely.
Sometimes that’s exactly what a song needs.
