Back in the late ’60s, Stephen Stills wrote a song called For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound) that was sung by Buffalo Springfield. Its message was so strong that it became an anthem for the civil rights movement and the Vietnam protests.
As time has gone, it still remains a powerful song. The meaning behind it is as strong today as it was 50 years ago. That is why Billy Porter decided to release his take on the folk song.
He updated the sound so to make it soulful, but the lyrics remain the same. They are perfect no matter what year it is.
“One of the heartening things that I’ve seen during the Coronavirus outbreak is how we’ve all banded together. Everyone doing their part, checking on each other, using technology to connect with one another,” said Porter. “I think the messages in ‘For What It’s Worth’ are so relevant now. It’s a song about unifying and coming together to make a change.”
There are four songs from that era that have left a huge impact on me. They are The Animals’ We Gotta Get Out of This Place, Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells, Jefferson Airplane’s Somebody to Love, and this one. Therefore, I am sensitive to covers that people make for those protest songs.
When it comes to Porter’s version, I totally approve. It is a groovy take that not only got my approval, it also got the thumbs up from the writer. Stills said, “For many years no one tried to ‘make it theirs’ as covers are supposed to do. That an artist of Billy’s caliber has chosen to add his flourish to my song from so many years ago is totally in keeping with what I intended.”
