Mark Biddiss, a.k.a The Elusive, is causing a stir with his record breaking and politically controversial song “Arrest The Presidents?”. An artist who likens himself to The Streets, Mark is working on an album due to be released later this year, from which this song originated.
Although not normally a political song writer, Mark has strong feelings towards this particular aspect of politics - why is it that a ruling body, such as a President or Prime Minister, can commit heinous crimes and get away with it? Essentially he is calling for a governing body higher than the UN who would be able to “properly review any misguiding legalities”, for example George Bush and the suspect voting ballots or war crimes such as Iraq. Mark also feels the increasing fear of nuclear threat, which is yet another very good reason why we should be able to have some control over the leaders of countries as they can become a danger to their country and the world once in power.
The aim behind “Arrest The Presidents?” is to get as many people involved as possible, pioneering a new technique for recording voices onto a record in the process. The idea is that people can send in their vocal recording of the chorus via their mobile phones, or the other option is to go into their studios. They can manipulate all the recordings sent in using studio technology so that it doesn’t matter whether you can sing very well or not, all voices will be put onto the record. When released, every single person/band that sent in recordings will be listed and this list will become a petition.
It is well documented that music is a very effective medium to disperse political messages and approach controversial issues, as most people have access to the radio or other means of listening to music. Mark’s target number of voices to be on “Arrest The Presidents?” is 60 000 people - having had 2500 replies after one day this is not unreasonable - and it is a chance for “everyone to get their voice heard and do something about our, quite frankly, scary situation.”
“Arrest The Presidents?” is not aimed at any one politician or situation in particular, the question mark allowing for personal interpretation and opinion of who you believe should be ‘arrested’. However, on the 14th of March a projection across the River Thames onto Battersea Power Station in London displayed warped pictures of Blair, Bush, Mi-Jong, Mugabe and Putin in protest to the crimes and/or wrong-doings they have committed. The warped fashion in which the images were displayed represents the ‘warped’ situation we are in today with higher powers that use their power for all the wrong reasons.
Liz Read
