This pancocojams post showcases two videos of the song "Everybody Rejoice" from the movie version of the African American movie The Wiz. That song is also known as "Can You Feel A Brand New Day") Information about The Wiz, lyrics for "Everybody Rejoice", and selected comments from the discussion threads of the showcased videos are also included in this post.
The song "No Bad News" is sung by the wicked witch right before the song "Every Rejoice". A video of "No Bad News" is included in the Addendum to this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, sociological, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Luther Vandross, the composer of the song "Everybody Rejoice". Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIZ
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiz_(film)
"The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure film produced in collaboration between Motown Productions and Universal Pictures, and released by Universal on October 24, 1978. An urban reimagining of L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz featuring an entirely African-American cast, The Wiz was loosely adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name. The film follows the adventures of Dorothy, a shy twenty-four-year-old Harlem, New York, schoolteacher who finds herself magically transported to the Land of Oz, which resembles an alternative fantasy version of the Big Apple. Befriended by a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion, she travels through the city to seek an audience with the mysterious Wiz, who they say is the only one powerful enough to send her home."...
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The song "Everybody Rejoice" ("Can You Feel A Brand New Day") is sung by the central characters in the Wiz (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and the Lion) and all the workers in the wicked witch's sweat shop. The song occurs after Dorothy accidentally kills the wicked witch, thus freeing the sweat shop workers.
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LYRICS: EVERYBODY REJOICE
"A Brand New Day (Everybody Rejoice) / Liberation Ballet"
(composer: Luther Vandross)
Everybody look around
'Cause there's a reason to rejoice you see
Everybody come out
And let's commence to singing joyfully
Everybody look up
And feel the hope that we've been waiting for
Everybody's glad
Because our silent fear and dread is gone
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness
Hello world
It's like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we'd be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we've got liberty
It's such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness
Hello world
It's like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we'd be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we've got liberty
It's such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/dianaross/abrandnewdayeverybodyrejoiceliberationballet.html
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
These examples are given in chronological order according to their publishing dates on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.
Example #1: The Wiz (6/8) Movie CLIP - Everybody Rejoice (1978) HD
Movieclips, Published on Jun 27, 2011
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
Ryan Baker, 2012
"It's a shame you guys cut off the second part of the song (Liberation Ballet). It's got some of the most musically memorable moments of the entire musical (not to mention they all dance around in their underwear)."
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IMMASTAR SPARKS, 2012
"I like it up until you cut the part when they renewed their self. This video was just a tease!"
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lookatdoor, 2012
"Is there anywhere that has the full scene? After they strip off the costumes? That's my favorite part."
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Regrettably, I haven't found a YouTube video of this dance scene that includes the ending portion that is termed "the Liberation Ballet". However, 2:14-3:37 in the video given below as Example #2 is part of the Liberation Ballet.
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Capybaraism, 2012
"Listen to the lyrics! This song is more than a song written for a scene in The Wiz! It reminds me of the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles and victories that African-Americans went through for the right for equality and to "feel that brand new day."
This song is a blessing!
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Jadon Carter, 2015
"I think the creators of the wiz were sending a message in a way. It was almost like they were making a statement when these sweatshop workers (slaves) unzipped their costumes that they were made to wear and they came out as beautiful people and they were free. It's almost as if it were a metaphor saying especially to the African American community that we are beautiful people underneath these ugly costumes that society has placed on us. Sadly alot of people haven't gotten the message, they merely just see a movie. Some people are still trapped in their costumes today."
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Plottoberry, 2015
Reply
"+Jadon Carter I feel that way about this song and scene too. Even as a little kid I always thought it was about slavery."
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Andrew Todaro, 2015
Reply
"+Plottoberry Maybe there is a subtle message about slavery in this song.
Since probably the ancestors of all these actors had experienced it. Even today, African Americans are still suffering injustices,with the way they're treated, how they live in their neighborhoods and with the recent shootings of black males and the "Black Lives Matter" movement getting attention in the media."
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thirtythreeflavors, 2015
"+Andrew Todaro I think it is about slavery. Both external and internal oppression from society and the internal oppression that we carry with us that we don't even know about. The scene just always blows my mind."
TopCityPrince
Reply
"+Jadon Carter Exactly!!! That's what I took away from it as well, and that's why it was always my favorite part of the movie. Always thought that moment was so poignant and beautiful!"
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TwistedNaturally, 2015
"+Jadon Carter I totally agree with you, a person need only to listen to the words in the song "Brand New Day" to see there is a deeper meaning if you would only listen to it. Even the tin man in this song sings: "And thank you world, I always knew that we'd be free somehow! Free at last!" Also, the choreography number for this song, you can see them rejoicing in song and movement!"
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Ebony Princess, 2015
"If only us black people especially black Americans would break through mental slavery and WAKE UP ! But no we want to remain mentally enslaved and docile and stay stuck in those costumes .
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CaramelCoated41, 2015
"This beautiful song was written by the late Luther Vandross!!! RIP, Luther...peace"
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Tony Skyy, 2015
Reply
"Yeah, its on his first album. A little slower though!"
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Jeff Robertson
Reply
"+CaramelCoated41 Do you recognize Luther's voice beginning the song? The song was borrowed for the stage show, but what a choice. It was the perfect song to express the sentiment of that scene. The despotic Wicked Witch is overthrown and her oppressed subjects are now free."
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Speedy Jefferson
"Luther Vandross written this song for the original play you can hear him on the first verse it was also use as a Kodak commercial."
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Example #2: Rejoice The Wiz
Anthony Edwards jr, Published on Apr 30, 2014
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
1980Triumph, 2015
"I wonder why no one posts the full version with the dancing at the end"
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J Dezign, 2015
Reply
"+1980Triumph right! That's the best part!"
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William Clark, 2015
Reply
"+1980Triumph Because folks'll lose their minds looking at all that lovely chocolate skin jumping around half dressed. LOL Its why they didn't put it in the newest version."
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A portion of the Liberation Ballet is found at 2:14-3:37 of this video clip.
"The newest version" [of "The Wiz"] is a live production that aired on United States television December 2015.
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ADDENDUM: The Wiz (5/8) Movie CLIP - No Bad News (1978) HD
Published on Jun 27, 2011
The Wiz movie clips: http://j.mp/1LmZVy6
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Click http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/thewiz/dontnobodybringmenobadnews.htm for the lyrics to that song.
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