Song #20: K'naan - "Wavin' Flag"

Song #20: K'naan - "Wavin' Flag" (2009)

Troubadour

"So we'll patiently wait for that faithful day. It's not far away, but for now we'll say..."

If there's a song that begs to be the anthem for perseverance, persistency, the dream or success, freedom, and even civil disobedience, it's "Wavin' Flag" by the Somali-Canadian musician K'naan. I remember first hearing "Wavin' Flag" when I was home sick from school. Upon hearing it for the first time, I replayed it an additional four, each time feeling empowered and invigorated with a sense of unforeseen gusto and determination to do whatever I pleased.

The song is presented to us with a wonderful array of sharp but not bombastic production values and a wickedly infectious chorus, which recites the poetic lines, "When I get older, I will be stronger, they'll call me freedom, just like a wavin' flag." Right off the bat, those words, their meaning, and their delivery should inspire anyone with a heart to either shoot for the stars or try to make a difference. The song owes itself to the numerous countries in the world fighting for religious freedom, political/religious persecution, or whatever it may be.

The song was used effectively in the trailer for the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, was the theme song for encouragement and reconstruction after the devastating earthquake his the impoverished country of Haiti, and even the theme song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, selected by Coca-Cola. To this, "Wavin' Flag" still captivates me and is my personal favorite song showing empowerment and spreading the message of courage, bravery, and the incorruptible aspirations of freedom.

Give "Wavin' Flag" a listen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk_03ifD7l4