Ten Favorite Rock Who-What-Why Questions: Why Can't We Be Friends (#7)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (61951)
United States
March 15, 2017 6:46pm CST
My doctor was happy today!! And when I don't walk out carrying enough prescriptions to make it look like I'm toting War and Peace that makes me happy! So let's all celebrate with another great song from the world of rock and roll that asks a question in its title.
#7: Why Can't We Be Friends - War
Why? Well, that Cisco Kid driving the Low Rider might have something to do with it. 
One of the great, great bands of the 70s, War rolled with the changes in the 70s like an REO Speedwagon song. They had the "psychadelic" era with "Spill the Wine" (featuring former Animals lead singer Eric Burden), spoke of social conscience in "The World is a Ghetto," and even released one of the coolest, smoothest songs of the mid-70s in "Summer."
This song, from the height of their popularity in the mid-70s, sounds like a lot of fun. There's an apparent reference to "Spill the Wine" in the song ("I remember you when you drank my wine"), racial tension ("the color of your skin don't matter to me, as long as we can live in harmony"), and even the government ("I know you're working for the CIA, they wouldn't have you in the mafia!"). The two-line verses really just seem to be there to break up the "why can't we be friends" that dominate the song.
Hey, Stevie Wonder sang "You can feel it all over" 24 times in "Sir Duke." That's part of the charm of that song. And, honestly, "Why Can't We Be Friends" is still an important and valid question.
Why Can't Be Friends
Written by War and Jerry Goldstein
Recorded by War
From Why Can't We Be Friends, 1975
Sometimes I don't.....speak......right:
One of the great, great bands of the 70s, War rolled with the changes in the 70s like an REO Speedwagon song. They had the "psychadelic" era with "Spill the Wine" (featuring former Animals lead singer Eric Burden), spoke of social conscience in "The World is a Ghetto," and even released one of the coolest, smoothest songs of the mid-70s in "Summer."
This song, from the height of their popularity in the mid-70s, sounds like a lot of fun. There's an apparent reference to "Spill the Wine" in the song ("I remember you when you drank my wine"), racial tension ("the color of your skin don't matter to me, as long as we can live in harmony"), and even the government ("I know you're working for the CIA, they wouldn't have you in the mafia!"). The two-line verses really just seem to be there to break up the "why can't we be friends" that dominate the song.
Hey, Stevie Wonder sang "You can feel it all over" 24 times in "Sir Duke." That's part of the charm of that song. And, honestly, "Why Can't We Be Friends" is still an important and valid question.
Why Can't Be Friends
Written by War and Jerry Goldstein
Recorded by War
From Why Can't We Be Friends, 1975
Sometimes I don't.....speak......right:
The legendary band WAR (NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED)
2 people like this
2 responses
@FourWalls (61951)
• United States
16 Mar 17
I have to use soft drinks. It might be somatic, but it seems the carbonation helps the medicine go down quicker than a spoonful of sugar.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325345)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
@FourWalls I'll have to try that. I usually chew up a biscuit or bread and pop the pill in the middle and gulp!
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Mar 17
This was a big hit, I would say War's biggest. It's playing in my mind without the video.
1 person likes this
