Mary J. Blige Challenges Hillary Clinton With Bruce Springsteen Cover

By Amanda Wicks

(RADIO.COM) – Mary J. Blige interviewed Hillary Clinton for The 411, an Apple Music segment that will be released September 30th. But in the previews for their sit down together, Blige didn't just ask the Democratic presidential nominee questions, she decided to do what she does best and sing.

Blige sang an a cappella cover of Bruce Springsteen's song "American Skin (41 Shots)." Springsteen wrote the song in response to the police shooting of Amadou Diallo in 1999. Out of the 41 shots fired at Diallo, 19 hit him. The song details the experience of being targeted by the police simply for being black. Springsteen's chorus still rings true today in the wake of continued police shootings: "It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)/ No secret my friend/ You can get killed just for living in your American skin." It's also worth mentioning that part of the song takes the perspective of the police officer ("Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet? This is your life.")

In the one-minute clip Apple Music shared, Blige sits across from Clinton and sings, "If an officer stops you/ Always be polite/ And never ever run away/ Promise mama you'll keep your hands in sight." At the song's conclusion, Blige asks, "I just wanna know: Where do we go from here?"

The full interview will be available September 30th.
Watch the preview below:

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• Hillary Clinton
• Bruce Springsteen
• Music