Music

“Chisholm’s Theme” and Score (scroll down to hear the theme song!)
Composed and produced by Barry Eastman
Published by Melorie Music (ASCAP)
Eastbay Music Inc.

The musical inspiration came from the blaxploitation movies of the seventies that were about “hero / anti-heroes” who always had a theme song. Followed by Shaft (1972) and Superfly (1973), these movies first hit the national scene in 1971 with Sweet Sweetback’s Baaadassss Song. Women soon got into the action with Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974), both of which starred Pam Grier. In many respects, Chisholm was a real life Pam Grier character. She fought for what she believed in against the “forces of evil” in her community. She was a nursery school teacher who evolved through necessity into a local politician, state assemblywoman (1964), and congresswoman (1868 – 83) — who stood her ground and became a “political action hero” supported by and representative of those Americans outside the political mainstream: black “radicals,” feminists, political idealists, and the youth of America. In other words, Chisholm deserved a theme song and it had to be funky.

The difficulty was finding a sound that captured the idiosyncrasies in Chisholm’s personality. Our Executive Producer recommended Barry Eastman. My first reaction to a composer was skeptical at best. All I could image was some bad cover band trying to sound like Issac Hayes. But Barry came in, rose to the challenge, and nailed it. Chisholm’s theme sounds like the seventies while also fitting her political personality. The beat is energetic and driving, the guitar sounds tough and strong, while the flutes capture her impeccable ladylikeness.

Listen to Chisholm’s theme song
press play to hear music



“I Am Woman”
Composed by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton
Irving Music, Inc. / Buggerlugs Music Co.
Performed by Helen Reddy
Capitol Records

We were looking for music in a scene about the Women’s movement. Reddy’s song., “I Am Woman,” was an integral part of the movement, an anthem of sorts, which inspired thousands of women as they marched and worked for women’s rights. As Chisholm says in the scene, “….”

Click here to read the lyrics.
Find out more: www.helenreddy.com/

“Spread the Word”
Composed by Fatin Dantzler, Aja Graydon, and War
Universal/Polygram International, Inc.
Performed by Kindred
Hidden Beach Records

Kindred’s album “Surrender to Love” kept finding itself to the stereo. Originally “Spread the Word” was placed in the documentary as temporary music in a campaigning scene. We became attached to it. “Spread the Word” seemed to fit. We then discovered why. Kindred had updated a song from the seventies by the quintessentially seventies group War. “Spread the Word” is the only contemporary song not composed specifically for the documentary.

Find out more: http://www.kindredthefamilysoul.com/

“Slippin Into Darkness”
Composed And Performed by War
Universal/Polygram International, Inc.
Avenue Records

What can we say about the group War. They are on the groups that captured the sound as well as the feel of the seventies. War is made up of XX musicians from all kinds of backgrounds. They represent and convey the raw and rebellious songs of the young “protest” generation. We needed that kind of sound for our scene on the Vietnam War. “Slippin’ into Darkness” fit that bill.

Find out more: www.wartheband.com/

Walkin’ Proud
Motor City Grooves
Sonoton Music Group

We started to run out of money. “Walkin’ Proud” is very affordable stock music from Sonoton.

“Chisholm Trail”
Composed and Performed by Unknown Chisholm Campaign Volunteer

A campaign volunteer in the Florida primary wrote and performed the “Chisholm Trail.” This folk song inspired by Candidate Chisholm found its way in a documentary called Pursuing the Dream being made by some college kids (Bob Denby and Tom Werner). The lyrics say it all.

Read the lyrics: Click here
To hear a clip of the song: Press Play below