Check It Out
“I Can’t Breathe” Video by Pussy Riot
February 23, 2015 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
The Russian band Pussy Riot has released a new music video, “I Can’t Breathe“ that everyone should check out. Band members Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alyokhina said they wrote the song, their first in English, after taking part in street protests against the NYPD murder of Eric Garner by chokehold in Staten Island last summer. They said, “This song is for Eric and for all those from Russia to America and around the globe who suffer from state terror—killed, choked, perished because of war and state-sponsored violence of all kinds—for political prisoners and those on the streets fighting for change. We stand in solidarity.”
In the video we see the two musicians being buried alive, shovelfuls of dirt being thrown on them, as we hear the lyrics of the song, with its haunting refrain:
It’s getting dark in New York City
It’s getting dark in New York City
It’s getting dark in New York City
I need to catch my breath
An alternate version of the video shows scenes from the street protests, the memorial at the place where Eric Garner was murdered, and Eric’s family members.
Pussy Riot collaborated with various musicians for the video, including punk rock legend Richard Hell, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow. The song closes with Richard Hell’s recitation of Eric Garner’s final words:
Get away...for what? Every time you see me, you want to mess with me. I’m tired of it. It stops today. Why would you...? Everyone standing here will tell you I didn’t do nothing. I did not sell nothing. Because every time you see me, you want to harass me. You want to stop me... Selling cigarettes. I’m minding my business, officer, I’m minding my business. Please just leave me alone. I told you the last time, please just leave me alone. please please, don’t touch me. Do not touch me.... I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.
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