Kansas City band Making Movies, whose Afro-Latin rock rhythms have invaded NPR's Tiny Desk and gotten the attention of Rolling Stone, have dropped the third single off their forthcoming album ameri'kana. Titled "Delilah," the track features co-writes from Latin GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter and musician Rubén Blades and the late GRAMMY-winning rock legend Lou Reed.
"Delilah"'s lyrics touch on the tragic realities of immigration when hope for starting a new life is met with the challenges immigration policies can bring. "I was beaten, finger printed, deported / for the love of Delilah," Blades sings.
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The song was written by Blades and Reed during a week of music making in the east coast in the late '80s. Blades' "Letters To The Vatican" was one of the songs that came out of the session, but "Delilah" was left unfinished.
"Lou and I got together in 1986, or 1987, to write songs for my first album in English, Nothing But The Truth. We were together for a week I believe, in an isolated place he had in the New Jersey woods," Blades said in a statement to the Recording Academy. " We made a deal beforehand, that any idea or lyric or anything we came up with during that time would be shared 50/50. We began with this but did not [finish] it then. I did some time after and, as agreed, we share the credit."
Making Movies, adding their touch of percussion and guitars, is now helping bring the song to life. Frontman Enrique Chi said, "This story is as valid today as it was 30 years ago when they wrote the song." The song is also the latest collab between the musicians, both of whom have roots in Panama.
"It is the most amazing gift to work with Rubén who is an unparalleled artistic force," Chi said. "He has mentored and inspired us––and has affirmed our belief that music is a powerful tool for illuminating stories that need to be told."
ameri'kana will be out May 24.
