Cult of Personality

Are you familiar with the song “Cult of Personality” by the 80s funk-metal band Living Color? Hardly a day went by during the summer of 1989 where you didn’t here the tune a half-dozen times on the radio. They were big, had a couple of other hits and a few more albums before consigning themselves to those “Remember the 80s/90s” and “Whatever happened to …” shows on VH1.

Well, for some reason, the lyrics to that song popped into my head while I was taking a shower yesterday morning. I wonder why? All I did was watch a bunch of the morning news shows while chowing down on some cereal before me and the Little One went grocery shopping. Morning news, like CNN Headline News and the local TV channels.

Here are the lyrics, if you’re interested. Remind you of anyone?


Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I’ve been everything you want to be
I’m the cult of personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I’m the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights, a Nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You don’t have to follow me
Only you can set me free

I sell the things you need to be
I’m the smiling face on your t.v.
I’m the cult of personality
I exploit you, still you love me
I tell you one and one makes three
I’m the cult of personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi
I’m the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights a Nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You don’t have to follow me
Only you can set you free

You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You me power in your god’s name
I’m every person you need to be
I’m the cult of personality
Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I’ve been everything you want to be
I’m the cult of personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I’m the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality