BANGKOK – Pop sensation Tata Young has become an unsung hero of the movement to stop global warming after former US Vice President Al Gore cited her acclaimed hit “El Nin-YO!” after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway last month for his work at highlighting changes to the climate.
“That song shows the power of music to change a generation,” Gore said at the December talks in Bali. “When I was in Bangkok recently, I attended a local bar in which many young people were singing the song at the top of their lungs. They knew every word. I was very impressed.”
Since the conference, sales of Tata’s album Temperature Rising have risen dramatically as word has spread among climate activists. Many comments posted on web boards have called the album one of the best climate awareness records ever produced.
“Tata has done our earth a real favor with Temperature Rising. The trees are gyrating and the polar ice caps are melting with pleasure,” wrote user WorLDburNIng on the website climateprotect.org, which named Tata a “Climate Hero.”
The album’s breakout hit “El Nin-YO!” features the tantalizing refrain “You got my temperature rising/Like El Nin-YO!” four times in a row. Tata also shows that she will not ever compromise in the fight against global warming deniers when she sings:
Don’t leave me till I’m satisfied
I won’t say ‘NO’ to something I haven’t tried
I won’t object to my hands and feet being tied
This girl don’t know ‘bout being shy
In an interview, Gore noted that many other lesser known songs on the album also contain strong messages against hot weather. In the melodic “Come Rain Come Shine,” for instance, she urgently cries out, “Come rain come shine/Stop wasting time.”
“Sometimes people think global warming is something we can pass on to our kids and their kids’ kids and their kids’ kids,” Gore said. “But Tata is saying ‘No! Let’s not waste any more time.’”
Gore also said he was personally inspired by the anthem “Mila Mila,” the final track on the album. In the song, Tata makes the public plea:
Baby rock me fast
Baby rock me slow
If you do me right
We can make this last all night
“She’s basically saying, ‘Look, it doesn’t matter if you are totally convinced on the evidence for global warming, we should still do this right and make the movement last forever,” Gore said.
Gore has already put in a request for Tata to come visit his estate in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s vowed to show her some good Southern hospitality, and says that he will play the song “Uh Oh” when she first comes to the house.
“That song just makes us realize that we are stepping into the danger zone if we do nothing about global warming,’” Gore said.
Critics have hailed “Uh Oh” as a song with the potential to get everyone in heat about global warming. Tata offers listeners a proposition:
So, you likin’ the way that I rock my jeans
And your eyes are buggin’ out, checkin’ out my baby T
Even though you’re just a little bit scared of me
I can tell that you’re likin’ what u see
Indeed, global warming activists do like what they see and want plenty more.
