Cannon Blast…This is an Astounding Video
Jun 15, 2005 / By: Michael Spielman
Category: Miscellaneous
There was an email in my inbox this morning that read.
Powerful 'Can I Live' pro-life video from Nick Cannon - A Must See
I was a bit skeptical. The name "Nick Cannon" meant nothing to me, and it seems I'm always getting emails about great new pro-life songs or videos, the quality and production of which turn out to be severely lacking. With that as a backdrop, I followed the link, expecting to find a heart-felt, but poorly orchestrated video from someone the world has never heard of.
I was very much mistaken. It turns out that Nick Cannon, at age 24, is already a legitimate mainstream celebrity as an actor, a musician and a comedian. He is signed to Jive records, hosts a new show on MTV and is currently featured in GQ magazine. With this new knowledge in hand, I was suddenly more intrigued by this "powerful new pro-life video". I watched it online at www.nickcannonmusic.com and was completely astounded. It is stunning. I had all but given up on the notion that any American celebrity would ever come out against abortion at all, let alone in such a clear and brazen way. This song hits abortion right between the eyes. The message is explicit. The artist is courageous. I can't wait to see what the fallout will be.
The music video is a retelling of Nick's own story, a story which almost ended in tragedy. Nick's mom had been scheduled to abort him, but she left the clinic and gave birth to baby Nick instead. In the video we see a portayal of Nick's mom in the clinic while a grown Nick pleads with her in song to "Can I Live?". Some of the more profound lyrics include:
Let me plead my case
Its the late 70's
[You're] Seventeen
And having me, that will ruin everything
300 Dollars, thats the price of living?
Mommy, I dont like this clinic.
Hopefully you'll make the right decision
And dont go though with the knife incision
But it's hard to make the right move
When [you're] in high school
How you have to work all day and take night school
Hopping off da bus when the rain is pouring
What you want, morning sickness or the sickness of mourning?
If I Could Talk I Would Say To You
CAN I LIVE?
And I see the flowing tears so know that you hear me
When I move in your womb that's me being scared
Cause who knows what my future holds
Yo the truth be told you ain't told a soul
Yo you ain't even showing I'm just 2 months old
Through your clothes try to hide me deny me
Went up 3 sizes Your pride got you lying saying ain't nothing but a migraine
It ain't surprising you not trying to be in Wic food lines
Your friends will look at you funny but look at you mommy
That's a life inside you look at your tummy
What is becoming, ma, I am Oprah bound
You can tell he's a star from the ultrasound
Our sprits connected, doors open now
Nothing but love and respect
Thanks for holding me down
She Let Me Live...
So there it is, at a time when most high-profile Christian musicians seem completely averse to being any kind of witness against abortion, a secular rap artist drives the message home. I'm still amazed and just downloaded the song from iTunes. Now I just need to get my hands on the video. It's definitely a keeper.
Michael Spielman is the founder and director of Abort73.com. Subscribe to Michael's Substack for his latest articles and recordings. His book, Love the Least (A Lot), is available as a free download. Abort73 is part of Loxafamosity Ministries, a 501c3, Christian education corporation. If you have been helped by the information available at Abort73.com, please consider making a donation.