In the highly scripted and predictable world of political campaigning, a moment of profound, raw artistic expression—or, depending on the viewer, intense awkwardness—can instantly break the internet. That defining moment came in September 2016 when R&B icon Mary J. Blige interviewed then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for the debut episode of her new Apple Music show, The 411 with Mary J. Blige.
The Unscripted Political Ballad While discussing the tense issue of police brutality and race relations in America, Mary J. Blige took an abrupt and entirely unexpected turn. Instead of simply asking a policy question, she declared she wanted to share something deeply personal with Clinton. The moment began with Blige suddenly grabbing Clinton’s hand, closing her eyes, and beginning to sing the lyrics from the Bruce Springsteen song “American Skin (41 Shots).” The song, written in 1999 following the police shooting death of Amadou Diallo (an unarmed Guinean immigrant who was shot 41 times by NYPD officers), resonated with the current social climate and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Blige sang the poignant, charged lyrics directly to Clinton, particularly the lines that reference the fears of Black mothers: “If an officer stops you, always be polite / And you’ll never ever run away, promise mama you’ll keep your hands in sight / Is it a gun, is it a knife, is it a wallet, this is your life…”
The Internet Erupts: Confusion and The Meme The teaser clip of the performance instantly went viral, leading to an explosion on the internet. Viewers were divided and captivated by the sheer novelty of the situation. Many felt the impromptu, intensely focused, and over-involved serenade was jarringly out of place in a serious political interview. Hillary Clinton’s reaction—a mix of a polite, fixed expression that bordered on perplexed yet calm—became an instant, legendary meme, often shared to denote someone trying to maintain diplomacy in an overtly uncomfortable situation.
However, Blige, a nine-time Grammy winner, later explained her decision. She stated that as a singer first, it was the only way she could truly express the depth of the pain and fear felt by the African American community and make Clinton “feel it.” Clinton’s subsequent reaction confirmed the impact, as she appeared genuinely emotional, sighing “Oh Mary, oh Mary,” and noting that she had “been interviewed so many times, nobody has ever sung in the middle of the interview.” The segment, despite (or because of) its profound awkwardness, achieved its goal: it guaranteed maximum attention for the launch of The 411 and injected raw, untraditional emotional expression into a highly sanitized political environment.