When Ghana’s President John Mahama began speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, few would have predicted the King of Pop making an appearance.
However, Mr Mahama felt Michael Jackson’s lyrics – taken from the 1991 hit Heal the World – were the perfect words to open a speech which touched on disease, the economy and increasing international tensions.
“Michael Jackson sang, ‘heal the world.. make the world a better place for you and for me… and the entire human race’,” Mr Mahama told assembled world leaders in New York.
“What happened to that enthusiasm?” he wondered.
While unusual, it transpires that Mr Mahama – who proudly told delegates he was born the same year as “one of the greatest artistes that ever lived” – is not the only politician to be inspired by the words of a musician.
Among the things former UK Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron will be remembered for is his penchant for The Smiths, which he reminded us of during one of his final appearances in parliament.
“As someone about to enter the political graveyard perhaps I could misquote my favourite man and say ‘let’s meet at the cemetery gates’!” he joked – slightly different from the actual lyric, which is “So I meet you at the cemetery gates”.
It is not the first time his love of the band has made an appearance in parliament.
Back in 2010, he and Labour MP Kerry McCarthy traded song names across the floor,
The Smiths, however, have let the world know they are not a fan of his.
“I do forbid him to like it. He shouldn’t like us because we’re not his kind of people,” guitarist Johnny Marr told the Today programme in 2013, echoing similar statements made by lead singer Morrissey.
Read More: BBC
