Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

It starts with harmonies that are closer to soothing than searing, Brian and Tony Gold's voices more placatory than piercing. Then the lyrics begin and the topic is anything but pleasant, although Can You takes a much less overtly aggressive approach than the generally militant stance of anti-apartheid songs:

"Wrote a letter to my dear friend in South Africa

Her reply brought tears to my eyes

Though she tried her best to hide

The pain she felt inside

It wasn't hard to read between the lines

When she said can you swim on any beach you want to

She asked again

Can you stay out late at night if you want to

Are there no signs around, saying we want no Blacks in town

You must be living next to paradise."

Songwriter, musician and producer Mikie Bennett says he started to write the anti-apartheid song in 1989/1990, after watching a documentary about South Africa. "There was a sign on the beach that said 'No blacks allowed' and the image got to me," Bennett told The Sunday Gleaner. So the first line he wrote was "can you swim on any beach you want to" and "little by little it developed into the song it became". He got stuck at one point, working through the jam with writing partner Hopeton Lindo.

Can You was never intended for Brian and Tony Gold, known then for their lovers rock material such as Bullseye, Bennett saying that he wrote it with Judy Mowatt in mind. He sang the demo himself and was encouraged by some persons, including Brian and Tony Gold, to sing it himself.

Bennett declined. He saw Can You as a career-changing song and the former Home T member had no intention of becoming a solo singer. Brian and Tony Gold, unlikely singers for Can You, took on a song that was already an unlikely approach to its subject.

"I would not have written a song like that for Brian and Tony Gold. It was completely different from what they had done before," Bennett said, pointing out that it is delivered in a sort of accent as the duo goes for a different feel on Can You.

"When we are singing about things like that we get into that space. And we get out of the whole American sounding style," Bennett said, explaining that "we went for Eastern harmonies and so on".

Danny Brownie laid the track, with Tyrone Downie doing the keyboard over dubs. After the work at Black Scorpio's Drewsland studio was finished, Can You was mixed by Stephen Stanley at Anchor. But it was someone with an ear close to the streets who realised just how big Can You could become.

"I had no idea it would have made the impact it did," Bennett said. It was Rory from Stone Love who envisioned just how big it could become - and did.

Bennett says "a lot of times I do things and look back at it. There is a thing that runs through me to say 'you did not do this'. Sometimes I am as surprised as the people around me," he said.

Avid reader

He points out, though, that "I am an avid reader. Every time you see me I have two books reading," this naturally contributing to his creative abilities. As for the vastly different approach to apartheid that Can You takes from the many songs of the time, Bennett says "I am not a militant person by nature. I am not the 'go out and kill'. You will never hear that coming from my mouth. Subtlety is my natural approach."

Can You was very popular in Jamaica and did well in England. And when Maxi Priest heard Can You he wished he had got to sing it.

There was a follow up to Can You, titled Free at Last.

The song has been used outside of dancehall and radio, Bennett counting L'Acadco's use of Can You as one of the biggest compliments he has received. And he gets many, as "there isn't a month that passes without me getting a compliment. Every now and then somebody says 'is you write Can You?' Automatically my ratings go up in their sights.

"It is a song I am very proud of and continue to be proud of it," Bennett said.