On Wednesday we featured the original song “9,000 Days” from Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus” from South African boy band Overtone (featuring vocalist Yollandi Nortjie). Today we’re happy to bring you the second track, “Colorblind.”
Overtone was reportedly “talent-scouted” by Eastwood’s wife Dina when she attended the group’s tribute to Freddy Mercury. Eastwood dug the melodies and asked for a few demos to be used in the film. So on one hand, it’s nice that he’s giving a leg up to an up-and-coming group.
The song is used in the film, quite suddenly, as the background music for a dramatic helicopter entrance by Morgan Freeman’s Nelson Mandela. I say suddenly because the cue quite literally seems to come from nowhere and the scene would probably be better served without it.
And that’s before we get to the song’s obvious downfall: lyrics and melody. It sounds like some soft pop, radio-exhausted ballad, but the words hit everything so square on the nose that it’s almost embarrassing. But that’s just my opinion. Have a listen below and give us your thoughts.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Features
Headlines
Search


Archives






















59 responses so far
1 12-02-2009 at 8:45 am
Julian Stark said...
Ugh. I’m less than a minute into it, and I already hate it… you were totally right about this song
2 12-02-2009 at 8:53 am
Guy Lodge said...
“Yeah, we conquered the war
with love at the core…”
And there are people who say that pop lyrics aren’t poetry.
As vile as this is, I’m afraid to say it’s not even the worst that South African adult-contemporary music has to offer. It’s a truly frightening genre.
3 12-02-2009 at 8:59 am
qwiggles said...
…is there another reference to 9000 days in there?
This actually plays in the movie?
4 12-02-2009 at 8:59 am
aspect ratio said...
Good. god.
I don’t think I’ll be seeing Invictus, that is abhorrent. If it was in the end credits I could probably live with it, but it’s in the movie?! It makes that song from 2012 seem like a masterpiece.
5 12-02-2009 at 9:18 am
Aleksis said...
I can’t help but think of that episode of The Office (UK) with David Brent on his guitar…
Looks like an all-white band, too.
6 12-02-2009 at 9:47 am
Chris138 said...
I can see this as an end credits song, but not in the movie..
7 12-02-2009 at 10:04 am
MattyD said...
Wow. I didn’t know how much I believed you Kris, but after listening to it you were completely right. That song is absolutely horrible. And there are some bad pop lyrics out there but the song has no hook whatsoever. I would at least be able to ignore the lyrics if the song were catchy or beautifully melodic. Yet, nein.
8 12-02-2009 at 10:12 am
Michael said...
excuse me while I vommit. seriously though, this song is the type of song that the academy loves to randomly nominate and I can almost see/hear it being performed live. I just don’t know how they could show any clips of famous star’s audience reactions b/c who could keep a straight face while listening to that song. yuck – Invictus fail #6
9 12-02-2009 at 10:34 am
Loyal said...
Ouch.
I remember when South Africa used to be cool. Yeah, I’m talking about you Lethal Weapon II and White Shark diving.
In his defense, Clint is really really really old.
10 12-02-2009 at 11:01 am
Guy Lodge said...
Loyal: Lots of cool South African music out there. You just need to know where to look!
11 12-02-2009 at 11:19 am
Loyal said...
That’s why we need you Guy!!! Open our eyes to the wonders of Seether and BLK JKS.
12 12-02-2009 at 11:59 am
Brian said...
Remember when Eastwood used to love music? Between this and Gran Torino, I’d say that ship has sailed…
13 12-02-2009 at 12:12 pm
Derek 8-Track said...
HAHAHA!
haha. that’s rich.
Sounds like something you’d find on some contemporary Christian Radio Station.
or something an all white grade school would sing in music class.
14 12-02-2009 at 7:33 pm
katie said...
a little ironic that that accompanying picture are filled with white men only
15 12-02-2009 at 10:11 pm
mary said...
well i love the song. everyone can’t hate the song if it’s just played in the wrong part of the movie.
16 12-03-2009 at 1:51 am
sizwe said...
I have just discovered BLK JKS. Awesome! as for this, anything with the name Eastwood on it I avoid
17 12-03-2009 at 2:38 am
Lo said...
Why all the negative comments??
Not really that bad… Could any of you do it better??
By the way the band is not all white. Look at there website for more info.
Hell they were given an opportunity, be happy for them!
18 12-03-2009 at 3:06 am
mary said...
Yeah, i can’t understand it either! You made up your minds about this song before you even heard it, because one person was negative about it!
19 12-09-2009 at 10:52 pm
El Craigo said...
What a bunch of pretentious losers to make such odious, negative comments. How many Grammys have these people won, that they are entitled to hurl such abuse? Actually, people who really DO something with their lives tend to be positive and helpful in their critiques. The people who snipe and pretend superiority are usually do-nothings whose viciousness reveals their own personality defects and character flaws. I suppose none of them ever heard the expression “De gustibus non disputandum est”. If they don’t like something, that’s pretty much all they are entitled to say. Were they reviewing ice cream flavors, they wouldn’t just say, “I don’t like strawberry”. No, they have to vilify strawberry and deride it as despicable. If you like chocolate or vanilla better, fine. Just don’t defame strawberry.
20 12-11-2009 at 7:10 pm
Larka said...
I LOVE THIS SONG SOOOO MUCH!!!!!
i just saw the movie and i just HAD to find this song!!
IT IS… AMAZING…FANTASTIC….WONDERFUL!!!!!
love it (L)
i cant even tell you how great it is…the song speaks for itself
21 12-11-2009 at 7:14 pm
Derek said...
oh boy the hand is heavy
22 12-13-2009 at 11:50 am
Kristin said...
I don’t understand why there are so many negative comments, I think this song is absolutely beautiful O.o And I think the lyrics are incredibly powerful.
23 12-13-2009 at 8:02 pm
Anne said...
I LOVE this song! I heard it in the movie and on the closing credits and I came looking for it on the internet.
Music is a very personal thing.
24 12-13-2009 at 11:08 pm
a said...
In real life Nelson Mandela gave this quote to Francois, and excerpt from Teddy Roosevelt’s speech, The Man In The Arena”: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
I think in the midst of all these comments about the song this quote would be more appropriate. We could all learn a lot from it.
25 12-14-2009 at 2:12 pm
Aaron said...
I have a fairly low standard for what entertains me whenever I see a movie, but this movie is still a big “meh.”
I will say that 90% of it’s mediocrity is due to this terrible song. The review is spot on, it is embarrassing. It could almost be good if it wasn’t so CLEARLY written for this movie.
Still, I am proud to say that is has joined my “Worst songs ever made” playlist, which I actually keep for songs like this.
And I’m sorry for those who like the song, I don’t mean to be scathing towards your preference, it is only my opinion. But some people are taking the negative criticism too seriously.
26 12-14-2009 at 2:37 pm
Raquel said...
It is in the movie, but only the first chorus. Or until it says the first “colorblind”. And, you should not see the movie just because you hate one song that’s in it. The movie is quite good, in fact. You can learn from it.
27 12-15-2009 at 11:28 am
nick said...
brilliant song. Critics are probably into heavy metal or death metal.
28 12-15-2009 at 11:49 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
Or good music.
29 12-16-2009 at 10:54 pm
Tawny said...
Maybe the song was misplaced in the scene. It kind of caught me off guard not being in theme with the setting. But then I realized they incorporated african harmonies in it. It’s kind of nice to have that fitting music in that fitting sports movie that meant much more than sports. You don’t see those kind as much, anymore. These days, everyone tries so hard to be surprising or different, or have the best this or that, and they wind up just ruining things. So, I enjoy that the song wasn’t over the top miraculous, but perfectly quaint, as was the movie. If you think about it, life isn’t like that, so it’s nice to see and hear that hopeful, alter- reality every now and then.
30 12-17-2009 at 12:13 am
UILS said...
You all suck this song is really nice its like having hope for those who needs something to hold on i watched the movie because one thing i play rugby for a 19 year old girl. and the movie was how it was back then my dad told me all about it. this song moves a lot of people especially those who needs the helpful push of what this song actually means!!!
31 12-20-2009 at 3:55 pm
Sarah said...
im in love with this song! its so beautiful.
obviously you people dont know anything about music.
32 12-22-2009 at 6:39 pm
Jacqueline said...
I agree that the placement in the movie was not the best choice, but its still a really good song and movie. Why do so many people have to bash? can you do better? cause if you can please do so – we need more SA movies! I’m studying in the US and LOVED this movie and I am PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN!
33 12-25-2009 at 9:16 pm
Stef said...
Yeah I really don’t get why there are so many negative comments… I really liked it and when I heard it in the movie, I spent like 20 min looking for it.
34 12-25-2009 at 10:06 pm
Joshua Lammi said...
I loved this song, it suited the movie which was touching and inspiring on many levels. The negative comments are likely from the same people who saw rugby in the trailer and expected it to be an action movie.
This is a long overdue tribute to Nelson Mandela, as well as an overdue tribute to the sport of rugby which until now hasn’t been highlighted by anything but a terrible Clooney movie (Leatherheads) and Alive where they were portrayed as cannibals.
Thanks for posting this, it was a google search away when I wanted to hear it.
35 12-26-2009 at 11:16 am
serah said...
Remember Invictus is not being marketed to the US only but internationally. Some vewiers dont critic to detail as done here in US, they appreciate the movie learn something from it and move on. Those who no nothing about Mandela, apartheid, why a white man in Africa speaks Zulu or whatever native language can get a glimpse from this movie so while you are here in US watched a million movies someone in Africa(not to be offensive) has not watched those many and all she/he cares about is the theme of the story little attention is paid on music (sound tracks) NO ONE CARES ABOUT it and Clint Eastwood was wise to use music that is popular in the area after all it is about South Africa so that is there level of singing, you vomit or swallow it is there life and they live loving it that way.
36 12-28-2009 at 4:07 am
slswmss said...
I enjoyed this song, but like the version at the end of the credits on the movie. The background vocals are fuller and not drowed out by the instrutments.
37 12-28-2009 at 12:46 pm
Udy said...
nice song..was checkin on it on youtube but i guess is not yet out there…well guys really a nice song,love the words and the beat…hope to hear more of the group…keep it up…
38 12-31-2009 at 10:16 am
yen said...
i beg to disgree with the negative comments. The song fits the theme of the movie, both lyrics and tune…
It’s poetic and sums up what the movie was trying to relay to its viewers.
39 12-31-2009 at 11:41 pm
bikebox said...
It blows. You can like it all you want. People like a lot of crap. There’s nothing new to that. Crap is king. I just saw a repeat of the Craig Ferguson show and these guys were on it. I was horrified. Not only is it musically annoying (seriously, there’s a lot of cool music from South Africa–this is not it), but the “band” themselves are even more annoying. They literally made me doubt my desire to see this movie.
40 1-01-2010 at 5:34 pm
Kony said...
谢谢,很棒的歌曲,能给我发一个原件么?
41 1-05-2010 at 9:36 pm
mac said...
dude i like it ha
42 1-07-2010 at 2:40 pm
Michael said...
Just watched the movie. It started to crumble a bit then *BANG*, totally out of place, tweeny loving over processed, compressed, tuned, radio friendly, boy band song, that started to put the movie into a tail spin. Then I really began to notice the uneven relationships between the rugby players (watch how they ‘pat’ eachother), the crappy looking burn-ins on all the televisions except maybe one or two. Raucous bar scenes that look like they were shot on Sunday morning, and bad looking CGI for the majority of the stadium shots.
I haven’t even begun with the story.
Clint, what happened? Morgan can’t do it all.
Morgan may get a nod, but that’s it.
43 1-14-2010 at 9:31 am
Angel said...
To me if I like that song. Mexican Border loved the movie and the truth is also like the song of 9000 days and Colorblind
I hope the bad reviews are not listening to the song
Greetings from Tijuana, Mexico. a happy place in latinamerica
44 1-25-2010 at 7:57 pm
xxxricky said...
The negative comments are mainly from white South Africans who are disgruntled remnants of apartheid [the old laws of South Africa which separated races]. The song is freakin awesome you assholes!!
45 1-26-2010 at 9:10 am
Jacqueline said...
Re: xxxxricky:
How do you know that that is the case? I am a white South African – go and read my comment several weeks ago – your comment shows ignorance and shows HOW LITTLE you know about South Africa and South Africans – your comment many not be opposed to the music but obviously you did not get the message of the movie.
Nkosi Sikaleli i’Africa
46 2-09-2010 at 2:32 am
Salomé said...
Oh! And NO WHERE did Clint make ANY kind of reference that mandela TOO were a HUGE racist then AND still IS!!! therefore the slogan ” kill a farmer, kill a boer” – most boere in South Afrika are indeed WHITE!!!
AND no FOREIGNER REALLY knows what the ANC did in South Afrika to cause mandela his 27 year jailterm!!!
he was in CHARGE of the group that KILLED 1000′S of people (white AND black) – in my eyes, he is NO less than a MURDERER!!!!
47 2-23-2010 at 12:41 am
PatrickLA said...
The movie takes place in 1995, and if my memory is correct, these kinds of boy bands(NSYNC, Backstreet Boys) were very popular! This song fits perfectly into THAT year. Maybe Clint’s perspective is right and you all are expecting something from 2009? You missed the message. But I got it. too bad so many of you are so caught up in your own egos you miss the point.
48 3-19-2010 at 12:50 pm
midoki said...
The song and the movie is good. And yes, you COULD here the boyband-ness of the song quite clearly, so it just makes sense about what PatrickLA said. As for the helicopter scene, it didnt come out of nowhere. It was the supporting background music for the line when Madiba says he supports the team. then it goes on with the helicopter, and I personally found it interesting how the helicopter touched the ground at the same moment that the song goes “I drop”. heehee. and then there’s clint eastwood. dont take it out on him. he’s made good movies and this is one of them. you cant expect someone who produced gran torino to have everything else amazingly good. But you can appreciate. At least try to. because there’s nothing that’s COMPLETELY bad. Coz see? even I think that the song being so spot on for the movie is sort of annoying, but besides that, i like how they have some africanized beat thing going on with it. and hey, i like the tune. It’s just that i choose to see the good parts of it, too. and it just so happens that there’s more good to it than bad. so watch the movie, guys, coz i think it captures reality quite nicely. (the bars and how the people watch with their anticipated faces? I’ve seen all that whenever i see my people watching Manny Pacquiao in the boxing ring. And the guards? i’ll make it simple. i LOVE the security guards.)
49 5-17-2010 at 3:11 am
Tannemys said...
Actually, this is NOT an all white band. The pic shows only six of the band members, for reasons not known to me. And what, after all, does that have to do with it?
You will understand this song and the atmosphere Clint and co wanted to create with songs like these in the movie only if you are a South African. That World Cup final will remain one of the best memories of the “new” South Africa.
50 5-28-2010 at 2:15 pm
Erin Clark said...
I saw the movie and immediately downloaded this song. I love it. It’s not the kind of music I typically listen to, but it’s beautiful and inspiring.
51 6-21-2010 at 7:45 pm
Courtney said...
I dont understand what alot of you people don’t like this song. Its beautiful, inspiring and very motivational. It portrays an excellent message. I guess most of you just don’t listen to good music…
52 6-21-2010 at 7:49 pm
Courtney said...
Typo: I don’t understand why …
53 6-22-2010 at 6:40 pm
Lara said...
This song is so gorgeous! Love the sentences in one of the native languages of SA and love the American melody— all mixed. Love to read these comments that are overly dramatic, using words such as “horrible” or “wrecked the movie”! HA! You people are the kind who have your day wrecked by someone cutting you off in traffic. Sad. Do better or STFU.
54 7-31-2010 at 1:16 am
Walter D. Wright said...
Kristopher Tapley,
I care not if you are purple, greeen, or blue. The music, “Colorblind,” was used for a purpose. It was not intended to rub noses into the past; but to show a life of a man, who endured conditions beyond belief and yet demonstrated to Black and White alike that Forgiveness is greater than legislation. Nelson Mandella did not pass laws to win the heart of the people, he used a sport that all people loved, and united the South African people to rally about a cause. I feel sorry for you in a way. It is you mentality which has kept the fires of hatred burning in the middle eart, for the theme of “Colorblind” goes way beyond the skin; but into creed and one’s core beliefs. How tolerant are we.
It was inspiring, and in my opinion, much more than a drunken cowboy singer.
55 7-31-2010 at 1:37 am
Guy Lodge said...
So, not liking the song makes you a racist? Glad we’ve got that cleared up.
Seriously, what’s with the continued life of this comment thread?
56 8-15-2010 at 7:58 am
Appreciative said...
This song is beautiful, inspiring and couldn’t have come at a better point in the movie. Clint Eastwood knew what he was doing and chose this song perfectly.
57 8-15-2010 at 8:10 am
qwiggles said...
This is amazing. I didn’t realize this thread was still alive. Did someone in the band send his fans here to flame on?
Viva CG Mandela ghost! Viva CG terrorist airplane scare!
58 11-07-2011 at 4:31 am
alyson said...
I loved this song from the movie when we watched it at my church yesterday, so first thing when i got on the internet today, I came looking for it. When i found so many terrible comments, the first thing i thought was, “woah, did i listen to the same song with as guys?’ I really love this song, it’s beautiful, even learning the lyrics… and forwarding the link to friends… Love you overtone! In love with you Clint Eastwood, ah, yes, and your work too.