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β€˜Praise You’, a forgotten love letter to black men

DJ Fatboy Slim’s β€˜Praise You’ is a song you might have heard in a Hollywood movie or danced to in a club… but behind the hit is an astonishing civil rights history.

DJ Fatboy Slim’s β€˜Praise You’ is a song you might have heard in a Hollywood movie or danced to in a club… to this day, it’s still his biggest hit. But there’s something you won’t know: the singer behind the lyrics or the true meaning of the words.

Civil rights activist Camille Yarbrough first released β€˜Take Yo’ Praise’ 50 years ago. It was written as a love letter to African-American men, inspired by a moment of spiritual awakening and family secret. After its release, radio stations refused to play it and she felt she was labelled a β€œtroublemaker”.

When Fatboy Slim picked up an old copy of Camille’s song, he turned it into a hit. But there’s an irony: it’s now played by radio stations around the world, but the true meaning of the music has been lost.

Reporter Emily Webb goes to meet Camille in her New York apartment.

[Photo Credit: Emily Webb, Photo Description: Carmille Yarbrough]

Producer/Presenter: Emily Webb
Executive Producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production Coordinator: Mica Nepomuceno

Release date:

27 minutes

On radio

Fri 27 Jun 2025 03:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 27 Jun 2025 03:32GMT
  • Fri 27 Jun 2025 10:32GMT
  • Fri 27 Jun 2025 17:32GMT
  • Fri 27 Jun 2025 21:32GMT
  • Sun 29 Jun 2025 15:32GMT

Podcast