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32-20
Jan 25, 2013 15:09:42 GMT
Post by lewiscohen on Jan 25, 2013 15:09:42 GMT
(unlike people at jams who keep playing Sweet Home Alabama, which seems to say how lovely it is to live there ,and there there is no discimination, whatever Neal Young may say) Ah now that's a whole debate in itself. Actually, Ronnie Van Zandt and Neil Young became good friends and Neil Young reportedly praised the song Sweet Home Alabama. The key is in the second verse In Birmingham they love the Governor We all did what we could do Watergate doesn't bother me Does your conscience bother you In other words, expecting everyone in the south to feel guilty about George Wallace's politics is like expecting everyone in California to feel guilty about Nixon's antics. Quite profound really.
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32-20
Jan 25, 2013 16:50:11 GMT
Post by pete1951 on Jan 25, 2013 16:50:11 GMT
I can`t be as pragmatic as that, my consciene would bother me if I`d lived in the States and not spoken out or voted against injustice (Though `Sweet Home Alabama` is a great sounding song if you don`t listen to the words) PT
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Deleted
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32-20
Jan 25, 2013 17:01:47 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2013 17:01:47 GMT
History is being re-written as we speak. This new Lincoln film (I haven't seen it, so shoot me down) appears to be portraying him as the saviour of slaves, but my understanding is he was protecting the USA - at any cost, which could have meant him keeping slavery if required! I guess I'm saying that the messenger is not anywhere near as important as the message, however unpalatable or old fashioned a song may be - its now a piece of history. I'm white, but I should still be able to sing 'black' songs as they were written / performed by black artists, its a performance rahter that a statement. I dont think I should be singing about life in South Central LA though. TT
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Deleted
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32-20
Jan 25, 2013 23:06:15 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2013 23:06:15 GMT
Hi Harriet, I didn't make that comment about 32-20 Blues to have a go at anybody who does sing it. In fact I should have said earlier that Garry plays and sings it really well. But I do think this thread highlights the fact that lots of people sing blues songs without really taking a second look at what they are actually saying. I too can see other interpretations, which was the whole point of blues singers using double entendres in their lyrics. There are many lyrics in the music from decades ago that are of their time and place, and as brilliant and beautiful as they are (in their own way), they are no longer acceptable. I am sure that in the mid 1930s that attitude to women and how they should be treated was quite acceptable. I love every note and word of Robert Johnson's music. I have studied it and danced around the room to it for most of my adult life. His songwriting and use of imagery in his writing, whether it was original or borrowed from other songs, is superb. It stands out from the crowd and as we know his songs and performances have influenced generations of great songwriters and musicians. But there are certain lyrics in his repertoire that are (in my opinion) best left alone. That is what great songs are about; nobody listens to the content, they just sing along with it. Many a serious political and personal statement have been hidden in clever poetry and melodies. Enough of this serious stuff on a Wednesday morning......I wonder what strings he used... Shine On Michael "LNobody Cares For Me" by Mississippi John Hurt. I love John Hurt so much and this song spoke to me at a particular time in my early 20's. I really wanted to perform it as it's a fantastic song and although it's morbid by definition, it really isn't. I remember someone (maybe Son House) saying that African-American's sing the blues as a catharsis - to make them feel better, white guys do it to make them feel sad. I think this would be true of any interpretation I could do of this song. It is intended as a lovely ballad (almost) and yet if I did it I'd probably have Manchester Mental Health contacting me and putting me on suicide watch. Shame!
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