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« Music: August 2008 |
Main | Music: October 2008 » Interesting to see things from another perspective. Ta-Nehisi Coates: When I came to New York a couple things happened--1.) I got kind of disenchanted with a lot (not all) of hip-hop 2.) As a guy writing about music, but no longer socially segregated, I found that that shoulder shrug I gave when someone asked about Everything But The Girl wasn't cool, it was just ignorant. If I was gonna survive I had to know more. Again, the full story is here.
When I decided to integrate my collection, one major factor stood in the way--white rockers and their unvarnished love of the electric guitar. Part of that was real, and part of it was imagined. I'm sure some of my black readers who haven't made the leap can relate to the following: You know how some white people hear "black guy" and immediately picture some dude running from the cops? Anytime, anyone mentioned "white people" and "music" all I could hear were blaring guitars. Sure enough, when I ventured out, the loud guitars of The Strokes, The White Steipes and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs were waiting for me. I learned to love a lot of it--some of it not so much. But I bring this up because I've got a homeboy straight out of the South Side of Chicago--doubtlessly reading this right now--who I'm trying to put on. Know what the biggest barrier is? The guitars. Heh, so funny. So I've been going through my music trying find some "white music" that doesn't feature blaring guitars. Not the easiest task. By the way the term "white music" is great. It's one of those moments when the world is flipped. A "white" perspective views itself as introducing, say, literature to the world. Thus we have subsets and exceptions like "black literature." But Negroes think they invented music, thus music that they don't see as there own is "white music," an exception, viewed skeptically and often derisively. It manages to somehow toss country, electronic, and grunge in the same bag and dismiss it as "some white shit." Funny--when you're on the bottom you aren't any more noble. No one is clean.
Check out his original article on the subject as well.
By fnord12 | September 26, 2008, 2:15 PM | Music | Link
Pierre by Carol King
(Lyrics actually by Maurice Sendak)
There was once a boy named Pierre
Who only would say, I don't care!
Read his story, my friend, for you'll find
At the end that a suitable
Moral lies there One day his mother said
When Pierre climbed out of bed
-Good morning, darling boy, you are my only joy
Pierre said-I don't care!
-What would you like to eat?
-I don't care!
-Some lovely cream of wheat?
-I don't care!
-Don't sit backwards in your chair
-I don't care!
-Or pour syrup on your hair
-I don't care!
-You are acting like a clown
-I don't care!
-And we have to go to town
-I don't care!
-Don't you want to come, my dear?
-I don't care!
-Would you rather stay right here?
-I don't care!
So his mother left him there His father said-Get off your head
Or I will march you up to bed!
Pierre said-I don't care!
-I would think that you could see--
-I don't care!
-Your head is where your feet should be!
-I don't care!
-If you keep standing upside down--
-I don't care!
-We'll never get to town
-I don't care!
-If only you would say, I care
-I don't care!
-I'd let you fold the folding chair
-I don't care!
So his parents left him there
They didn't take him anywhere Now as the night began to fall
A hungry lion paid a call
He looked Pierre right in the eye
And asked him if he'd like to die
Pierre said-I don't care!
-I can eat you, don't you see?
-I don't care!
-And you will be inside of me
-I don't care!
-Then you will never have to bother--
-I don't care!
-With a mother and a father
-I don't care!
-Is that all you have to say?
-I don't care!
-Then I'll eat you, if I may
-I don't care!
So the lion ate Pierre Arriving home at six o'clock
His parents had a dreadful shock!
They found the lion sick in bed and cried
-Pierre is surely dead!
They pulled the lion by the hair
They hit him with the folding chair
His mother asked-Where is Pierre?
The lion answered-I don't care!
His father said-Pierre's in there! They rushed the lion into town
The doctor shook him up and down
And when the lion gave a roar
Pierre fell out upon the floor
He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head
And laughed because he wasn't dead
His mother cried and held him tight
His father asked-Are you allright?
Pierre said-I am feeling fine
Please take me home, it's half past nine The lion said-If you would care
To climb on me, I'll take you there
Then everyone looked at Pierre
Who shouted-Yes, indeed, I care!
The lion took them home to rest
And stayed on as a weekend guest
The moral of Pierre is: CARE!
By fnord12 | September 25, 2008, 9:28 AM | Music | Link
New Metallica album is a fake.
By fnord12 | September 24, 2008, 3:39 PM | Music | Link
Mother's Little Helper by the Rolling StonesWhat a drag it is getting old
Kids are different today,
I hear every mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though shes not really ill
There's a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day Things are different today,
I hear every mother say
Cooking fresh food for a husbands just a drag
So she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And two help her on her way, get her through her busy day Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old Men just aren't the same today
I hear evry mother say
They just don't appreciate that you get tired
They're so hard to satisfy, you can tranquilize your mind
So go running for the shelter of a mothers little helper
And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old Lifes just much too hard today,
I hear every mother say
The pusuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running for the shelter of a mothers little helper
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day
By fnord12 | September 18, 2008, 8:55 AM | Music | Link
Gorgar by Helloween(I have to say i'm a little disappointed to learn that this song is about gambling. I always assumed it was about a giant monster named Gorgar that would eat you. Clearly.)
You're runnin' around in the gamblin' hall
Every night it's the same
You're lookin' for something new to play
To win and have fun is your aim
A pinball speaks to you
His metal voice is knockin' in your head
You can't resist you'll have to play
You're just another victim caught in the trap
Gorgar will eat you!
Gorgar!
You'll never win - hey!
Gorgar will eat you!
Gorgar!
But you keep on playin' - hey! Your blood is boilin' your eyes grow wide -
Advance - too late
Gamblin' fever has taken your mind -
This fuckin' machine of hate
You spend all your money but you'll never win
You're always the loser and the
Robot's voice keeps hammering
Gorgar will eat you!
Gorgar!
You'll never win - hey!
Gorgar will eat you!
Gorgar!
But you keep on playin' - hey!
Wastin'..! money...! for fun...! every night
Livin'...! for today...! no thoughts...! for tomorrow
Man you are dead don't you realize
Wake up and live before it's too late
Gorgar will eat you!
Gorgar!
You'll never win - hey!
Gorgar will eat you!
Gorgar!
But you keep on playin' - hey!
By fnord12 | September 11, 2008, 8:53 AM | Music | Link
I heard once that there was a punk band called the Bollocks, and they put out an album called Never Mind the Sex Pistols. If you've also heard that somewhere, let me know, cause if we both heard it, it must be true. (There was a documentary and remix album with that title, but that's not what i was thinking of. I'll keep looking).
By fnord12 | September 8, 2008, 4:31 PM | Music | Comments (1)| Link
Heart: "Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there." Now where's the Pretenders with Rush Limbaugh using My City Was Gone as his theme song?
By fnord12 | September 5, 2008, 4:14 PM | Liberal Outrage
& Music | Comments (1)| Link
Retirement by the Kaiser ChiefsThere are many things that I would be proud of
If I'd only invented them such as the wheel
The washing machine and the tumble dryer
On these inventions surely I could retire I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And tell nobody why There are many things that I know I could do
If I'd only have wanted to, such as create
The perfect soulmate everyone would admire
On this creation surely I could retire I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And not to answer to why I want to retire
Inform the suppliers
I'll leave the party in style
And not to be carried out
Without a cloud in the sky
I got my fingers in pies
A golden watch on my side
Will measure my free time Now my place in History is surely assured
I will be remembered here forever more
Brand new product in place and a potential buyer
Up on this next transaction surely I could retire I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And not to answer to why I want to retire
Inform the suppliers
I'll leave the party in style
And not to be carried out
Without a cloud in the sky
I Got my fingers in pies
A Golden watch on my side
Will measure my free time
By fnord12 | September 4, 2008, 8:16 AM | Music | Link
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