Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Lightning In a Bottle
Paul Sehorne writes (snipped): about the Lightning in a Bottle Movie:
"I just watche Lightning in a Bottle this past week. It was excellent, but
was tarnished by one number. I don't know the artist's name, but a rapper
was allowed to do Boom, Boom. He changed it to 'No Boom, Boom' and used it
as an anti-war political statement. I'm making any comment about where war
is right or wrong. I'm just stating that the producers made a mistake by
allowing this to creep into an otherwise EXCELLENT tribute to the
Blues. Probably half of the U.S. population audience would be disappointed
by this political diversion display, while the other half were made happy.
And how many additional Blues fans would be upset but the making Boom, Boom
into a rap number. Why lose half or more of your audience. 100% of Blues
fans would love this up to the point of being disgusted by this
inappropriate interuption."
....As I've already explained, Paul...I haven't yet seen the entire Movie.
But did check online to read various synopses and reviews. While
understanding that you found the included Rap number inappropriate....I found this
interesting and illuminating comment (by a regular Aol subscriber who reviewed it):
"enjoyable documentary, 17 July, 2005
( 7 stars)
Author: Roland _______ from United States
The thing that separates the Blues from many other types of music is that it
is an art born of pain and suffering, of a collective experience that
includes slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, discrimination and poverty. With all
that to face, who wouldn't be singing the blues? Yet, as with any great art
form, the suffering is only a part of the story. For the Blues derives its true
energy and strength from the optimism and hope it exudes, that hope for a
better future that resides in the human spirit even in the darkest of times.
Through the years, the Blues has given voice to the powerless and helped change
the world in ways that one never could have imagined a hundred years ago.
That is its true legacy. All of this has been effectively captured in
"Lightning in a Bottle,"
......what I'd like to add is that Blues music is itself a form of
protest....and aside from the Blues, musicians of all races and genres have since the
1960's been openly involved in various forms of protest both within and
without their music. Being a musician, singer or songwriter shouldn't preclude
any citizen from having the right to express their points of view openly,
should it? When I became a citizen I don't remember reading anywhere in my
documents that by virtue of being a poet/songwriter I would be giving up my
freedom of expression. On the contrary...it was precisely the guarantee of
freedom of speech which prompted me to decide to become naturalized. (As well, I'd
lived here too long without the right to vote.)
Blues was born of a people who created music with almost no money, ability
to buy instruments or even a way to bring their music to the masses. The
musicians traveled on foot, hitchhiking or by bus to gigs in towns where they
often had no place to sleep for the night, so were forced to sleep on the bus
or in private homes...Hotels were for "whites only". If a young musician of
2003 (and I'm not particularly fond of Rap music per se)...chooses to express
his version of the Blues in that form in that documentary as his protest
against an imminent war (could this have been filmed prior to the US invasion of
Iraq?) then I can personally find nothing untoward about it anymore than I
did the protests against segregation in the South back in the 50's or the
Vietnam War of the 60's.
Have you listened to the words of Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday? It makes
me weep each time. If that is not a protest song....what is?
I just found this: "Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit: Using Music to Send a
Message
By Donna Hendry
Overview
Music can help people express a range of feelings and topics. Many early
African-American songs, such as "The Drinking Gourd," were used to pass secret
messages during the period of slavery. As Reconstruction passed into the Jim
Crow Era, predominately African-American music such as jazz and blues evolved.
This music explored the feelings of frustration, poverty, and depression that
many African-American communities experienced. This music also began
advocating for social change. Songs that promoted social activism were rare before
the mid 1960s. One of the earliest of these songs, "Strange Fruit," was sung
by the blues singer, Billie Holiday--she first sang it in a New York club in
1938. Though it was popular, Holiday's recording company, Columbia Records,
refused to produce the song due to its controversial nature. A small record
company picked it up, and it has now been commonly accepted as Holiday's
signature song."
......... I believe the audience for a Blues documentary/show who understand
and appreciate Blues and Roots music are much more sophisticated about the
underlying truths of its origins than one might realize and would no more
find it "disgusting" or be turned off by a single controversial moment than I
would. I'm much more intrigued now to see the entire Show than I even was
before, so...thanks for that!
Elizabeth
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