the writing and photography of Neil Kramer

Category: Music (Page 7 of 7)

The National Anthem

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My favorite part of the Olympics is not the sports, but when they play the national anthems.   I love national anthems.   France’s La Marsellaise is inspiring.   Israel’s Haktikvah is emotional.   Our Star Spangled Banner stinks.  I know it’s the Fourth of July and all, but is there a better time to suggest something revolutionary?

Well, It’s actually not that revolutionary.  Many have argued for changing the national anthem.  Usually, the argument involves the fact that the song is too war-like.  Or that the tune is based on a drinking song.  Or someone like Roseanne sings it at a baseball game.   My objection is that it is just a bad song.  No one can sing it right.  It’s screechy.  No one really knows the words. 

Anyone have any suggestions?  My vote goes for "This Land is Your Land."

Happy 4th of July.  Support our troops!

Fela Kuti

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(AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

After the Nigerian scam brouhaha, Sophia decided to relax with some music.   She got into this musician she heard on the radio, only to find out that he was also Nigerian!   His name was Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a talented and charismatic creator of Afrobeat.  Her favorite song was his anti-government song, "Authority Stealing."  I think Sophia just really liked the lyrics, thinking Fela Kuti was singing more about the fake Nigerian "bishop" than the Nigerian government:

You be thief!
I not be thief!
You be rouge!
I not be rouge!
You be stealer!
I not be stealer!
You be a robber!
I not be robber!

download "Authority Stealing"

(from Barclay Records "The King of Afrobeat:  The Anthology")

Rock Music Snobs

I spent this morning reading some new blogs and I noticed that many people were "passing a musical baton" to each other, asking for five songs that "meant a lot to them."  Maybe I’m just bitter because no one asked me, but I have an observation —

Why do the five chosen songs always seem to be obscure alt-rock songs most people have never heard of before?    Are these the songs that really mean the most to you or are you being as snobbish in your taste as any stuffy classical music fan that doesn’t listen to anything written after 1800?

OK, I understand that Dispatch or Modest Mouse inspired you in college, but surely you remember the pop song that was playing at the beach when you had your first kiss?  Some corny "slow dance" song from the prom?  Do I dare bring up his name — a Michael Jackson song?

I hate to admit this, but I even have a special place for the "Macarena."

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