Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post is a full re-publication of the third post that I published on this blog in August 30, 2011. That post has the same title and can be found at https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/08/original-meaning-of-song-that-became.html.
That original post was the first pancocojams post to receive any comments, and includes a rather robust* (for pancocojams) discussion thread with varying opinions of the original meaning[s] of the words in that song that are often given as "sea lion" women.
Additional lyrics for this song are also given in that 2011 post's comment section.
I decided not to re-post those comments here, but hope that there will also be comments in this post's discussion thread.
*46 comments as of the time of this post's publication October 29, 2018, 8:14 PM EDT.
That post also has 46 favorites, which means that (as of this date) that pancocojams post has the highest number of favorites if not the highest number of favorites. That post also has 10, 692 viewer hits as of that October 29, 2018 date and time.
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The content of this post is published for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who are featured in the videos that are embedded in this post. Thanks also to the videos' publishers on YouTube.
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Here's that post:
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The 1999 American movie "The General's Daughter" might have been the first time many people heard the song "Sea Lion Woman" ("Sea Line Woman"). For others - including me -"Sea Lion Woman" is forever associated with the soulful vocalist Nina Simone. Here's a video of Nina Simone singing that song:
Nina Simone- See Line Woman
Uploaded by mardenhill on Oct 5, 2009
Live Performance - Montréal, Canada (1992)
-anip-
Since the only version of "Sea Lion Woman" that I knew for a long time was the one that Nina Simone sang, it came as a suprise to me that some people believe that the basis of that song was a children's playground song.
In a comment that is posted on the Folk music & Blues forum Mudcat Cafe, blogger Jim Dixon shared the following information
" "Sea-Lye Woman" (Sea Lion) was included on the album "Field Recordings Vol 4: Mississippi & Alabama (1934-1942) which was released in 1998 on the Document label. There it is sung by Katherine & Christine Shipp, who sound very young. In fact, the song has the flavor of a girl's jump-rope rhyme, with a sort of African beat."...
By the way, I doubt that African American girls in Mississippi or Alabama in the 1930s or 40s would be singing about a "sea lion" woman anyway. They seem to be awfully far removed from the "selkie" legends. And they are definitely pronouncing it "see-lye" or maybe "seal-eye". "Sea Lion" seems like rationalization to me. Do you suppose the song had been handed down from some African language?"
April 3,2003 http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=33719
-snip-
Instead of thinking that the "sea lion" phrase might have come from an African language, my guess [which I shared on that same Mudcat thread] was that "sea lion" was a folk etymology form of the Biblical phrase "Selah". But I dropped that theory after reading several comments from guests who identified themselves as being from the South* and who shared that that "sea lion" ("see-line"; "see-lye") originally was "she lyin'". The phrase "She lyin" (or "she's lying" as one guest wrote it) was said in response to a call & response tattle tail type statement such as one person saying "she drank coffee" and the second person saying "(No I didn't) She lyin'".
*I'm a Northern girl with no known Southern relatives. The only Southern city I've ever visited is Atlanta, Georgia. I guess Atlanta still counts as the South in spite of all the Northern people who've moved there).
It should also be noted that another guest wrote that "sea lion" was originally "C-line", a referent for a railroad line. But I'm sold on the "She lyin" meaning for a number of reasons.
1. That phrase fits the likely pronunciation customs of some Black folks in the South (and elsewhere)
2. The back & forth tattle tailing and denial statements fit the call & response pattern that Nina Simone has preserved so well in her renditions of this song.
and
3. That theory fits the comment that was shared earlier that the first recorded version of this song in 1939 [which I haven't heard yet] sounds like a girl's jump rope song.
I should also mention that I happened upon another children's game song version of "Sea Lion Woman" from Mississippi. That version was included in the 1965 book Children's Games From Many Lands (Nina Miller: New York, Friendship Press, pp 121-122). That version was credited to a number of females from Mississippi (no age or race given). The words to that version can be found on Mudcat thread whose link has been previously given.
I believe that it's important to also share that two comments on that same Mudcat thread on "Sea Lion Woman" were posted by guests who indicated that she (or he or perhaps the same person) were members (or a member) of the Shipp family. The first of these comment was written in August 2007. That guest (who didn't share her or his name) wrote:
"I feel the song has been stolen from the family, but having trouble proving it. My grandmother and aunt wrote that song."
The second comment from a Shipp family member was posted to that same Mudcat thread in November 2010. That comment was signed by LaVern Shipp who wrote:
"My father Isaac Shipp, my grandmother Mary, and grandfather Walter Shipp was known in the South as the singing Shipp. My aunts are catherine, christine, they both are on the recording in 1939. My grandmother used to write songs and make up tunes to various songs. She passed away in 1966."
****
UPDATE WITH LYRICS & COMMENTS 6/7/2012
Although the original version of "Sea Lion Woman" ("Sea Line Woman") may have been a children's playground rhyme, the lyrics of that song as sung by Nina Simone were clearly about a "bad" woman who sleeps all day and "balls" all night. However, eventually, the woman returns home to her roots "to save her soul(because she realized that her lifestyle was wrong).
****
LYRICS TO SEA LION WOMAN
[As sung by Katherine and Christine
Shipp; 1939]
Sea Lion Woman (Sea Lion)
She drank coffee (Sea Lion)
She drank tea (Sea Lion)
And he gamble lie (Sea Lion)*
Way down yonder (Sea Lion)
I'm going maul (Sea Lion)
And the rooster crow (Sea Lion)
And he got no lie (Sea Lion)
Sea lion woman (Sea Lion)
She drank coffee (Sea Lion)
She drank tea (Sea Lion)
And she gamble lie (Sea Lion)*
Sea lion woman (Sea Lion)
She drank coffee (Sea Lion)
She drank tea (Sea Lion)
And a gamble lie (Sea Lion)*
Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Lion_Woman
-snip-
"The exact origins of the song are unknown but it is believed to have originated in the southern United States. It was first recorded by folklore researcher Herbert Halpert on May 13, 1939. Halpert was compiling a series of field recordings for the Library of Congress in Byhalia, MS, when he ran across African Americans Walter Shipp, a minister, and his wife Mary, a choir director of a local church. Halpert recorded Shipp's daughters, Katherine and Christine, singing a sparse version of "Sea Lion Woman" that defined the basic rhymes and rhythm of the song."
-snip-
*In the Gullah dialect of English, the pronoun "he" also means "she". I've read that this is similar to some West African languages, and that practice of using "he" for females can also be found in some Caribbean dialects of English.
****
UPDATE July 18, 2013
Here's the original recording of "Sea Lion Woman":
Sea Lion Woman - Christine and Katherine Shipp
mypianoisbroken, Uploaded on Jul 29, 2010
Library of Congress field recording Herbert Halpert.
****
ADDITION: September 1, 2014
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/LP/AFS_L4_sm.pdf The Library Of Congress. Music Division; Archive of American Folklore gives this song as:
L: Sea lion woman
O: See lie
L: Shee drink cofee
O: See lie
L: She drink tea
O: See lie
L: And the gander lie
O: See lie
2. L. Way down yonder
'Hind a log
And the rooster crowed
And the gander lied
[The first verse is repeated twice.
(See lyin [?])
-snip-
The L probably means "lead" and the "O" probably means "other"
[voice]
"The gander lies" seems to me to be more accurate than "gamble lies". A gander is a male goose.
End of addition 9/1/2014
-snip-
Here's a track of "Sea Lion Woman" from the movie "The General's Daughter" that is based on the original recording of the Shipp sisters:
July 14, 2016- Sorry. This video is no longer available :o(
But here's a rendition of "Sea Line Woman" that was recommended by Anonymous (July 14, 2016)
Laura Mvula See Line Woman
Strokey Beard, Published on Jan 2, 2014
One amazing performance- what a singer; what a band!
The original is by Nina Simone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfyGMn... , based a a traditional kid's chant.
-snip-
LYRICS TO SEA LINE WOMAN
[As sung by Nina Simone at a Montréal, Canada (1992)]
Sea line woman (Sea line)
She drink coffee (Sea line)
She drink tea (Sea line)
then she go home (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman, dressed in white (Sea line)
Sleep all day (Sea line)
Ball all night (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
She drink coffee (Sea line)
She drink tea (Sea line)
then she go home (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Wiggle Wiggle (Sea line)
Purr like a cat (Sea line)
Wink at a man (Sea line)
Then he'll wink back(Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Empty his pockets (Sea line)
And wreck his days (Sea line)
Make him love her (Sea line)
She'll fly away (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in gold (Sea line)
Goin home (Sea line)
To save her soul (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in red (Sea line)
Make a man (Sea line)
Lose his head (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Wiggle Wiggle (Sea line)
Purr like a cat (Sea line)
Wink at a man (Sea line)
Then he'll wink back (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Empty his pockets (Sea line)
Wreck his day (Sea line)
Make him love her (Sea line)
And she'll fly away (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in black (Sea line)
Sleep all day (Sea line)
On her back (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in yella (Sea line)
Watch out fellas (Sea line)
You gonna lose out fellas [?]
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in blue (Sea line)
Watch out fellas (Sea line)
She's gonna steal you (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
He can't hear you (Sea line) **
I can't hear you (Sea line)**
Sea line woman (Sea line)
She drink coffee (Sea line)
She drink tea (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in yella (Sea line)
Watch out girls (Sea line)
You gonna steal your fella
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in gold (Sea line)
Goin home (Sea line)
To see [save?] her soul (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
She drink coffee (Sea line)
She drink a little champagne (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Then she go home now (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Then she go home now (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Whoah!
Sea line!
Sea line!
Sea line!
Sea line!
Sea line!
Sea line!
Sea line!
Sea line!
Sea line woman (Sea line)
She drink coffee (Sea line)
She drink tea (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
Dressed in gold (Sea line)
Goin home (Sea line)
To save her soul (Sea line)
Sea line woman (Sea line)
She drink coffee (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Then she go home now (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line)
Then she go home now (Sea line)
Then she go home (Sea line!)
[transcription by Azizi Powell from the video; words that I'm unsure of are followed by a question mark in brackets]
**lyrics directed to the audience to sing louder
It's should be noted that- as is the case with other folk songs- the lyrics to Nina Simone's "Sea Line Woman" weren't fixed. The words, the order of verses, and the length of the song could change with different performances. For that reason, there are several "Nina Simone" versions of "Sea Lion Woman" (or "Sea Line Woman") online. Most of them follow the "color pattern" (Sea lion woman/dressed in ___) as found above, with the "she drink coffee/she drink tea" verse being repeated more often than any other verse.
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Visitor comments are welcome!
Showing posts with label Jazz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jazz. Show all posts
Monday, October 29, 2018
Friday, May 15, 2015
Charles Mingus - “Fables of Faubus” (Jazz video & lyrics)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases Charles Mingus' Jazz composition “Fables of Faubus”.
Information about Charles Mingus, a video of "Fables of Faubus", background information about this composition and its song lyrics are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, motivational, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Charles Mingus and his band for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the producer of this video and the publisher of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT CHARLES MINGUS
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Mingus
"Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was a highly influential American jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader. Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music and blues while sometimes drawing on elements of Third Stream, free jazz, and classical music. Yet Mingus avoided categorization, forging his own brand of music that fused tradition with unique and unexplored realms of jazz. He once cited Duke Ellington and church as his main influences...
Nearly as well known as his ambitious music was Mingus's often fearsome temperament, which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz". His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many onstage eruptions, exhortations to musicians, and dismissals.[1] Because of his brilliant writing for midsize ensembles, and his catering to and emphasizing the strengths of the musicians in his groups, Mingus is often considered the heir of Duke Ellington, for whom he expressed great admiration. Indeed, Dizzy Gillespie had once claimed Mingus reminded him "of a young Duke", citing their shared "organizational genius".
Mingus' compositions continue to be played by contemporary musicians ranging from the repertory bands Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, and Mingus Orchestra, to the high school students who play the charts and compete in the Charles Mingus High School Competition."
****
BACKGROUND TO CHARLES MINGUS' "FABLES OF FAUBUS"
From http://jazz.about.com/od/historyjazztimeline/a/JazzCivilRights_2.htm "Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement: How Jazz Musicians Spoke Out for Racial Equality" By Jacob Teichroew
"Charles Mingus was known for being angry and outspoken on the bandstand. One expression of his anger was certainly justified, and it came in response to the 1957 Little Rock Nine incident in Arkansas, when Governor Orval Faubus used the National Guard to prevent black students from entering a newly desegregated public high school.
Mingus displayed his outrage at the event by composing a piece entitled “Fables of Faubus.” The lyrics, which he penned as well, offer some of the most blatant and harshest critiques of Jim Crow attitudes in all of jazz activism."
****
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT2-iobVcdw [video below]
claudia reed, 2013
"Here's the story behind the music: Nine high-achieving African-American students tried to attend classes at all-white Little Rock Central High School in 1957, following a Supreme Court finding that segregation was unconstitutional. Governor Orval Faubus, being sick and ridiculous, as the music reports, called out armed Arkansas National Guardsmen to keep these 15-year-old kids from entering the school building, while white men and women spat in the kids' faces. President Eisenhower countered by sending in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Once inside the school, the kids were attacked verbally or physically by white students throughout the year. Students attempted to set one girl on fire and splashed acid in the face of another, attempting to blind her. All nine not only survived, but thrived. Two became university professors, one became Deputy Assistant Director of the Interior in the administration of President Clinton, and another became Secretary of Labor in the administration of President Carter. A good life is the best revenge."
****
LYRICS: FABLES OF FAUBUS
(Charles Mingus)
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em shoot us!
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em stab us!
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em tar and feather us!
Oh, Lord, no more swastikas!
Oh, Lord, no more Ku Klux Klan!
Name me someone who's ridiculous, Dannie.*
Governor Faubus!
Why is he so sick and ridiculous?
He won't permit integrated schools.
Then he's a fool! Boo! Nazi Fascist supremists!
Boo! Ku Klux Klan (with your Jim Crow plan)
Name me a handful that's ridiculous, Dannie Richmond.*
Faubus, Rockefeller, Eisenhower
Why are they so sick and ridiculous?
Two, four, six, eight:
They brainwash and teach you hate.
H-E-L-L-O, Hello.
Orval E. Faubus was the governor of Arkansas in 1957 and against desegregation. He sent the National Guard to prevent black children from attending high school in Little Rock.
Fables of Faubus appears on the "Mingus Ah-Um".
Source: http://www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/fables-of-faubus.htm
-snip-
*The lines followed by an asterisk are questions that Charles Mingus directed to his band's drummer, Dannie Richmond. Richmond answers the question in the remaining lines of those verses. Charles Mingus then replies "then he's a fool etc. And also replies with the rhyme "Two four six eight" etc. The "hello" may be intereprested to mean "Can you hear me?" ("Can you hear what I'm saying?" African Americans still use "Hello" that way today.
Here's information about Dannie Richmond from http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/richmond-dannie-charles-daniel
"Richmond, Dannie (Charles Daniel)
Dannie Richmond was Charles Mingus's musical foil over twenty years. In Richmond, Mingus found a saxophonist-turned-drummer who executed all of the mercurial composer's twists and turns with sophistication and melodic grace. Often overlooked, Richmond's playing merits closer attention, and it is an essential link in the Mingus chain. The two men remained best friends and musical kindred spirits amidst chaotic lifestyles and addictions. Mingus didn�t trust many, but he always trusted Richmond."...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: CHARLES MINGUS: ORIGINAL FAUBUS FABLES
The Killing of Lost Celluloid, Uploaded on Mar 15, 2010
Charles Mingus: Original Faubus Fables from the album Mingus presents Mingus.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome
This post showcases Charles Mingus' Jazz composition “Fables of Faubus”.
Information about Charles Mingus, a video of "Fables of Faubus", background information about this composition and its song lyrics are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, motivational, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Charles Mingus and his band for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the producer of this video and the publisher of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT CHARLES MINGUS
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Mingus
"Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was a highly influential American jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader. Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music and blues while sometimes drawing on elements of Third Stream, free jazz, and classical music. Yet Mingus avoided categorization, forging his own brand of music that fused tradition with unique and unexplored realms of jazz. He once cited Duke Ellington and church as his main influences...
Nearly as well known as his ambitious music was Mingus's often fearsome temperament, which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz". His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many onstage eruptions, exhortations to musicians, and dismissals.[1] Because of his brilliant writing for midsize ensembles, and his catering to and emphasizing the strengths of the musicians in his groups, Mingus is often considered the heir of Duke Ellington, for whom he expressed great admiration. Indeed, Dizzy Gillespie had once claimed Mingus reminded him "of a young Duke", citing their shared "organizational genius".
Mingus' compositions continue to be played by contemporary musicians ranging from the repertory bands Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, and Mingus Orchestra, to the high school students who play the charts and compete in the Charles Mingus High School Competition."
****
BACKGROUND TO CHARLES MINGUS' "FABLES OF FAUBUS"
From http://jazz.about.com/od/historyjazztimeline/a/JazzCivilRights_2.htm "Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement: How Jazz Musicians Spoke Out for Racial Equality" By Jacob Teichroew
"Charles Mingus was known for being angry and outspoken on the bandstand. One expression of his anger was certainly justified, and it came in response to the 1957 Little Rock Nine incident in Arkansas, when Governor Orval Faubus used the National Guard to prevent black students from entering a newly desegregated public high school.
Mingus displayed his outrage at the event by composing a piece entitled “Fables of Faubus.” The lyrics, which he penned as well, offer some of the most blatant and harshest critiques of Jim Crow attitudes in all of jazz activism."
****
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT2-iobVcdw [video below]
claudia reed, 2013
"Here's the story behind the music: Nine high-achieving African-American students tried to attend classes at all-white Little Rock Central High School in 1957, following a Supreme Court finding that segregation was unconstitutional. Governor Orval Faubus, being sick and ridiculous, as the music reports, called out armed Arkansas National Guardsmen to keep these 15-year-old kids from entering the school building, while white men and women spat in the kids' faces. President Eisenhower countered by sending in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Once inside the school, the kids were attacked verbally or physically by white students throughout the year. Students attempted to set one girl on fire and splashed acid in the face of another, attempting to blind her. All nine not only survived, but thrived. Two became university professors, one became Deputy Assistant Director of the Interior in the administration of President Clinton, and another became Secretary of Labor in the administration of President Carter. A good life is the best revenge."
****
LYRICS: FABLES OF FAUBUS
(Charles Mingus)
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em shoot us!
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em stab us!
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em tar and feather us!
Oh, Lord, no more swastikas!
Oh, Lord, no more Ku Klux Klan!
Name me someone who's ridiculous, Dannie.*
Governor Faubus!
Why is he so sick and ridiculous?
He won't permit integrated schools.
Then he's a fool! Boo! Nazi Fascist supremists!
Boo! Ku Klux Klan (with your Jim Crow plan)
Name me a handful that's ridiculous, Dannie Richmond.*
Faubus, Rockefeller, Eisenhower
Why are they so sick and ridiculous?
Two, four, six, eight:
They brainwash and teach you hate.
H-E-L-L-O, Hello.
Orval E. Faubus was the governor of Arkansas in 1957 and against desegregation. He sent the National Guard to prevent black children from attending high school in Little Rock.
Fables of Faubus appears on the "Mingus Ah-Um".
Source: http://www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/fables-of-faubus.htm
-snip-
*The lines followed by an asterisk are questions that Charles Mingus directed to his band's drummer, Dannie Richmond. Richmond answers the question in the remaining lines of those verses. Charles Mingus then replies "then he's a fool etc. And also replies with the rhyme "Two four six eight" etc. The "hello" may be intereprested to mean "Can you hear me?" ("Can you hear what I'm saying?" African Americans still use "Hello" that way today.
Here's information about Dannie Richmond from http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/richmond-dannie-charles-daniel
"Richmond, Dannie (Charles Daniel)
Dannie Richmond was Charles Mingus's musical foil over twenty years. In Richmond, Mingus found a saxophonist-turned-drummer who executed all of the mercurial composer's twists and turns with sophistication and melodic grace. Often overlooked, Richmond's playing merits closer attention, and it is an essential link in the Mingus chain. The two men remained best friends and musical kindred spirits amidst chaotic lifestyles and addictions. Mingus didn�t trust many, but he always trusted Richmond."...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: CHARLES MINGUS: ORIGINAL FAUBUS FABLES
The Killing of Lost Celluloid, Uploaded on Mar 15, 2010
Charles Mingus: Original Faubus Fables from the album Mingus presents Mingus.
****
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Visitor comments are welcome
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Ella Fitzgerald - "Darktown Strutters Ball" (example, lyrics, and more)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post is Part II of a two part series on the Jazz classic "Darktown Strutters Ball".
Part II showcases a 1936 example of "Darktown Strutters Ball" that was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and the Chick Webb band. The lyrics of this version are included in this post.
The Addendum to this post presents two brief excerpts of biographies of Shelton Brooks and a bonus video of Shelton Brooks singing one of his other compositions, "Hole in the Wall".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-words-darktown-and-strutters.html for Part I of this series,
Part I provides information & comments about the meaning of the words in the title "Darktown Strutters Ball". That post also provides a sound file & lyrics of that early Jazz classic, and information about the song's composer, Shelton Brooks.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Shelton Brooks, the composer of "Darktown Strutters Ball", Ella Fitzgerald, and Chick Webb & his band for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this featured soundfile and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL"
From http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2011-4/thismonth/feature.php
"Just a year after [composing] Walkin' the Dog, Brooks wrote what is his most lasting hit. I suspect that even now, nearly one hundred years later, many people could still sing at least the opening phrase of the chorus; "I'll be down to get you in a taxi honey." It is no doubt his most recorded song as well. Popularized by Sophie Tucker, it may have been introduced on Vaudeville by the young lady on the cover, Blossom Seeley. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers performed it in the film, The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle in 1937. It was also performed in other films including, Broadway (1942), Incendiary Blonde (1944), The Dolly Sisters (1946) and Little Boy Lost in 1953. Seeley was born Minnie Guyer, in San Francisco, California. A top vaudeville headliner, she was known as the "Queen of Syncopation" and helped bring jazz and ragtime into the mainstream of American music. She introduced the Shelton Brooks classic "Some of These Days" in vaudeville in 1910, one year before Sophie Tucker recorded it in 1911.
This is one of "ragtime's" greatest hits and it simply speaks for itself. Enjoy the music..
****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Darktown Strutter's Ball by Ella Fitzgerald
Fireworksandsunshine, Uploaded on Jul 29, 2011
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's discussion thread.
oldtimeswinger, 2012
"The recording was made on 19 November, 1936. The backing may be by Chick Webb's Band."
**
Sovery Strange, Aug 13, 2012 in reply to oldtimeswinger
"Definitely Chick Webb:)"
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Fitzgerald for information about African American Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996).
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Webb for information about African American jazz and swing music drummer as well as band leader Chick Webb(February 10, 1905 – June 16, 1939).
****
LYRICS OF THIS VERSION: DARKTOWN STRUTTER’S BLUES
(originally written by Shelton Brooks [1917], This version as sung by Ella Fitzgerald)
I'll be down to get you in a taxi honey
Better be ready 'bout half past eight
I mean don't be late
Be there when the band starts playin'
Remember when you get there honey
Dance all over the floor, dance all over my shoes
When the band plays the Jelly Roll blues
Say t'morrow night at the darktown strutters ball
[instrumental]
I'll be down to get you in a push cart honey
Better be ready 'bout half past eight
I mean don't be late
Be there when the band starts playin'
'Member when you get there honey
Shim sham wins them all
Dance all over my shoes
When the band plays the Jelly Roll's blues
Say t'morrow night at the darktown strutters ball
Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/darktown-strutters-ball-lyrics-ella-fitzgerald.html
-snip-
This is a shortened version of the 1917 lyrics for "Darktown Strutters' Ball".
**
"Jelly Roll Blues" (The OriginalJelly Roll Blues" is a 1915 fox trot song that was composed by African American pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton. Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelly_Roll_Blues for more information about this song.
**
Notice the substitution of the "Shim Sham" dance for the two step, the buck and wing and other dances that were mentioned in the 1917 version of this song.
"The Shim Sham" originally referred to and still refers to a tap dance routine.
"If you’re at a tap event, you’ll probably see the classic Shim Sham, which is a lot like Reed’s Goofus: A single chorus routine with four counts of eight bars each. According to Valis Hill’s recent book Tap Dancing America, these sections are: the double shuffle, the crossover, the Tack Annie, and the half break (also known as “falling off the log”). Source: http://www.dancespirit.com/2010/12/the_shim_sham_a_tap_tradition/ [hereafter given as dancespirit:Shim Sham]
-snip-
However, that tap dance evolved to a social dance called the "Shim Sham Shimmy".
"In the 1930s, the Shim Sham became the Shim Sham Shimmy when a quick shoulder shake was added to the choreography. Harold Cromer, a more-than-50-year tap veteran best known as Stumpy from the famous comedy tap team Stump and Stumpy, recalls learning the Shim Sham Shimmy with the chorus girls at the Apollo in NYC. “Over the years, the Shim Sham has mutated into a simple dance,” he says. “But it used to be a sexy dance. That’s what the girls were doing: the Shim Sham Shimmy with frills and heels.” Source: dancespirit:Shim Sham
-snip-
I think that the "Shim Sham Shimmy" (and not the "Shim Sham" tap dance or the "Shimmy" shaking dance) is the dance that is referred to in that "Darktown Strutters Ball" line. Here's information about the earlier "Shimmy" dance from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimmy
"A shimmy is a dance move in which the body is held still, except for the shoulders, which are alternated back and forth. When the right shoulder goes back, the left one comes forward. It may help to hold the arms out slightly bent at the elbow, and when the shoulders are moved, keep the hands in the same position. In 1917, a dance-song titled "Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble" by Spencer Williams was published, as was "The Jazz Dance", which included the "Shimmy-She", among others. Flappers often performed the dance in the 1920s."
-snip-
In that Ella Fitzgerald version of "Darktown Strutters Ball", the line "Shim sham wins them all" alludes to the dancing contest or dancing contests that occurred during that Strutters' ball.
Part I of this pancocojams series provides information about this actual annual African American event in Chicago, Illinois.
****
ADDENDUM: INFORMATION ABOUT SHELTON BROOKS & A VIDEO OF BROOKS SINGING ONE OF HIS COMPOSITIONS
From http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/lyricist-extraordinaire-shelton-brooks "African American Registry
Tue, 1886-05-04"
"Shelton Brooks, a popular African American music composer, was born on this date in 1886,in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada.
At about the age of 15, in 1901, he and his family moved to Detroit. Brooks sang, played piano, and performed in vaudeville and in musical comedies. He had a songwriting career and a radio show on the CBS network in the 1930s.
Brooks wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century. His compositions included "All Night Long," "At the Darktown Strutters' Ball," "Every Day," "Some of These Days," "Somewhere in France," "Swing That Thing," "That Man of Mine," "There'll Come A Time," and "Walkin' The Dog." Shelton Brooks died on September 6, 1975."
****
From http://www.allmusic.com/artist/shelton-brooks-mn0000024890/biography
"Shelton Brooks was raised in Detroit and began his career as a ragtime piano player, initially entertaining the public in Detroit's cafes and nightclubs, then expanding his territory to include Chicago. It was right around 1909 that Brooks began to compose his own material. By this time he had also developed into an accomplished vaudeville entertainer. Brooks toured the United States of America, Canada, and the British Isles.
"Some of These Days" was published in 1910 and eventually sold more than two million units on the sheet music market. It was also destined to become a jazz standard. Barry Singer, in his biography of lyricist Andy Razaf, claims that this number was "...perhaps the landmark song of this Tin Pan Alley epoch, whereby Brooks, with sophisticated lyric colloquialism and heartfelt passion, elevated the coon song into the realm of expressive emotion." Brooks wrote "All Night Long" in 1912 and "Walkin' the Dog" in 1916. He should also be remembered as the composer of "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone."
But it was "The Darktown Strutter's Ball" that constituted Brooks' next big hit. First circulated on the vaudeville circuit, this rowdy syncopated novelty just happened to get utilized by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band at their first recording session on January 30, 1917. This first nominal jazz record sold like hotcakes, and the sheet music sales exceeded three million... It was as a performer on-stage, in movies, and on the radio that Brooks continued to circulate after he stopped composing great melodies."...
****
Shelton Brooks - Hole in the Wall
Adamgswanson, Uploaded on Nov 26, 2009
Shelton Brooks, composer of "Some of These Days" and "Darktown Strutters' Ball," sings "Hole in the Wall." From a 1939 all-black film, Double Deal. The credits state Brooks also wrote another song for the movie, "Jitterbugs Cuttin' Rugs," but apparently it was cut from the film.
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post is Part II of a two part series on the Jazz classic "Darktown Strutters Ball".
Part II showcases a 1936 example of "Darktown Strutters Ball" that was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and the Chick Webb band. The lyrics of this version are included in this post.
The Addendum to this post presents two brief excerpts of biographies of Shelton Brooks and a bonus video of Shelton Brooks singing one of his other compositions, "Hole in the Wall".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-words-darktown-and-strutters.html for Part I of this series,
Part I provides information & comments about the meaning of the words in the title "Darktown Strutters Ball". That post also provides a sound file & lyrics of that early Jazz classic, and information about the song's composer, Shelton Brooks.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Shelton Brooks, the composer of "Darktown Strutters Ball", Ella Fitzgerald, and Chick Webb & his band for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this featured soundfile and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL"
From http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2011-4/thismonth/feature.php
"Just a year after [composing] Walkin' the Dog, Brooks wrote what is his most lasting hit. I suspect that even now, nearly one hundred years later, many people could still sing at least the opening phrase of the chorus; "I'll be down to get you in a taxi honey." It is no doubt his most recorded song as well. Popularized by Sophie Tucker, it may have been introduced on Vaudeville by the young lady on the cover, Blossom Seeley. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers performed it in the film, The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle in 1937. It was also performed in other films including, Broadway (1942), Incendiary Blonde (1944), The Dolly Sisters (1946) and Little Boy Lost in 1953. Seeley was born Minnie Guyer, in San Francisco, California. A top vaudeville headliner, she was known as the "Queen of Syncopation" and helped bring jazz and ragtime into the mainstream of American music. She introduced the Shelton Brooks classic "Some of These Days" in vaudeville in 1910, one year before Sophie Tucker recorded it in 1911.
This is one of "ragtime's" greatest hits and it simply speaks for itself. Enjoy the music..
****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Darktown Strutter's Ball by Ella Fitzgerald
Fireworksandsunshine, Uploaded on Jul 29, 2011
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's discussion thread.
oldtimeswinger, 2012
"The recording was made on 19 November, 1936. The backing may be by Chick Webb's Band."
**
Sovery Strange, Aug 13, 2012 in reply to oldtimeswinger
"Definitely Chick Webb:)"
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Fitzgerald for information about African American Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996).
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Webb for information about African American jazz and swing music drummer as well as band leader Chick Webb(February 10, 1905 – June 16, 1939).
****
LYRICS OF THIS VERSION: DARKTOWN STRUTTER’S BLUES
(originally written by Shelton Brooks [1917], This version as sung by Ella Fitzgerald)
I'll be down to get you in a taxi honey
Better be ready 'bout half past eight
I mean don't be late
Be there when the band starts playin'
Remember when you get there honey
Dance all over the floor, dance all over my shoes
When the band plays the Jelly Roll blues
Say t'morrow night at the darktown strutters ball
[instrumental]
I'll be down to get you in a push cart honey
Better be ready 'bout half past eight
I mean don't be late
Be there when the band starts playin'
'Member when you get there honey
Shim sham wins them all
Dance all over my shoes
When the band plays the Jelly Roll's blues
Say t'morrow night at the darktown strutters ball
Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/darktown-strutters-ball-lyrics-ella-fitzgerald.html
-snip-
This is a shortened version of the 1917 lyrics for "Darktown Strutters' Ball".
**
"Jelly Roll Blues" (The OriginalJelly Roll Blues" is a 1915 fox trot song that was composed by African American pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton. Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelly_Roll_Blues for more information about this song.
**
Notice the substitution of the "Shim Sham" dance for the two step, the buck and wing and other dances that were mentioned in the 1917 version of this song.
"The Shim Sham" originally referred to and still refers to a tap dance routine.
"If you’re at a tap event, you’ll probably see the classic Shim Sham, which is a lot like Reed’s Goofus: A single chorus routine with four counts of eight bars each. According to Valis Hill’s recent book Tap Dancing America, these sections are: the double shuffle, the crossover, the Tack Annie, and the half break (also known as “falling off the log”). Source: http://www.dancespirit.com/2010/12/the_shim_sham_a_tap_tradition/ [hereafter given as dancespirit:Shim Sham]
-snip-
However, that tap dance evolved to a social dance called the "Shim Sham Shimmy".
"In the 1930s, the Shim Sham became the Shim Sham Shimmy when a quick shoulder shake was added to the choreography. Harold Cromer, a more-than-50-year tap veteran best known as Stumpy from the famous comedy tap team Stump and Stumpy, recalls learning the Shim Sham Shimmy with the chorus girls at the Apollo in NYC. “Over the years, the Shim Sham has mutated into a simple dance,” he says. “But it used to be a sexy dance. That’s what the girls were doing: the Shim Sham Shimmy with frills and heels.” Source: dancespirit:Shim Sham
-snip-
I think that the "Shim Sham Shimmy" (and not the "Shim Sham" tap dance or the "Shimmy" shaking dance) is the dance that is referred to in that "Darktown Strutters Ball" line. Here's information about the earlier "Shimmy" dance from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimmy
"A shimmy is a dance move in which the body is held still, except for the shoulders, which are alternated back and forth. When the right shoulder goes back, the left one comes forward. It may help to hold the arms out slightly bent at the elbow, and when the shoulders are moved, keep the hands in the same position. In 1917, a dance-song titled "Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble" by Spencer Williams was published, as was "The Jazz Dance", which included the "Shimmy-She", among others. Flappers often performed the dance in the 1920s."
-snip-
In that Ella Fitzgerald version of "Darktown Strutters Ball", the line "Shim sham wins them all" alludes to the dancing contest or dancing contests that occurred during that Strutters' ball.
Part I of this pancocojams series provides information about this actual annual African American event in Chicago, Illinois.
****
ADDENDUM: INFORMATION ABOUT SHELTON BROOKS & A VIDEO OF BROOKS SINGING ONE OF HIS COMPOSITIONS
From http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/lyricist-extraordinaire-shelton-brooks "African American Registry
Tue, 1886-05-04"
"Shelton Brooks, a popular African American music composer, was born on this date in 1886,in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada.
At about the age of 15, in 1901, he and his family moved to Detroit. Brooks sang, played piano, and performed in vaudeville and in musical comedies. He had a songwriting career and a radio show on the CBS network in the 1930s.
Brooks wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century. His compositions included "All Night Long," "At the Darktown Strutters' Ball," "Every Day," "Some of These Days," "Somewhere in France," "Swing That Thing," "That Man of Mine," "There'll Come A Time," and "Walkin' The Dog." Shelton Brooks died on September 6, 1975."
****
From http://www.allmusic.com/artist/shelton-brooks-mn0000024890/biography
"Shelton Brooks was raised in Detroit and began his career as a ragtime piano player, initially entertaining the public in Detroit's cafes and nightclubs, then expanding his territory to include Chicago. It was right around 1909 that Brooks began to compose his own material. By this time he had also developed into an accomplished vaudeville entertainer. Brooks toured the United States of America, Canada, and the British Isles.
"Some of These Days" was published in 1910 and eventually sold more than two million units on the sheet music market. It was also destined to become a jazz standard. Barry Singer, in his biography of lyricist Andy Razaf, claims that this number was "...perhaps the landmark song of this Tin Pan Alley epoch, whereby Brooks, with sophisticated lyric colloquialism and heartfelt passion, elevated the coon song into the realm of expressive emotion." Brooks wrote "All Night Long" in 1912 and "Walkin' the Dog" in 1916. He should also be remembered as the composer of "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone."
But it was "The Darktown Strutter's Ball" that constituted Brooks' next big hit. First circulated on the vaudeville circuit, this rowdy syncopated novelty just happened to get utilized by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band at their first recording session on January 30, 1917. This first nominal jazz record sold like hotcakes, and the sheet music sales exceeded three million... It was as a performer on-stage, in movies, and on the radio that Brooks continued to circulate after he stopped composing great melodies."...
****
Shelton Brooks - Hole in the Wall
Adamgswanson, Uploaded on Nov 26, 2009
Shelton Brooks, composer of "Some of These Days" and "Darktown Strutters' Ball," sings "Hole in the Wall." From a 1939 all-black film, Double Deal. The credits state Brooks also wrote another song for the movie, "Jitterbugs Cuttin' Rugs," but apparently it was cut from the film.
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, October 24, 2014
What The Words "Darktown Strutters Ball" REALLY Mean
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part series on the Jazz classic "Darktown Strutters Ball".
Part I provides information & comments about the meaning of the words in the title "Darktown Strutters Ball". It also provides a sound file & lyrics of that early Jazz classic, and information about the song's composer, Shelton Brooks.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/ella-fitzgerald-darktown-strutters-ball.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases a 1936 example of "Darktown Strutters Ball" that was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and the Chick Webb band. That post also includes other two brief excerpts of biographies of Shelton Brooks as well as a bonus video of Shelton Brooks singing one of his other compositions.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Shelton Brooks for his musical legacy and thanks to the other performers who are featured in sound files that are showcased in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this featured soundfile and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
WHAT THE WORDS "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS' BALL REALLY MEAN
DARKTOWN
In the now classic 1917 song "Darktown Strutters' Ball", "darktown" is a referent for a section of Chicago where Black people lived.
In my opinion, in the context of the Jazz song "Darktown Strutters' Ball", the word "darktown" isn't racist, but a similar word "darkie" is. That said, some use of the word "darktown" is racist.
Read this comment posted by Marjorie Searl (September 12, 2011) in http://www.harmonicdissidents.org/issue-3-columns/letters-issue-3/ as a response to a question about "Is the song "Darktown Strutters' Ball" racist:
"It’s interesting and horrifying to google “Darktown” and see how many horribly racist images come up. Currier & Ives did a whole series called the “Darktown” series and it is a challenge for museums to deal with this material, although it is part of the art historical record."... http://www.harmonicdissidents.org/issue-3-columns/letters-issue-3/
It seems likely to me that the phrase "Darktown" may have been informally given to that section of Chicago as a statement of fact. And there's nothing wrong with being dark. In contrast the word "darkie" was probably coined by White people as a referent to Black people. "Darkie" has blackface minstrel origins. Unlike the word "darktown" in the song "Darktown Strutters' Ball", the word "darkie" evokes offensive stereotypes of Black people who speak in exaggerated dialects. Contrast that with the lack of dialect in the "Darktown Strutters' Ball" song and the images of Black people in that song who are wearing formal, fashionable clothing and taking a taxi to arrive at the an elite ball.
That said, I believe that nowadays it would be socially inappropriate to refer to a neighborhood or neighborhoods where Black people live as "darktown" or refer to other neighborhoods using color referents. Read additonal comments that I wrote about the word "darktown" in the pancocojams post on Blind Willie McTell - "Georgia Rag http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/blind-willie-mctell-georgia-rag-sound.html
****
STRUTTERS
In the 1917 Jazz song "Darktown Strutters' Ball" the word "strutters" is an equivalent term for "dancers". After studying the original lyrics to that song, it seems clear to me that that word doesn't refer to a particular dance called the "Strut" that was done at that ball. Instead, the dancers competed for a prize (or prizes) by "dancing out both of their shoes" doing "the two step", "the classic buck and wing", the wooden clog", "Walkin The Dog", and probably other African American originated social dances. (The 1936 version that Ella Fitzgerald sung included the lyrics "Shim sham wins them all" meaning dancing the "Shim Sham" (the Shimmy) would win the dance competition for that couple.)
That said, it's interesting to read comments on a discussion thread of word reference forum about the meaning of "strutters" in the "Darktown Strutters Ball" song. Here's the first commeent in that discussion and one response:
blue baron, 17th July 2009 [Native language:Dutch]
"'Darktown Strutters' Ball.' is one of the earliest traditional jazz songs to become a standard. The words and music, by Shelton Brooks, were inspired by a ball at the 1915 Pacific-Panama Exposition in San Francisco.
What is the meaning of "strutter" in this title?"
**
Franzi (Native language:(San Francisco) English) 17th July 2009
"You're probably best off searching for books on jazz history. Google books has, for example, Jazz Dance by Marshall & Jean Stearns, which contains quotes like:
"He was a strutter in the cakewalk tradition and an eccentric dancer who employed legomania, a rhythmic twisting and turning of the legs."
http://books.google.com/books?id=KT-Y5ddqmTEC&printsec=frontcover
There appear to be many, many jazz groups called "The [something] Strutters".
Here is a reference to the dance (which I suppose probably preceded the use of 'strutter' as a noun for a certain kind of person): "In November 1937, Dancing Times reported a new dance craze: 'Such steps as the Shag, the Flea Hop, the Strut, and the Walk are combined with the new Big Apple.'"
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/good-questions--dragging-out-the-lobster-theory-1392545.html*
From the Online Etymology Dictionary: "To strut (one's) stuff is black slang, first recorded 1926, from strut as the name of a dance popular from c.1900. "
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=strut
-snip-
*This quote appears midway in the article and is excerpted from the response to the question "Why is New York called "The Big Apple". [Note that the Big Apple dance doesn't refer to New York City. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-big-apple-dance-secular-dance-that.html for a panococjams post on the Big Apple dance.]
Another commenter to that discussion,Eamnyc22, gave the definition of "to strut" as "to walk proudly or haughtily." That blogger also wrote that "If I had to guess, the original dance probably looked a lot more like what African-Americans today call "stepping" (the dancers are called "Steppers")"
-snip-
I disagree with that analogy unless the commenter is referring to the "strolls" (also known as "party walks") that historically Black (African American) fraternity and sorority members do. (Visit this page of my cocojams cultural website to view videos of steppin' and strolls. "The Camel Walk" is a mid to late 20th century African American originated dance form that reminds me of fraternity/sorority strolls and thus may be similar to "The Strut" dance. That movement is called "riding" when it is performed by members of the Black fraternal order The Prince Hall Shriners. Visit this page of my zumalayah blog (a blog that I admit to neglecting) for this post on "rince Hall Shriners Riding (Doing The Camel Walk)" http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/05/prince-hall-shriners-riding-doing-camel.html
-snip-
But an even closer connection can be made between the 19th century Strut dance and the Cakewalk dance.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/strut-miss-lizzie-information-lyrics.html for a pancocojams post on the song "Strut Miss Lizzie".
****
THE STORY BEHIND THE "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL" SONG
From http://www.harmonicdissidents.org/issue-3-columns/letters-issue-3/, posted by TheProf, January 11, 2012 [excerpt]
"The “Darktown Ball” was, in fact, a real event, but it did not start out as being for the higher classes. It was originated by the ladies of the evening in the Darktown area of Chicago. They decided to create the ball as their way of showing that, for at least 1 night per year, they were just as good as everyone else. It was by invitation only and, over time, became THE most sought after ticket. Even the Major of Chicago could not attend without an invitation.
The composer was Shelton Brooks, a black man who was celebrating the event and the fact that it had become such an important part of the city’s history..."
-snip-
The word "ball" is still used to refer to a formal event where dancing is the main activity. Almost always balls include eating a catered meal, drinking alcoholic beverages, and being entertained by some performance act or acts. (Notice the reference to the "Baby Dolls" that is given in the original lyrics to this song. My guess is that the "Baby Dolls" were a group of young women who performed some kind of dance act on stage.)
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
[Pancocojams Editor's note 12/14/2018: The original sound file that was embedded in this post is no longer available. I've retained the comments and transcriptions about the sound file and added two additional examples to this post.]
Example #1: 1917 Collins & Harlan - Darktown Strutters’ Ball [sound file]
MusicProf78, Published on Apr 14, 2018
One of the best-selling early versions of the much-recorded pop and jazz standard, performed by the prolific recording duo of Arthur Collins and Byron G. Harlan.
Original 78rpm from the Bob Moke Collection: Columbia A2478 - Darktown Strutters’ Ball (Shelton Brooks) by Collins and Harlan, recorded in NYC December 21, 1917
****
Example #2: The Charioteers - Darktown Strutters' Ball [film clip]
505damush, Published on Jul 6, 2008
****
ORIGINAL SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: "The Darktown Strutters' Ball" The American Quartet 1918 (with lyrics)
Brent Abrahamson, Published on Jul 30, 2013
It's a Southbridge Old Time Radio Nostalgia Song.
"The Darktown Strutters' Ball" American Quartet 1918 (with lyrics)
-snip-
Southbridge Old Time Radio is from Southbridge, Massachusetts.
**
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Quartet_(ensemble)
“The American Quartet was a four-member vocal group that recorded for various companies in the United States between 1899 and 1925".
-snip-
Those vocalists were Anglo-American.
**
"Darktown Strutters' Ball" begins at 1:44 in this sound file.
The words to that song are superimposed on the screen and are found below.
**
Here's my transcription of the radio host's introductory comments:
"This is Brent Abrahamson your host on Southbridge Old Time Radio.
As we look back at very old songs in our American history, we’re faced with a significant problem –How do we deal with ethnic songs, songs sung in dialect? It’s not a pleasant part of our music history to explore. Yet, it is one which we should not forget. Some recordings from the early 20th century were indeed filled with racial stereotypes. They were even known as “coon songs”. Some belong in the dust bin of history.
Smash hits such as the "Darktown Strutters Ball" may deserve special recognition. First of all the song was written by a Canadian, the Black composer Shelton Brooks. Second, it depicts an African American annual event in Chicago when people got all dressed up and let themselves go, refusing to play the second class citizen that society had assigned them to, at least for one night. It reflects an attitude that signaled determination to break the bonds. Finally, it’s a catchy tune. The American Quartet clearly had fun singing it. And, it’s been recorded, minus the dialect many times since. So with all that said, Here is the American Quartet 1918 with Dark Town Strutters Ball.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell. Additions and corrections are welcome.
For the most part I agree with Brent Abrahamson's comments. To be clear, I don't consider the use of the word "darktown" in that song to be racist. However, Black composed songs about Black people can be offensive- Ernest Hogan's "All Coons Look Alike to Me" is just one example.
Also, when Brent Abrahamson says that [Darktown Strutters Ball has "been recorded, minus the dialect many times", I think that by "dialect", he means African American vernacular words such as "highbrowns". That isn't what I think of when I hear or read the word "dialect".
****
THE LYRICS TO "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL"
Words and Music by SHELTON BROOKS
Published 1917, by Will Rossiter
[Verse 1.]
I've got some good news Honey,
An invitation to the Darktown Ball,
It's a very swell affair,
All the "highbrowns" will be there,
I'll wear my high silk hat, and a frocktail coat,
You wear your Paris gown. and your new silk shawl,
There ain't no douby about it babe,
We'll be the best dressed in the hall.
[Chorus]
I'll be down to get you in a Taxi honey,
You better be ready about half past eight,
Now dearie don't be late,
I want to be there when the band starts playing.
Remember when we get there,Honey,
the two steps I'm goin' to have em all,
Goin' to dance out both my shoes:
When they play the "Jelly Roll Blues,"
Tomorrow night at the Darktown Strutter's Ball.
[Verse 2.]
We'll meet our hightoned neighbors,
an exhibition of the "Baby dolls,"
And each one will do their best,
Just to outclass all the rest,
And there'll be dancers from ev'ry foreign land,
The classie, buck and wing, and the wooden clog:
We'll winn that fifty dollar prize,
When we step out and "Walk the Dog."
[Chorus]
From http://parlorsongs.com/content/d/dktownstrutters-lyr.php
Those same lyrics are also found on http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/chet_atkins/darktown_strutters_ball.html. That page also provides some explanations of some of those lyrics but doesn't give any explanations for the word "darktown" or "strutters".
One of the terms it does explain is "highbrown" -"Either light-skinned or well-to-do African-Americans. Compare with 'high-yellow" as a designation for persons of mixed race, and lighter complexion".
For what it's worth, I think that "highbrown" originally meant a light skinned Black person, but in the context of this record means a well-to-do Black person. Note that because of various reasons, until at least the mid 20th century, light skin color was generally considered a criteria of elitism for African Americans. I also think that the word "hightones" probably has the same meaning.
Another phrase that that site explains is "Walking the Dog" -
The composer of this song ["Darktown Strutters Ball"] Shelton Brooks also wrote a song and invented a dance known as Walkin' the Dog. The lyrics to the song describe how to do the dance"a song that Shelton Brooks wrote in 1916".
-snip-
Click http://parlorsongs.com/content/w/walkinthedog-lyr.php for the lyrics to Shelton Brooks' Walkin' The Dog".
By the way, besides its title and the fact that the song is about a "new dance craze", and the song includes some dance instructions, Shelton Brooks's "Walkin The Dog" is nothing like the Rufus Thomas' 1963 song of the same name.
****
ADDENDUM - INFORMATION ABOUT SHELTON BROOKS
Here are links to two biographies of Shelton Brooks and brief excerpts from those websites.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelton_Brooks
"Shelton Brooks (May 4, 1886 – September 6, 1975) was a Canadian composer of popular music and jazz,[1] who wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century"...
Brooks' works include Some of These Days, At the Darktown Strutters' Ball,[3] I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone, Every Day, All Night Long, Somewhere in France, Swing That Thing, That Man of Mine, There'll Come A Time, and Walkin' the Dog."
****
From http://jass.com/sheltonbrooks/brooks.html
"Shelton Brooks was born to Native American & Black parents in Amherstburg, Ontario, on May 4, 1886...
Along with W. C. Handy and William Grant Still, the dean of black classical composers, Brooks was honored in San Francisco at the ASCAP-sponsored Festival of American Music in 1940. He died in Los Angeles on September 6, 1975."
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part I of a two part series on the Jazz classic "Darktown Strutters Ball".
Part I provides information & comments about the meaning of the words in the title "Darktown Strutters Ball". It also provides a sound file & lyrics of that early Jazz classic, and information about the song's composer, Shelton Brooks.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/ella-fitzgerald-darktown-strutters-ball.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases a 1936 example of "Darktown Strutters Ball" that was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and the Chick Webb band. That post also includes other two brief excerpts of biographies of Shelton Brooks as well as a bonus video of Shelton Brooks singing one of his other compositions.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Shelton Brooks for his musical legacy and thanks to the other performers who are featured in sound files that are showcased in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this featured soundfile and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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WHAT THE WORDS "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS' BALL REALLY MEAN
DARKTOWN
In the now classic 1917 song "Darktown Strutters' Ball", "darktown" is a referent for a section of Chicago where Black people lived.
In my opinion, in the context of the Jazz song "Darktown Strutters' Ball", the word "darktown" isn't racist, but a similar word "darkie" is. That said, some use of the word "darktown" is racist.
Read this comment posted by Marjorie Searl (September 12, 2011) in http://www.harmonicdissidents.org/issue-3-columns/letters-issue-3/ as a response to a question about "Is the song "Darktown Strutters' Ball" racist:
"It’s interesting and horrifying to google “Darktown” and see how many horribly racist images come up. Currier & Ives did a whole series called the “Darktown” series and it is a challenge for museums to deal with this material, although it is part of the art historical record."... http://www.harmonicdissidents.org/issue-3-columns/letters-issue-3/
It seems likely to me that the phrase "Darktown" may have been informally given to that section of Chicago as a statement of fact. And there's nothing wrong with being dark. In contrast the word "darkie" was probably coined by White people as a referent to Black people. "Darkie" has blackface minstrel origins. Unlike the word "darktown" in the song "Darktown Strutters' Ball", the word "darkie" evokes offensive stereotypes of Black people who speak in exaggerated dialects. Contrast that with the lack of dialect in the "Darktown Strutters' Ball" song and the images of Black people in that song who are wearing formal, fashionable clothing and taking a taxi to arrive at the an elite ball.
That said, I believe that nowadays it would be socially inappropriate to refer to a neighborhood or neighborhoods where Black people live as "darktown" or refer to other neighborhoods using color referents. Read additonal comments that I wrote about the word "darktown" in the pancocojams post on Blind Willie McTell - "Georgia Rag http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/blind-willie-mctell-georgia-rag-sound.html
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STRUTTERS
In the 1917 Jazz song "Darktown Strutters' Ball" the word "strutters" is an equivalent term for "dancers". After studying the original lyrics to that song, it seems clear to me that that word doesn't refer to a particular dance called the "Strut" that was done at that ball. Instead, the dancers competed for a prize (or prizes) by "dancing out both of their shoes" doing "the two step", "the classic buck and wing", the wooden clog", "Walkin The Dog", and probably other African American originated social dances. (The 1936 version that Ella Fitzgerald sung included the lyrics "Shim sham wins them all" meaning dancing the "Shim Sham" (the Shimmy) would win the dance competition for that couple.)
That said, it's interesting to read comments on a discussion thread of word reference forum about the meaning of "strutters" in the "Darktown Strutters Ball" song. Here's the first commeent in that discussion and one response:
blue baron, 17th July 2009 [Native language:Dutch]
"'Darktown Strutters' Ball.' is one of the earliest traditional jazz songs to become a standard. The words and music, by Shelton Brooks, were inspired by a ball at the 1915 Pacific-Panama Exposition in San Francisco.
What is the meaning of "strutter" in this title?"
**
Franzi (Native language:(San Francisco) English) 17th July 2009
"You're probably best off searching for books on jazz history. Google books has, for example, Jazz Dance by Marshall & Jean Stearns, which contains quotes like:
"He was a strutter in the cakewalk tradition and an eccentric dancer who employed legomania, a rhythmic twisting and turning of the legs."
http://books.google.com/books?id=KT-Y5ddqmTEC&printsec=frontcover
There appear to be many, many jazz groups called "The [something] Strutters".
Here is a reference to the dance (which I suppose probably preceded the use of 'strutter' as a noun for a certain kind of person): "In November 1937, Dancing Times reported a new dance craze: 'Such steps as the Shag, the Flea Hop, the Strut, and the Walk are combined with the new Big Apple.'"
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/good-questions--dragging-out-the-lobster-theory-1392545.html*
From the Online Etymology Dictionary: "To strut (one's) stuff is black slang, first recorded 1926, from strut as the name of a dance popular from c.1900. "
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=strut
-snip-
*This quote appears midway in the article and is excerpted from the response to the question "Why is New York called "The Big Apple". [Note that the Big Apple dance doesn't refer to New York City. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-big-apple-dance-secular-dance-that.html for a panococjams post on the Big Apple dance.]
Another commenter to that discussion,Eamnyc22, gave the definition of "to strut" as "to walk proudly or haughtily." That blogger also wrote that "If I had to guess, the original dance probably looked a lot more like what African-Americans today call "stepping" (the dancers are called "Steppers")"
-snip-
I disagree with that analogy unless the commenter is referring to the "strolls" (also known as "party walks") that historically Black (African American) fraternity and sorority members do. (Visit this page of my cocojams cultural website to view videos of steppin' and strolls. "The Camel Walk" is a mid to late 20th century African American originated dance form that reminds me of fraternity/sorority strolls and thus may be similar to "The Strut" dance. That movement is called "riding" when it is performed by members of the Black fraternal order The Prince Hall Shriners. Visit this page of my zumalayah blog (a blog that I admit to neglecting) for this post on "rince Hall Shriners Riding (Doing The Camel Walk)" http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/05/prince-hall-shriners-riding-doing-camel.html
-snip-
But an even closer connection can be made between the 19th century Strut dance and the Cakewalk dance.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/strut-miss-lizzie-information-lyrics.html for a pancocojams post on the song "Strut Miss Lizzie".
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THE STORY BEHIND THE "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL" SONG
From http://www.harmonicdissidents.org/issue-3-columns/letters-issue-3/, posted by TheProf, January 11, 2012 [excerpt]
"The “Darktown Ball” was, in fact, a real event, but it did not start out as being for the higher classes. It was originated by the ladies of the evening in the Darktown area of Chicago. They decided to create the ball as their way of showing that, for at least 1 night per year, they were just as good as everyone else. It was by invitation only and, over time, became THE most sought after ticket. Even the Major of Chicago could not attend without an invitation.
The composer was Shelton Brooks, a black man who was celebrating the event and the fact that it had become such an important part of the city’s history..."
-snip-
The word "ball" is still used to refer to a formal event where dancing is the main activity. Almost always balls include eating a catered meal, drinking alcoholic beverages, and being entertained by some performance act or acts. (Notice the reference to the "Baby Dolls" that is given in the original lyrics to this song. My guess is that the "Baby Dolls" were a group of young women who performed some kind of dance act on stage.)
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
[Pancocojams Editor's note 12/14/2018: The original sound file that was embedded in this post is no longer available. I've retained the comments and transcriptions about the sound file and added two additional examples to this post.]
Example #1: 1917 Collins & Harlan - Darktown Strutters’ Ball [sound file]
MusicProf78, Published on Apr 14, 2018
One of the best-selling early versions of the much-recorded pop and jazz standard, performed by the prolific recording duo of Arthur Collins and Byron G. Harlan.
Original 78rpm from the Bob Moke Collection: Columbia A2478 - Darktown Strutters’ Ball (Shelton Brooks) by Collins and Harlan, recorded in NYC December 21, 1917
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Example #2: The Charioteers - Darktown Strutters' Ball [film clip]
505damush, Published on Jul 6, 2008
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ORIGINAL SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: "The Darktown Strutters' Ball" The American Quartet 1918 (with lyrics)
Brent Abrahamson, Published on Jul 30, 2013
It's a Southbridge Old Time Radio Nostalgia Song.
"The Darktown Strutters' Ball" American Quartet 1918 (with lyrics)
-snip-
Southbridge Old Time Radio is from Southbridge, Massachusetts.
**
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Quartet_(ensemble)
“The American Quartet was a four-member vocal group that recorded for various companies in the United States between 1899 and 1925".
-snip-
Those vocalists were Anglo-American.
**
"Darktown Strutters' Ball" begins at 1:44 in this sound file.
The words to that song are superimposed on the screen and are found below.
**
Here's my transcription of the radio host's introductory comments:
"This is Brent Abrahamson your host on Southbridge Old Time Radio.
As we look back at very old songs in our American history, we’re faced with a significant problem –How do we deal with ethnic songs, songs sung in dialect? It’s not a pleasant part of our music history to explore. Yet, it is one which we should not forget. Some recordings from the early 20th century were indeed filled with racial stereotypes. They were even known as “coon songs”. Some belong in the dust bin of history.
Smash hits such as the "Darktown Strutters Ball" may deserve special recognition. First of all the song was written by a Canadian, the Black composer Shelton Brooks. Second, it depicts an African American annual event in Chicago when people got all dressed up and let themselves go, refusing to play the second class citizen that society had assigned them to, at least for one night. It reflects an attitude that signaled determination to break the bonds. Finally, it’s a catchy tune. The American Quartet clearly had fun singing it. And, it’s been recorded, minus the dialect many times since. So with all that said, Here is the American Quartet 1918 with Dark Town Strutters Ball.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell. Additions and corrections are welcome.
For the most part I agree with Brent Abrahamson's comments. To be clear, I don't consider the use of the word "darktown" in that song to be racist. However, Black composed songs about Black people can be offensive- Ernest Hogan's "All Coons Look Alike to Me" is just one example.
Also, when Brent Abrahamson says that [Darktown Strutters Ball has "been recorded, minus the dialect many times", I think that by "dialect", he means African American vernacular words such as "highbrowns". That isn't what I think of when I hear or read the word "dialect".
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THE LYRICS TO "DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL"
Words and Music by SHELTON BROOKS
Published 1917, by Will Rossiter
[Verse 1.]
I've got some good news Honey,
An invitation to the Darktown Ball,
It's a very swell affair,
All the "highbrowns" will be there,
I'll wear my high silk hat, and a frocktail coat,
You wear your Paris gown. and your new silk shawl,
There ain't no douby about it babe,
We'll be the best dressed in the hall.
[Chorus]
I'll be down to get you in a Taxi honey,
You better be ready about half past eight,
Now dearie don't be late,
I want to be there when the band starts playing.
Remember when we get there,Honey,
the two steps I'm goin' to have em all,
Goin' to dance out both my shoes:
When they play the "Jelly Roll Blues,"
Tomorrow night at the Darktown Strutter's Ball.
[Verse 2.]
We'll meet our hightoned neighbors,
an exhibition of the "Baby dolls,"
And each one will do their best,
Just to outclass all the rest,
And there'll be dancers from ev'ry foreign land,
The classie, buck and wing, and the wooden clog:
We'll winn that fifty dollar prize,
When we step out and "Walk the Dog."
[Chorus]
From http://parlorsongs.com/content/d/dktownstrutters-lyr.php
Those same lyrics are also found on http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/chet_atkins/darktown_strutters_ball.html. That page also provides some explanations of some of those lyrics but doesn't give any explanations for the word "darktown" or "strutters".
One of the terms it does explain is "highbrown" -"Either light-skinned or well-to-do African-Americans. Compare with 'high-yellow" as a designation for persons of mixed race, and lighter complexion".
For what it's worth, I think that "highbrown" originally meant a light skinned Black person, but in the context of this record means a well-to-do Black person. Note that because of various reasons, until at least the mid 20th century, light skin color was generally considered a criteria of elitism for African Americans. I also think that the word "hightones" probably has the same meaning.
Another phrase that that site explains is "Walking the Dog" -
The composer of this song ["Darktown Strutters Ball"] Shelton Brooks also wrote a song and invented a dance known as Walkin' the Dog. The lyrics to the song describe how to do the dance"a song that Shelton Brooks wrote in 1916".
-snip-
Click http://parlorsongs.com/content/w/walkinthedog-lyr.php for the lyrics to Shelton Brooks' Walkin' The Dog".
By the way, besides its title and the fact that the song is about a "new dance craze", and the song includes some dance instructions, Shelton Brooks's "Walkin The Dog" is nothing like the Rufus Thomas' 1963 song of the same name.
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ADDENDUM - INFORMATION ABOUT SHELTON BROOKS
Here are links to two biographies of Shelton Brooks and brief excerpts from those websites.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelton_Brooks
"Shelton Brooks (May 4, 1886 – September 6, 1975) was a Canadian composer of popular music and jazz,[1] who wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century"...
Brooks' works include Some of These Days, At the Darktown Strutters' Ball,[3] I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone, Every Day, All Night Long, Somewhere in France, Swing That Thing, That Man of Mine, There'll Come A Time, and Walkin' the Dog."
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From http://jass.com/sheltonbrooks/brooks.html
"Shelton Brooks was born to Native American & Black parents in Amherstburg, Ontario, on May 4, 1886...
Along with W. C. Handy and William Grant Still, the dean of black classical composers, Brooks was honored in San Francisco at the ASCAP-sponsored Festival of American Music in 1940. He died in Los Angeles on September 6, 1975."
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Pharoah Sanders - Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah (with lyrics to the song "Prince Of Peace)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcase Pharoah Sanders's Jazz tune "Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah". The lyrics to the song "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah" (also known as "Prince Of Peace" are also provided in in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes.
Thanks to Pharoah Sanders, Leon Thomas, and all others those who performed this tune. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Pharoah Sanders - Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah
bolillo239 Uploaded on May 28, 2011
from the album Jewels of Thought [1969]
-snip-
The song "Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah" (also known as "Prince Of Peace") is sung by Leon Thomas. The main portion of that song is found 1:41 to 4:59 of this video.
Here's the lists of musicians/vocalist for this tune from another YouTube sound file:
"Pharoah Sanders - Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah. Jewels of Thought, October 20, 1969. Pharoah Sanders (ts, contrabass clarinet, reed flute, African thumb piano, orchestra chimes, perc); Leon Thomas (vcl, perc); Lonnie Liston Smith (p, African flute, African thumb piano, perc); Cecil McBee (b, perc); Idris Muhammed (d, perc); Roy Haynes (d). 15 minutes approx."
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LYRICS: HUM-ALLAH-HUM-ALLAH-HUM-ALLAH
Peace is a united effort for co-ordinated control
Peace is the will of the people and the will of the land
With peace we can move ahead together
We want you to join us this evening in this universal prayer
This universal prayer for peace for every man
All you got to do is clap your hands
One two three
One two three
One two three
One two three
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah, hey
Prince of peace won't you hear our pleas
And ring your bells of peace
Let loving never cease
Prince of peace won't you hear our pleas
and ring your bells of peace
Let loving never cease
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah, yeah
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah
Source: http://lyrics.wikia.com/Pharoah_Sanders:Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitors' comments are welcome.
This post showcase Pharoah Sanders's Jazz tune "Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah". The lyrics to the song "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah" (also known as "Prince Of Peace" are also provided in in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes.
Thanks to Pharoah Sanders, Leon Thomas, and all others those who performed this tune. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Pharoah Sanders - Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah
bolillo239 Uploaded on May 28, 2011
from the album Jewels of Thought [1969]
-snip-
The song "Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah" (also known as "Prince Of Peace") is sung by Leon Thomas. The main portion of that song is found 1:41 to 4:59 of this video.
Here's the lists of musicians/vocalist for this tune from another YouTube sound file:
"Pharoah Sanders - Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah. Jewels of Thought, October 20, 1969. Pharoah Sanders (ts, contrabass clarinet, reed flute, African thumb piano, orchestra chimes, perc); Leon Thomas (vcl, perc); Lonnie Liston Smith (p, African flute, African thumb piano, perc); Cecil McBee (b, perc); Idris Muhammed (d, perc); Roy Haynes (d). 15 minutes approx."
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LYRICS: HUM-ALLAH-HUM-ALLAH-HUM-ALLAH
Peace is a united effort for co-ordinated control
Peace is the will of the people and the will of the land
With peace we can move ahead together
We want you to join us this evening in this universal prayer
This universal prayer for peace for every man
All you got to do is clap your hands
One two three
One two three
One two three
One two three
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah, hey
Prince of peace won't you hear our pleas
And ring your bells of peace
Let loving never cease
Prince of peace won't you hear our pleas
and ring your bells of peace
Let loving never cease
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah, yeah
Hum-Allah, hey
Hum-Allah
Source: http://lyrics.wikia.com/Pharoah_Sanders:Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitors' comments are welcome.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Nina Simone - It Be's That Way Sometimes (comments, lyrics, example)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a five part series that showcases three African American songs and one Caribbean song that have a "that's life" theme. By "that's life themes" I mean songs which reflect and promote the value that some Black people and some non-Black people have of being stoic when bad things happen to them.
This post showcases Nina Simone's 1967 record "It Be's That Way" and also includes a listing of and comments about "That's life" sayings.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/jimmy-cliff-thats-way-life-goes-example.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases Jimmy Cliff's 1969 record "That’s The Way Life Goes."
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/joe-simon-it-bes-that-way-sometimes.html for Part III of this series. Part III showcases Joe Simon's 1974 record "It Be's That Way Sometimes".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-real-meanings-of-breaks-in-kurtis.html for Part IV of this series. Part IV showcases Kurtis Blow's 1980's record "The Breaks" and provides explanations for the various meanings of "the breaks" and other lines including the word "break" that are found in this rap.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/denise-lasalle-it-bes-that-way.html for Part V of this series. Part V showcases Denise LaSalle's 1985 record "It Be's That Way Sometimes".
Those showcased songs are only a sampling of what I call "that's life" songs.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thank Sam Waymon, thecomposer of this featured song and thanks to Nina Simone for her musical legacy. Thanks also to also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this example on YouTube.
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COMMENTS ABOUT THE "THAT'S LIFE" THEME & ATTITUDE
"That's life" is my categorization of songs whose lyrics reflect and promote an attitude and stance that people should be stoic when bad things happen to them. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoic provides this definition for " stoic"[noun] "a person who accepts what happens without complaining or showing emotion". Some common sayings in the United States for this stoic attitude and stance are:
“It bes that way some time", ”That's life". "That's the way life is", "Such is life", "Life goes on", “Tough luck”, "That’s the way the cookie crumbles”, “You win some and you lose some”, “That’s the breaks”, "It is what it is", and "Sh&t happens". Another, less well known saying is the injunction to "suck it up", meaning "internalize the emotions that you feel when something bad happens to you."
My sense is that in some cultures (such as in African American culture) stoicism is an attitude/stance that is valued as a general reaction to life where oppression, poverty, and other difficulties are the norm, and not just a reaction to personal misfortunes.
"It be's that way sometimes" (also written as "It bes that way sometimes" is an African American Vernacular English saying. One way of saying that same thing in Standard American English is "That's the way it is sometimes". According to this saying, instead of reacting in anger or expressing sadness, people are supposed to “keep on keepin on” and are supposed to act like -if not really feel- that “That [what happened or what someone said] don’t make me no never mind”. Another way of saying this is that they are supposed to act like they aren’t “phased” by anything.[that nothing can bother them].
"Brushing the dirt off of your shoulders" is an African American gesture that conveys the same non-concern for something bad that is said about you or something bad that happens to you. That folk gesture is the theme of Jay-Z's 2003 "Dirt off Your Shoulder". Both the gesture and that song were further popularized outside of African American communities when then Presidential candidate Barack Obama mimicked brushing dirt off of his shoulders at a campaign appearance in response to sharp attacks from his then rival Hillary Clinton. Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirt_off_Your_Shoulder for a Wikipedia article about that gesture, and click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzXcNgCr0nk for a video of Barack Obama brushing dirt off of his shoulders.
I believe that one reason why being stoic is so valued in certain African American culture because people living in difficult conditions may think that showing emotions may make them more vulnerable then they already are. However, I question whether this stoic response (or lack of any outward emotional responses) is emotionally healthy. When so high a value is placed on keeping emotions inside, those emotions can eventually cause people to explode. And the consequences to those explosions can be astronomical.
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INFORMATION ABOUT NINA SIMONE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Simone: "NinaSimone... (born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music. She worked in a broad range of styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop."...
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Nina Simone -It Be's That Way Sometimes-1967 classic wax
.
ike turna, Uploaded on Jan 29, 2009
The High Priestess of Soul comes with it on this classic.from the album Silk And Soul.recorded from vinyl.
dig.................................
-snip-
Here's a comment from this sound file's discussion thread:
jazzbass25, 2010
"This song was written by Nina's brother, . Great 70's vibe. I play bass in Sam's band and this song is in our repetoire..Just pure funk!"
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LYRICS: IT BE'S THAT WAY SOMETIMES
(sung by Nina Simone)
When your guy has got his hat,
And made himself hard to find
It doesn't mean you should go crazy,
It be's that way sometime
Find yourself another love
Who will treat you good and kind
Return that love he gives to you,
It also be's that way sometime
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby
When you think you've found a love
And you have peace of mind
Somebody else steals his heart
Yes it also be's that way sometime
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does now
Baby, yes it does
Baby
Don't let the problems of this world
Drive you slowly out of your mind
Just smile look at the problem and say
It be's that way, be's that way sometime
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does now
Baby, yes it does
Baby, oh.....
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ninasimone/itbesthatwaysometimes.html
****
This ends Part I of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitors' comments are welcome.
This is Part I of a five part series that showcases three African American songs and one Caribbean song that have a "that's life" theme. By "that's life themes" I mean songs which reflect and promote the value that some Black people and some non-Black people have of being stoic when bad things happen to them.
This post showcases Nina Simone's 1967 record "It Be's That Way" and also includes a listing of and comments about "That's life" sayings.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/jimmy-cliff-thats-way-life-goes-example.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases Jimmy Cliff's 1969 record "That’s The Way Life Goes."
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/joe-simon-it-bes-that-way-sometimes.html for Part III of this series. Part III showcases Joe Simon's 1974 record "It Be's That Way Sometimes".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-real-meanings-of-breaks-in-kurtis.html for Part IV of this series. Part IV showcases Kurtis Blow's 1980's record "The Breaks" and provides explanations for the various meanings of "the breaks" and other lines including the word "break" that are found in this rap.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/denise-lasalle-it-bes-that-way.html for Part V of this series. Part V showcases Denise LaSalle's 1985 record "It Be's That Way Sometimes".
Those showcased songs are only a sampling of what I call "that's life" songs.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thank Sam Waymon, thecomposer of this featured song and thanks to Nina Simone for her musical legacy. Thanks also to also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this example on YouTube.
****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE "THAT'S LIFE" THEME & ATTITUDE
"That's life" is my categorization of songs whose lyrics reflect and promote an attitude and stance that people should be stoic when bad things happen to them. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoic provides this definition for " stoic"[noun] "a person who accepts what happens without complaining or showing emotion". Some common sayings in the United States for this stoic attitude and stance are:
“It bes that way some time", ”That's life". "That's the way life is", "Such is life", "Life goes on", “Tough luck”, "That’s the way the cookie crumbles”, “You win some and you lose some”, “That’s the breaks”, "It is what it is", and "Sh&t happens". Another, less well known saying is the injunction to "suck it up", meaning "internalize the emotions that you feel when something bad happens to you."
My sense is that in some cultures (such as in African American culture) stoicism is an attitude/stance that is valued as a general reaction to life where oppression, poverty, and other difficulties are the norm, and not just a reaction to personal misfortunes.
"It be's that way sometimes" (also written as "It bes that way sometimes" is an African American Vernacular English saying. One way of saying that same thing in Standard American English is "That's the way it is sometimes". According to this saying, instead of reacting in anger or expressing sadness, people are supposed to “keep on keepin on” and are supposed to act like -if not really feel- that “That [what happened or what someone said] don’t make me no never mind”. Another way of saying this is that they are supposed to act like they aren’t “phased” by anything.[that nothing can bother them].
"Brushing the dirt off of your shoulders" is an African American gesture that conveys the same non-concern for something bad that is said about you or something bad that happens to you. That folk gesture is the theme of Jay-Z's 2003 "Dirt off Your Shoulder". Both the gesture and that song were further popularized outside of African American communities when then Presidential candidate Barack Obama mimicked brushing dirt off of his shoulders at a campaign appearance in response to sharp attacks from his then rival Hillary Clinton. Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirt_off_Your_Shoulder for a Wikipedia article about that gesture, and click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzXcNgCr0nk for a video of Barack Obama brushing dirt off of his shoulders.
I believe that one reason why being stoic is so valued in certain African American culture because people living in difficult conditions may think that showing emotions may make them more vulnerable then they already are. However, I question whether this stoic response (or lack of any outward emotional responses) is emotionally healthy. When so high a value is placed on keeping emotions inside, those emotions can eventually cause people to explode. And the consequences to those explosions can be astronomical.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT NINA SIMONE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Simone: "NinaSimone... (born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music. She worked in a broad range of styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop."...
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Nina Simone -It Be's That Way Sometimes-1967 classic wax
.
ike turna, Uploaded on Jan 29, 2009
The High Priestess of Soul comes with it on this classic.from the album Silk And Soul.recorded from vinyl.
dig.................................
-snip-
Here's a comment from this sound file's discussion thread:
jazzbass25, 2010
"This song was written by Nina's brother, . Great 70's vibe. I play bass in Sam's band and this song is in our repetoire..Just pure funk!"
****
LYRICS: IT BE'S THAT WAY SOMETIMES
(sung by Nina Simone)
When your guy has got his hat,
And made himself hard to find
It doesn't mean you should go crazy,
It be's that way sometime
Find yourself another love
Who will treat you good and kind
Return that love he gives to you,
It also be's that way sometime
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby
When you think you've found a love
And you have peace of mind
Somebody else steals his heart
Yes it also be's that way sometime
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does now
Baby, yes it does
Baby
Don't let the problems of this world
Drive you slowly out of your mind
Just smile look at the problem and say
It be's that way, be's that way sometime
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does
Baby, yes it does now
Baby, yes it does
Baby, oh.....
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ninasimone/itbesthatwaysometimes.html
****
This ends Part I of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitors' comments are welcome.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Focus On Percussionist Nana Kimati Dinizulu (videos & information)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides information about percussionist Nana Kimati Dinizulu and showcases selected videos of this musician. Some of those rare videos from the 1990s also include footage of Nana Kimati Dinizulu's Kotoko Society (band), and other renown musicians and performers such as master drummer Baba Chief Bey, Jazz singer & musician Olu Dara, Jazz drummer Roy Haynes, Dub Poet Oku Onuora, and others.
Information about musician Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu (Kimati Dinizulu's father), as well as information about The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, Inc. and the Dinizulu Archives is found in the Addendum to this post. The Addendum also includes explanations about the meaning of the Ghanaian title "Nana".
The content of this post is provided for historical, cultural, educational, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the creative, educational, and inspirational legacy of Nana Kimati Dinizulu and all others who are featured in or mentioned in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube sound files and videos.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT NANA KIMATI DINIZULU
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimati_Dinizulu
"Nana Kimati Dinizulu was an African-American percussionist. He performed with many great artists like Toni Morrison, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Gregory Hines, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte, Wynton Marsalis, Jackie McLean and Dizzy Gillespie and many more...
Nana Kimati Dinizulu began playing drums and percussion instruments in his early childhood. He was born in New York, New York on September 27, 1956. For many generations, the Dinizulu clan has been active in music and performance. Nana Dinizulu’s father, the late Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu was a world-respected African drummer. His mother, Alice Dinizulu, was a key dancer for Asadata Dafora’s Dance Company which was the first dance company to put African dance and music on Broadway in the United States from the 1930s to the 1950s...
Mr. Dinizulu worked with several domestic and international cultural organizations, including UNESCO. UNESCO declared 2004 to be the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition by the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Dinizulu performed and lectured on endangered African-American instruments as a part of a UNESCO conference of scholars from around the world gathered at Tulane University.
Furthermore, Mr. Kimati Dinizulu worked with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, an organization for documenting, preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the culture and history of black people worldwide...
The learning of drumming and African culture is a lifetime process for Mr. Dinizulu. His encyclopedic knowledge of drums, percussion, and the art of drumming comes from his worldwide travels and studies of the music of other cultures as well as his heartfelt love for music and learning. He assembled a group of musicians from around the world, called the Kotoko Society with whom he composed and performed with regularly.
Nana Kimati Dinizulu died on July 7, 2013."
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Nana Kimati Dinizulu Rare Drum Solo # 1
The Dinizulu Archives, December 8, 2006
This rare drum solo of Nana Kimati Dinizulu took place in Japan in the 1990s.
-snip-
Also, click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqGap02On2w for a video of Nana Kimati Dinizulu "Nana Kimati Dinizulu soloing on Gome, a hand and foot drum of the Ga people of Ghana, West Africa. This solo was performed around 1990."
****
Example #2: Kimati Dinizulu & His Kotoko Society @ New Orleans Jazz Fest
The Dinizulu Archives, Uploaded on December 8, 2006
Kimati Dinizulu & His Kotoko Society performed live on Congo Square stage of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. This is an excerpt and a scaled down version of an original musical work by Nana Kimati Dinizulu. With Brian Carrot on Marimbas, Michael Williams on Wooden Flutes, Nana Owusu on Dawuru, Claude Thomas on Akasa, the late Meshach Silas on djembe, and the late Zeleka Jenkins on vocals
-snip-
“The late” means that that person so referred to is deceased
****
Example #3: Dub Poet Oku Onuora with Kimati Dinizulu & Kotoko Society
The Dinizulu Archives,December 9, 2006
Here you will find rare footage of Kimati Dinizulu & his Kotoko Society performing live at new York City’s Sob’s. Dub poet Oku Onuora is featured in this clip along with master drummer Baba Chief Bey and Olu Dara who is rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) father Circa 1990
-snip-
According to Verbal Riddim: The Politics and Aesthetics of African-Caribbean Dub Poetry
by Christian Habekostto [Google Books] Jamaican dub poet first performed his poem "We A Come" in 1985.
****
Example #4: Roy Haynes and Kimati Dinizulu Duet
The Dinizulu Archives, uploaded December 8, 2006
An excerpt of a duet performed by Roy Haynes and Kimati Dinizulu
****
Example #5: Olu Dara with Kimati Dinizulu & his Kotoko Society
The Dinizulu Archives , Dec. 10, 2006
Rare footage of Kimati Dinizulu & his Kotoko Society at Sob’s featuring Olu Dara. Rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) is Olu’s son. The late Baba Chief Bey can be seen in this clip. Kimati Dinizulu is playing one of his one strings made from a coffee can.
Circa early 1990s.
-snip-
The Nigerian word "Baba" (Father) and "Chief" are both used as honorary titles.
****
ADDENDUM
Information about Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu
From http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/16/obituaries/yao-opare-dinizulu-troupe-founder-60.html[published 2/16/1991]
... "For more than 40 years Mr. [Yao Opare] Dinizulu presided over the critically acclaimed company of dancers, drummers and singers that he termed "the oldest African dance company in America."
He was born in Augusta, Ga., and traced his lineage to Ghana. He traveled to Africa frequently and in Ghana received the titles of Omanhene and Okomfohene, or chief and spiritual leader, of the Akan tribe. Nana is a Ghanaian title of respect."
-snip-
The Addendum contains additional information about the Ghanaian title "Nana".
****
Information about The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, Inc.
From http://dinizulucenter.org/about/
"The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, Inc., a non- profit tax-exempt organization, located in Jamaica, New York, was founded by Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, to provide a mechanism for the study and teaching of African Culture. Nana Dinizulu was involved in the study, practice and dissemination of African culture and traditions for over four decades. He was instrumental in introducing hundreds of thousands of people to African culture, through his dance company and other appearances...
The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, home of the Dinizulu Dancers, Drummers and Singers and The African Diaspora Children’s Museum, offers study and research in African History and Culture via an after school and evening program. The program includes African Dance instruction, master classes with African Dance Artists, lecture series featuring renown educators, and historians of the African world and instruction in African music, language, and arts and crafts...
In the early seventies, The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe was responsible for many African-Americans seeing Africa for the first time via inexpensive charter trips. During these trips. Many were introduced to the cultural and sacred life of Ghana and Nigeria...."
Information about the Dinizulu Archives
From http://dinizulucenter.org/the-dinizulu-archives/
"The Dinizulu Archives is a series of various video clips which include a wide array of footage from field research he has conducted around the African Diaspora. Also you will find some excerpts of vintage and rare footage that has been collected throughout the years. All contents of the series can be seen at www.youtube.com/africanbushdoctor "
****
What the Ghanaian word "Nana" means
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_Chieftaincy
"In many parts of West Africa, there is an old chieftaincy tradition. The Akan of Ghana have developed their own hierarchy which exists alongside the democratic structure of the country. The Akan word for the ruler is nana. In colonial times, Europeans translated it to “chief”, which is not an exact equivalent. Other sources speak of “kings”, which is also not entirely correct. The term “chief” has become common even amongst modern Ghanaians, though it would be more correct to use the expression nana without translation wherever possible…
The title of Queen mother can relate to the rank of a paramount queen, a queen or a sub-queen. The Akan name is the same as for the men, “nana”. When using English, Ghanaians say “queen mother”. This woman is not necessarily the respective chief's mother. Her role in the system is to have an eye on the social conditions, and a personally capable Queen mother has been known to equal or even surpass a reigning Chief in terms of power and prestige. A good example of this happening is the case of Queen Yaa Asantewa."
-snip-
The nickname "Nana" for grandmother is much more common in the United States than the honorific title "Nana". However, that title has been given to male and female African Americans, including Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu [male], Nana Kimati Dinizulu [male], and Nana Malaya Rucker, female African Dancer/instructor/lecturer, Washington, D. C. area.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post provides information about percussionist Nana Kimati Dinizulu and showcases selected videos of this musician. Some of those rare videos from the 1990s also include footage of Nana Kimati Dinizulu's Kotoko Society (band), and other renown musicians and performers such as master drummer Baba Chief Bey, Jazz singer & musician Olu Dara, Jazz drummer Roy Haynes, Dub Poet Oku Onuora, and others.
Information about musician Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu (Kimati Dinizulu's father), as well as information about The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, Inc. and the Dinizulu Archives is found in the Addendum to this post. The Addendum also includes explanations about the meaning of the Ghanaian title "Nana".
The content of this post is provided for historical, cultural, educational, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the creative, educational, and inspirational legacy of Nana Kimati Dinizulu and all others who are featured in or mentioned in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube sound files and videos.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT NANA KIMATI DINIZULU
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimati_Dinizulu
"Nana Kimati Dinizulu was an African-American percussionist. He performed with many great artists like Toni Morrison, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Gregory Hines, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte, Wynton Marsalis, Jackie McLean and Dizzy Gillespie and many more...
Nana Kimati Dinizulu began playing drums and percussion instruments in his early childhood. He was born in New York, New York on September 27, 1956. For many generations, the Dinizulu clan has been active in music and performance. Nana Dinizulu’s father, the late Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu was a world-respected African drummer. His mother, Alice Dinizulu, was a key dancer for Asadata Dafora’s Dance Company which was the first dance company to put African dance and music on Broadway in the United States from the 1930s to the 1950s...
Mr. Dinizulu worked with several domestic and international cultural organizations, including UNESCO. UNESCO declared 2004 to be the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition by the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Dinizulu performed and lectured on endangered African-American instruments as a part of a UNESCO conference of scholars from around the world gathered at Tulane University.
Furthermore, Mr. Kimati Dinizulu worked with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, an organization for documenting, preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the culture and history of black people worldwide...
The learning of drumming and African culture is a lifetime process for Mr. Dinizulu. His encyclopedic knowledge of drums, percussion, and the art of drumming comes from his worldwide travels and studies of the music of other cultures as well as his heartfelt love for music and learning. He assembled a group of musicians from around the world, called the Kotoko Society with whom he composed and performed with regularly.
Nana Kimati Dinizulu died on July 7, 2013."
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Nana Kimati Dinizulu Rare Drum Solo # 1
The Dinizulu Archives, December 8, 2006
This rare drum solo of Nana Kimati Dinizulu took place in Japan in the 1990s.
-snip-
Also, click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqGap02On2w for a video of Nana Kimati Dinizulu "Nana Kimati Dinizulu soloing on Gome, a hand and foot drum of the Ga people of Ghana, West Africa. This solo was performed around 1990."
****
Example #2: Kimati Dinizulu & His Kotoko Society @ New Orleans Jazz Fest
The Dinizulu Archives, Uploaded on December 8, 2006
Kimati Dinizulu & His Kotoko Society performed live on Congo Square stage of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. This is an excerpt and a scaled down version of an original musical work by Nana Kimati Dinizulu. With Brian Carrot on Marimbas, Michael Williams on Wooden Flutes, Nana Owusu on Dawuru, Claude Thomas on Akasa, the late Meshach Silas on djembe, and the late Zeleka Jenkins on vocals
-snip-
“The late” means that that person so referred to is deceased
****
Example #3: Dub Poet Oku Onuora with Kimati Dinizulu & Kotoko Society
The Dinizulu Archives,December 9, 2006
Here you will find rare footage of Kimati Dinizulu & his Kotoko Society performing live at new York City’s Sob’s. Dub poet Oku Onuora is featured in this clip along with master drummer Baba Chief Bey and Olu Dara who is rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) father Circa 1990
-snip-
According to Verbal Riddim: The Politics and Aesthetics of African-Caribbean Dub Poetry
by Christian Habekostto [Google Books] Jamaican dub poet first performed his poem "We A Come" in 1985.
****
Example #4: Roy Haynes and Kimati Dinizulu Duet
The Dinizulu Archives, uploaded December 8, 2006
An excerpt of a duet performed by Roy Haynes and Kimati Dinizulu
****
Example #5: Olu Dara with Kimati Dinizulu & his Kotoko Society
The Dinizulu Archives , Dec. 10, 2006
Rare footage of Kimati Dinizulu & his Kotoko Society at Sob’s featuring Olu Dara. Rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) is Olu’s son. The late Baba Chief Bey can be seen in this clip. Kimati Dinizulu is playing one of his one strings made from a coffee can.
Circa early 1990s.
-snip-
The Nigerian word "Baba" (Father) and "Chief" are both used as honorary titles.
****
ADDENDUM
Information about Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu
From http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/16/obituaries/yao-opare-dinizulu-troupe-founder-60.html[published 2/16/1991]
... "For more than 40 years Mr. [Yao Opare] Dinizulu presided over the critically acclaimed company of dancers, drummers and singers that he termed "the oldest African dance company in America."
He was born in Augusta, Ga., and traced his lineage to Ghana. He traveled to Africa frequently and in Ghana received the titles of Omanhene and Okomfohene, or chief and spiritual leader, of the Akan tribe. Nana is a Ghanaian title of respect."
-snip-
The Addendum contains additional information about the Ghanaian title "Nana".
****
Information about The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, Inc.
From http://dinizulucenter.org/about/
"The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, Inc., a non- profit tax-exempt organization, located in Jamaica, New York, was founded by Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, to provide a mechanism for the study and teaching of African Culture. Nana Dinizulu was involved in the study, practice and dissemination of African culture and traditions for over four decades. He was instrumental in introducing hundreds of thousands of people to African culture, through his dance company and other appearances...
The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe, home of the Dinizulu Dancers, Drummers and Singers and The African Diaspora Children’s Museum, offers study and research in African History and Culture via an after school and evening program. The program includes African Dance instruction, master classes with African Dance Artists, lecture series featuring renown educators, and historians of the African world and instruction in African music, language, and arts and crafts...
In the early seventies, The Dinizulu Center for African Culture and Research at Aims of Modzawe was responsible for many African-Americans seeing Africa for the first time via inexpensive charter trips. During these trips. Many were introduced to the cultural and sacred life of Ghana and Nigeria...."
Information about the Dinizulu Archives
From http://dinizulucenter.org/the-dinizulu-archives/
"The Dinizulu Archives is a series of various video clips which include a wide array of footage from field research he has conducted around the African Diaspora. Also you will find some excerpts of vintage and rare footage that has been collected throughout the years. All contents of the series can be seen at www.youtube.com/africanbushdoctor "
****
What the Ghanaian word "Nana" means
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_Chieftaincy
"In many parts of West Africa, there is an old chieftaincy tradition. The Akan of Ghana have developed their own hierarchy which exists alongside the democratic structure of the country. The Akan word for the ruler is nana. In colonial times, Europeans translated it to “chief”, which is not an exact equivalent. Other sources speak of “kings”, which is also not entirely correct. The term “chief” has become common even amongst modern Ghanaians, though it would be more correct to use the expression nana without translation wherever possible…
The title of Queen mother can relate to the rank of a paramount queen, a queen or a sub-queen. The Akan name is the same as for the men, “nana”. When using English, Ghanaians say “queen mother”. This woman is not necessarily the respective chief's mother. Her role in the system is to have an eye on the social conditions, and a personally capable Queen mother has been known to equal or even surpass a reigning Chief in terms of power and prestige. A good example of this happening is the case of Queen Yaa Asantewa."
-snip-
The nickname "Nana" for grandmother is much more common in the United States than the honorific title "Nana". However, that title has been given to male and female African Americans, including Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu [male], Nana Kimati Dinizulu [male], and Nana Malaya Rucker, female African Dancer/instructor/lecturer, Washington, D. C. area.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
"Hold 'em Joe" (examples & lyrics)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases four sound files of the Caribbean song "Hold' em Joe" ("My Donkey Wants Water"). As a bonus, a sound file of a Jazz rendition of this song by Sonny Rollins is also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this song, and thanks to all the featured artists for their musical legacies. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
LYRICS: HOLE' EM JOE (MY DONKEY WANTS WATER)
(composer: Sam Manning)
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
We on a journey he don't walk straight
And that is because he's so underweight
Donkey of mine he don't like weight
Put him on a cart he never walk straight
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
My ole donkey went courtin' one day
With a donkey named Melda across the way
She was twice his age, he put up a fight
Now he's cryin' every night
Oh lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back bone
Lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back
Some people say that my donkey is bad
an' that is because he's from Trinidad
Donkey of mine he won't work at all
All he want to do is break out him stall
Source: http://www.akh.se/lyrics/hold_em_joe.htm
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest videos given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to showcase some of the different interpretations artists have given of this song.
Example #1: My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) [10 inch] - Mac Beth, the Great
TheRealDJGIBS•, Uploaded on Jun 29, 2011
Digital archive of Musicraft 78RPM single 434;
My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) by Mac Beth, the Great with Gerald Clark and his Original Calypsos
℗1945 Guild/Musicraft Records
-snip-
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's comment thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOkTAK2HEI
TheRealDJGIBS, 2013
For those who think Belafonte wrote this song... haha. It was first recorded in 1925 by Sam Manning (Columbia 2409-X) and while the original Columbia 78 credits Manning as the composer, it was a well known "Jamaican Digging Song".
****
Glenroy Joseph, 2013
in reply to TheRealDJGIBS
"Sam Manning was one of the earliest of the Trinidad calypsonians to gain international recognition in the early 20th century. The song may have been derived from a Jamaican digging song, but it is clearly period calypso, although there is a similarity to a Jamaican folk music called mento"
-snip-
Here's a comment that provides information about Macbeth The Great from the discussion thread of another sound file of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYXjvC-lO4A
branMar2002, 2013
"Macbeth The Great is Patrick MacDonald, a calypsonian from Trinidad who became an important part of Harlem's important west indian community. Patrick's son was Ralph MacDonald, who became one of the most in-demand studio percussionists of all time. Ralph was also an important composer and producer with hits such as "Feel like Making Love" (Roberta Flack), "Mr. Magic" and "Just The Two Of Us" (Grover Washington Jr.). May they all rest in peace."
****
Example #2: Hold em Joe
FredCDobbs00, Uploaded on May 21, 2011
This is from The Brute Force Steel Band of Antigua B.W.I. album. This album came out in 1953 as far as I know. I recently learned the identity of the lead singer from his son. His name is Anthony Herbert Hobbs.
****
Example #3: Harry Belafonte - Hold 'Em Joe (1954 AND 1957)
PilotOfTheAirwaves1, Published on Mar 5, 2013
This recording charted TWICE. First a #30 Pop hit in 1954, then a #84 Pop chart entry in 1957. By the SAME guy who recorded "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" in 1956 (that was later featured in the movie "Beetlejuice").
****
Example #4: Ziggy Marley - "Hold Em Joe" | Family Time
Ziggy Marley, Published on May 7, 2013
Hold 'Em Joe", a track off the Ziggy Marley album, FAMILY TIME.
****
BONUS EXAMPLE
Sonny Rollins - Hold 'Em Joe
khimerak, Uploaded on Jan 26, 2011
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases four sound files of the Caribbean song "Hold' em Joe" ("My Donkey Wants Water"). As a bonus, a sound file of a Jazz rendition of this song by Sonny Rollins is also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this song, and thanks to all the featured artists for their musical legacies. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
LYRICS: HOLE' EM JOE (MY DONKEY WANTS WATER)
(composer: Sam Manning)
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
We on a journey he don't walk straight
And that is because he's so underweight
Donkey of mine he don't like weight
Put him on a cart he never walk straight
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
My ole donkey went courtin' one day
With a donkey named Melda across the way
She was twice his age, he put up a fight
Now he's cryin' every night
Oh lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back bone
Lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back
Some people say that my donkey is bad
an' that is because he's from Trinidad
Donkey of mine he won't work at all
All he want to do is break out him stall
Source: http://www.akh.se/lyrics/hold_em_joe.htm
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest videos given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to showcase some of the different interpretations artists have given of this song.
Example #1: My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) [10 inch] - Mac Beth, the Great
TheRealDJGIBS•, Uploaded on Jun 29, 2011
Digital archive of Musicraft 78RPM single 434;
My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) by Mac Beth, the Great with Gerald Clark and his Original Calypsos
℗1945 Guild/Musicraft Records
-snip-
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's comment thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOkTAK2HEI
TheRealDJGIBS, 2013
For those who think Belafonte wrote this song... haha. It was first recorded in 1925 by Sam Manning (Columbia 2409-X) and while the original Columbia 78 credits Manning as the composer, it was a well known "Jamaican Digging Song".
****
Glenroy Joseph, 2013
in reply to TheRealDJGIBS
"Sam Manning was one of the earliest of the Trinidad calypsonians to gain international recognition in the early 20th century. The song may have been derived from a Jamaican digging song, but it is clearly period calypso, although there is a similarity to a Jamaican folk music called mento"
-snip-
Here's a comment that provides information about Macbeth The Great from the discussion thread of another sound file of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYXjvC-lO4A
branMar2002, 2013
"Macbeth The Great is Patrick MacDonald, a calypsonian from Trinidad who became an important part of Harlem's important west indian community. Patrick's son was Ralph MacDonald, who became one of the most in-demand studio percussionists of all time. Ralph was also an important composer and producer with hits such as "Feel like Making Love" (Roberta Flack), "Mr. Magic" and "Just The Two Of Us" (Grover Washington Jr.). May they all rest in peace."
****
Example #2: Hold em Joe
FredCDobbs00, Uploaded on May 21, 2011
This is from The Brute Force Steel Band of Antigua B.W.I. album. This album came out in 1953 as far as I know. I recently learned the identity of the lead singer from his son. His name is Anthony Herbert Hobbs.
****
Example #3: Harry Belafonte - Hold 'Em Joe (1954 AND 1957)
PilotOfTheAirwaves1, Published on Mar 5, 2013
This recording charted TWICE. First a #30 Pop hit in 1954, then a #84 Pop chart entry in 1957. By the SAME guy who recorded "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" in 1956 (that was later featured in the movie "Beetlejuice").
****
Example #4: Ziggy Marley - "Hold Em Joe" | Family Time
Ziggy Marley, Published on May 7, 2013
Hold 'Em Joe", a track off the Ziggy Marley album, FAMILY TIME.
****
BONUS EXAMPLE
Sonny Rollins - Hold 'Em Joe
khimerak, Uploaded on Jan 26, 2011
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Bioshock 2 & Bessie Smith's "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents a sample of comments that mention Bioshock 2 that were posted to the discussion thread of a video of Bessie Smith's 1929 rendition of a Blues song. That song, "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out", was included in the Bioshock 2 video game.
This video is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. These comments are presented for cultural and sociological purposes. Read more about my reasons for showcasing these comments in the section below.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Bessie Smith for this powerful song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend
RagtimeDorianHenry, Uploaded on Jun 4, 2009
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (1929)
-snip-
Click http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_smith_bessie.htm for information about Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
****
GENERAL OVERVIEW ABOUT YOUTUBE COMMENT THREADS AND YOUTUBE COMMENTS
It's my position that certain YouTube video viewer comments can be considered cultural artifacts that can provide information about a particular subject or subjects and/or reveal societal attitudes about people, places, or things. Presenting a sample of YouTube comments from the same viewer comment thread can give a sense of some of the ways that interactions occur on YouTube comment threads. YouTube viewer comments also demonstrate the ways that language is used -including the use of slang and text talk - and the customs that people use in self-selecting internet user names. Because I take a folkloric approach in editing pancocojams, a number of pancocojams blog posts include selected examples of YouTube comments about its featured videos. In addition, a few pancocojams posts focus on particular categories of user names that YouTube commenters give themselves.
However, the way that YouTube comments are presented makes responses to comments and conversations between commenters difficult to follow. In large part this is because comments are usually posted in descending order with the newest comments posted first. As a result, when reading the comment thread from top to bottom which is the usual way that threads are read, comments written in response to a particular comment are often found before that comment. One way that a response to a comment is identified is when the responder begins his or her comment with "@ ____ [the name of the person who wrote the comment which is being responded to]. However, some responders don't use that format. Adding to the possibility for confusion in reading YouTube video comments is the fact that some commenter’s names have changed because of YouTube’s promotion of people using their real names instead of screen names. Consequently, some responses to comments refer to the original commenter's screen name instead of the person's "real name". It also appears that some commenters have exchanged one "made up" user name for another "made up" user name. Furthermore, YouTube has changed their viewer comment format, deleting the "like" and "dislike" options (around the end of 2013), but those options are still mentioned in older comments.
It should also be said that a major problem with many YouTube viewer comment threads (including this showcased video's comment threads) is that a number of the comments include profanity. Readers of many YouTube viewer comment threads should also be advised that those threads may contain racist language, homophobic language, sexual explicit content and other objectionable content.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR COMPILATION
The viewer comment thread for the video "Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend" is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99Uo
As of 11:50 AM. Feb 28, 2014 there were 985 comments. At least ½ of the comments refer to Bioshock 2, Bioshock, some other specific videogame, or videogames in general.
These selected comments are grouped by the year that they were posted on YouTube, with the oldest comments presented first (along with any comments that are or appear to be posted in response to that comment). However, with the exception of that sub-group, these comments aren't presented in any consecutive order. In some cases, responding comments are given without the comment that they respond to.
The only examples of profanity that I include in the comments in this compilation is what I consider to be the mild profanity "damn", "ass", and "hell". Other examples of profanity within these comments are represented by the phrase in brackets "profanity deleted"].
These comments are numbered for references purposes only and are given as is without any editorial comments.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS
2009
1. anthonyvvs
lol I heard of her from Bioshock 2 as well... Funny how a good video game can make someone so much more popular and bring their works back to the current times (more than it already is, of course)
**
2. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
3. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
4. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
****
2010
5. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
**
6. Fernando Blake
Thanks bioshock thanks 4 show me this amazing music :D
**
7. Craziness714
Thanks Bioshock and Fallout, for introducing to some amazing music I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. =)
**
8. Nunya DirtySanchez
Youre a DAM FOOL if Bioshock brought your young ass here and you should be ashamed..now that youve learned.. go teach your friends :D
**
9. Justin Huffman
Warning: if you actually purchase the Bioschock 2 Sountrack, this song IS NOT there... i don't get it. They do include the second best song: the trouble with me is you, though. I downloaded it just for this song and it's not there... [profanity deleted]??
**
10. sagat4
It is possible that game developers are trying to rekindle interest in these great lost songs. I play games occasionally and have never heard good music like this. I know my stuff but life is a learning experience:)
**
11. samtheposter
in reply to WEJIRC
@WEJIRC Hi there, the music was used as a loading screen for Bioshock 2. The game itself is excellent and the way the music compliments the theme of the game is superb. In many ways it has brought back quite a few older songs into todays lifestyle and a lot of gamers will never forget the music now. I myself have searched youtube for all of the songs from the game and have stumbled on some real legends :-)
**
12. Emma Pinkney
this song makes me want to play bioshock 2 all day!!
**
13. Phazonin
Her voice is incredible. So powerful... thank you Bioshock 2 loading screen.
**
14. thecatman00
in reply to Phazonin
@Phazonin It's incredible the way you can cultivate good art to help make other good art, I am especially impressed by said connection between blues and videogames
**
15. thedogisoflove
I love this dang stupid song. I of course first heard it on Bioshock 2. For a minute, I was like: "Is that Billy Holiday?" Then I thought, "Nooooooo! That's definately not her." Now I know who it is! I love it if you let Grace live, and you go back down to the last floor to gather Adam, you can hear Grace singing this song over the PA too.
**
16. Justin Huffman
this is Grace Holloway not Bessie Smith
**
17. tjovaughn
in reply to Justin Huffman
@aspacelot ....grace holloway is a VIDEO GAME CHARACTER. Bessie Smith is REAL. got it? eh? not so hard to figure out smart-[profanity deleted]. gawd.
**
18. TGCVugi
iwe heard this song @ my friend, his kid played bioshock 2,, and i will tell you something, it's so damn true, this song touches me in the heart!
**
19. F14ace
6 people have no musical taste whatsoever. This song is great for BioShock because it basically describes the story of Rapture. Well, except for the genetically spliced nutjobs running around everywhere. There is also a good lesson to be learned from this song.
**
20. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
****
2011
James Last
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy bioshock is a game based in the 20's-30's i think. its not to bad kinda intence at points though
**
21. Bonbeck100
Thumbs up if you're here not because of bisoshock, just because you love Bessie Smith
**
22. 420Cannabis
why are you guys so proud of needing a video game to discover good music?
**
23. Dee Lazarus
Personally, I have no idea what 'Bioshock' is, nor do I care to discover. I think it's great that peoples end up here listening to this, regardless of the source of their original interest, but I would query why these same folks have this burning need to proclaim "The Simpsons brought me here!!!" and then say nothing of the singer and song. Come on guys and gals - can and should do better. Best wishes for the future, PP. x
**
24. alen mathew
thumbs up if [profanity deleted] bioshock DIDNT bring you here..and you have REAL taste in music..
**
25. Skirlasvoud
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Oi! How's real taste in music defined by the way it came to you? :P Maybe the makers of Bioshock had enough taste to select this particular piece for their game, making it a real tasteful game? Let's reach a middleground after I bought a CD with this stuff, THANKS to Bioshock: We BOTH love this music and at least we're nog listening to Carla Bruni.
**
26. 0m
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 who cares whether or not bioshock turned people onto this music or not? (a) that's beside the point, because the music's still lovely, and (b) if a modern classic sci-fi/horror story can instill interest in this music for new generations, where's the harm in that? you ever played the bioshock games? because not only are they super fun to play, the plots are unbelievably genius. it's genuine storytelling up there with huxley, bradbury and their ilk. don't hate. bioshock rules. :-P
**
27. Cleaver Mama
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Why does Bioshock bringing someone here mean that they don't have a 'real' taste in music? Shouldn't you be happy that they know about the song at all, and are giving a talented artist the recognition she deserves, rather than worrying about how they found the song?
**
28. Cyconik
Music like this needs to be spread. If its being spread to youth by a video game, so be it. I actually just happened across this song. I didn't know it was in Bioshock, but I've played it before too. Come on people, as long as its being spread, its being spread!
**
29. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
**
30. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to Raphael Stoker
@AstinTheDawg same here, that was my favorite level in bioshock2. Loved the idea of a gehto in Rapture, now I love this music, gotta get some of her stuff. Back when music had meaning in the words.
**
31. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy Best game of 2007. But this is from the sequal. The game was about an underwater city that was supposed to be absent in government, but went to hell. One hell of a good story, I highly recomend it.
**
32. sonicscreamingblue
What the [profanity deleted] is Bioshock and why do people keep alluding to it on a blues video?
**
33. HERBLANDZ
in reply to sonicscreamingblue
@sonicscreamingblue a video game that plays that palys 20 and 30s music while u kill people underwater or some [profanity deleted] i never liked that game but its pretty huge in sales
**
34. ReptilianWhisperer
I played Bioshock and it did not bring me here, but I still ended up here. I guess I just got lucky. Legendary voice...Miss Bessie Smith
**
35. Ray De La Peña
it shouldn't matter where people get their music source, as long as they listen and like it at some point in time.. i think.
**
36. drivenedge007
but you have to admit,younger folks would not get any exposure to "real" music if it weren't for those video games......good music at any means necessary...
**
37. kwilli93
Thumbs up if you're happy Bioshock educated thousands of gamers to Bessie Smiths greatness.
**
38. Wafflehaus
I don't care if it took a video game to bring you here.. if you enjoy the song that's good enough in my book. Hopefully the song can spark an interest in blues/jazz history.
**
39. Reverb Twang
idk what bioshock is but welcome to the world of Bessie Smith !!!!!
**
40. PunkRockFreak09
in reply to Reverb Twang
@moondog50002000 It's a video game that takes place in about 1960's and plays this kind of music. In fact Bioshock notorious for using music like Bessie's. I'll say Bioshock did not bring me here, which is odd because I played it before I discovered Bessie, but it is a good game to find good music. Hell I wouldn't never even thought of this music before it.
**
41. Riitzni
lol'ing at people looking down their nose at games. For those of you oblivious to society, some games introduce songs like this to people that would otherwise never hear them. That's more than most of you sitting on your computers whining about it can say. I understand though that having a person or radio bring you this song is a far better way to hear about it. Oh wait, it's the same. Idiots.
**
42. cwcwful
in reply to Nathan Sanchez [posted in 2012]
@thesickdancer I am not asking to be a jerk, but what is Bioshock? Just curious. For what it's worth, I promise not to get involved in the debate.
**
43. Dattebayo04 [posted in 2012]
in reply to cwcwful
Bioshock is a popular steampunk video game
**
44. Nozomi
I'm sad that this song wasn't on the Bioshock 2 official soundtrack. It took me a while to find it.
****
2012
45. Shishio Makoto
Merci Bioshock pour m'avoir fait découvrir cette artiste! Un jeu magnifique pour une chanteuse magnifique!
**
FunkyTownGhost
46. I was listened this song on Bioshock 2. It's "Pauper's Drop's" theme music. These words, this voice... I'm really, really love that angel voice- women...
**
47. 63toes
I don't care where you from, what brought you here, or where you going. Let's just enjoy this sweet sad music
**
48. buttercupfirefly
hearing this song or any other song does from a video game or tv show does not make you any less "with it" cool or intelligent then someone who was brought up listening to it. Everyones music taste is due to outside influence- media, family or seeking it out yourself. I just think that people who say "i knew this before Bioshock" really need to get a life
**
49. jasonvoorhees12345
If I lived in rapture. I would have gone down to just hear her sing everyday
****
2013
50. gun1987gunn
It doesn't matter if people heard this on Bioshock and love it. Let them appreciate a great song. Game developers introducing the younger generation to old classics is a good thing. Stop you moaning and let everyone enjoy the song.
**
51. gnarles trevor
I didn't realize that I absolutely love listening to music like this until I played Bioshock haha
**
52. TearShatter
Bioshock <3 Introduced me to so much great older music.
**
53. Zé Maconha
in reply to TearShatter
When this song played, I used to wait and stare at the loading screen until the end of the song
****
2014
54. Juan Vazquez
Thank you bioshock 2 for introducing me to this amazing voice
**
55. mondenkindqueen
Me too. I know some folks will get on to you for that, but people shouldn't care how a fellow fan is introduced to a great artist. If it weren't for Bioshock 2, I'd be missing out on this blues legend.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post presents a sample of comments that mention Bioshock 2 that were posted to the discussion thread of a video of Bessie Smith's 1929 rendition of a Blues song. That song, "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out", was included in the Bioshock 2 video game.
This video is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. These comments are presented for cultural and sociological purposes. Read more about my reasons for showcasing these comments in the section below.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Bessie Smith for this powerful song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend
RagtimeDorianHenry, Uploaded on Jun 4, 2009
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (1929)
-snip-
Click http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_smith_bessie.htm for information about Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
****
GENERAL OVERVIEW ABOUT YOUTUBE COMMENT THREADS AND YOUTUBE COMMENTS
It's my position that certain YouTube video viewer comments can be considered cultural artifacts that can provide information about a particular subject or subjects and/or reveal societal attitudes about people, places, or things. Presenting a sample of YouTube comments from the same viewer comment thread can give a sense of some of the ways that interactions occur on YouTube comment threads. YouTube viewer comments also demonstrate the ways that language is used -including the use of slang and text talk - and the customs that people use in self-selecting internet user names. Because I take a folkloric approach in editing pancocojams, a number of pancocojams blog posts include selected examples of YouTube comments about its featured videos. In addition, a few pancocojams posts focus on particular categories of user names that YouTube commenters give themselves.
However, the way that YouTube comments are presented makes responses to comments and conversations between commenters difficult to follow. In large part this is because comments are usually posted in descending order with the newest comments posted first. As a result, when reading the comment thread from top to bottom which is the usual way that threads are read, comments written in response to a particular comment are often found before that comment. One way that a response to a comment is identified is when the responder begins his or her comment with "@ ____ [the name of the person who wrote the comment which is being responded to]. However, some responders don't use that format. Adding to the possibility for confusion in reading YouTube video comments is the fact that some commenter’s names have changed because of YouTube’s promotion of people using their real names instead of screen names. Consequently, some responses to comments refer to the original commenter's screen name instead of the person's "real name". It also appears that some commenters have exchanged one "made up" user name for another "made up" user name. Furthermore, YouTube has changed their viewer comment format, deleting the "like" and "dislike" options (around the end of 2013), but those options are still mentioned in older comments.
It should also be said that a major problem with many YouTube viewer comment threads (including this showcased video's comment threads) is that a number of the comments include profanity. Readers of many YouTube viewer comment threads should also be advised that those threads may contain racist language, homophobic language, sexual explicit content and other objectionable content.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR COMPILATION
The viewer comment thread for the video "Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend" is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99Uo
As of 11:50 AM. Feb 28, 2014 there were 985 comments. At least ½ of the comments refer to Bioshock 2, Bioshock, some other specific videogame, or videogames in general.
These selected comments are grouped by the year that they were posted on YouTube, with the oldest comments presented first (along with any comments that are or appear to be posted in response to that comment). However, with the exception of that sub-group, these comments aren't presented in any consecutive order. In some cases, responding comments are given without the comment that they respond to.
The only examples of profanity that I include in the comments in this compilation is what I consider to be the mild profanity "damn", "ass", and "hell". Other examples of profanity within these comments are represented by the phrase in brackets "profanity deleted"].
These comments are numbered for references purposes only and are given as is without any editorial comments.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS
2009
1. anthonyvvs
lol I heard of her from Bioshock 2 as well... Funny how a good video game can make someone so much more popular and bring their works back to the current times (more than it already is, of course)
**
2. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
3. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
4. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
****
2010
5. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
**
6. Fernando Blake
Thanks bioshock thanks 4 show me this amazing music :D
**
7. Craziness714
Thanks Bioshock and Fallout, for introducing to some amazing music I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. =)
**
8. Nunya DirtySanchez
Youre a DAM FOOL if Bioshock brought your young ass here and you should be ashamed..now that youve learned.. go teach your friends :D
**
9. Justin Huffman
Warning: if you actually purchase the Bioschock 2 Sountrack, this song IS NOT there... i don't get it. They do include the second best song: the trouble with me is you, though. I downloaded it just for this song and it's not there... [profanity deleted]??
**
10. sagat4
It is possible that game developers are trying to rekindle interest in these great lost songs. I play games occasionally and have never heard good music like this. I know my stuff but life is a learning experience:)
**
11. samtheposter
in reply to WEJIRC
@WEJIRC Hi there, the music was used as a loading screen for Bioshock 2. The game itself is excellent and the way the music compliments the theme of the game is superb. In many ways it has brought back quite a few older songs into todays lifestyle and a lot of gamers will never forget the music now. I myself have searched youtube for all of the songs from the game and have stumbled on some real legends :-)
**
12. Emma Pinkney
this song makes me want to play bioshock 2 all day!!
**
13. Phazonin
Her voice is incredible. So powerful... thank you Bioshock 2 loading screen.
**
14. thecatman00
in reply to Phazonin
@Phazonin It's incredible the way you can cultivate good art to help make other good art, I am especially impressed by said connection between blues and videogames
**
15. thedogisoflove
I love this dang stupid song. I of course first heard it on Bioshock 2. For a minute, I was like: "Is that Billy Holiday?" Then I thought, "Nooooooo! That's definately not her." Now I know who it is! I love it if you let Grace live, and you go back down to the last floor to gather Adam, you can hear Grace singing this song over the PA too.
**
16. Justin Huffman
this is Grace Holloway not Bessie Smith
**
17. tjovaughn
in reply to Justin Huffman
@aspacelot ....grace holloway is a VIDEO GAME CHARACTER. Bessie Smith is REAL. got it? eh? not so hard to figure out smart-[profanity deleted]. gawd.
**
18. TGCVugi
iwe heard this song @ my friend, his kid played bioshock 2,, and i will tell you something, it's so damn true, this song touches me in the heart!
**
19. F14ace
6 people have no musical taste whatsoever. This song is great for BioShock because it basically describes the story of Rapture. Well, except for the genetically spliced nutjobs running around everywhere. There is also a good lesson to be learned from this song.
**
20. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
****
2011
James Last
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy bioshock is a game based in the 20's-30's i think. its not to bad kinda intence at points though
**
21. Bonbeck100
Thumbs up if you're here not because of bisoshock, just because you love Bessie Smith
**
22. 420Cannabis
why are you guys so proud of needing a video game to discover good music?
**
23. Dee Lazarus
Personally, I have no idea what 'Bioshock' is, nor do I care to discover. I think it's great that peoples end up here listening to this, regardless of the source of their original interest, but I would query why these same folks have this burning need to proclaim "The Simpsons brought me here!!!" and then say nothing of the singer and song. Come on guys and gals - can and should do better. Best wishes for the future, PP. x
**
24. alen mathew
thumbs up if [profanity deleted] bioshock DIDNT bring you here..and you have REAL taste in music..
**
25. Skirlasvoud
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Oi! How's real taste in music defined by the way it came to you? :P Maybe the makers of Bioshock had enough taste to select this particular piece for their game, making it a real tasteful game? Let's reach a middleground after I bought a CD with this stuff, THANKS to Bioshock: We BOTH love this music and at least we're nog listening to Carla Bruni.
**
26. 0m
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 who cares whether or not bioshock turned people onto this music or not? (a) that's beside the point, because the music's still lovely, and (b) if a modern classic sci-fi/horror story can instill interest in this music for new generations, where's the harm in that? you ever played the bioshock games? because not only are they super fun to play, the plots are unbelievably genius. it's genuine storytelling up there with huxley, bradbury and their ilk. don't hate. bioshock rules. :-P
**
27. Cleaver Mama
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Why does Bioshock bringing someone here mean that they don't have a 'real' taste in music? Shouldn't you be happy that they know about the song at all, and are giving a talented artist the recognition she deserves, rather than worrying about how they found the song?
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28. Cyconik
Music like this needs to be spread. If its being spread to youth by a video game, so be it. I actually just happened across this song. I didn't know it was in Bioshock, but I've played it before too. Come on people, as long as its being spread, its being spread!
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29. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
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30. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to Raphael Stoker
@AstinTheDawg same here, that was my favorite level in bioshock2. Loved the idea of a gehto in Rapture, now I love this music, gotta get some of her stuff. Back when music had meaning in the words.
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31. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy Best game of 2007. But this is from the sequal. The game was about an underwater city that was supposed to be absent in government, but went to hell. One hell of a good story, I highly recomend it.
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32. sonicscreamingblue
What the [profanity deleted] is Bioshock and why do people keep alluding to it on a blues video?
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33. HERBLANDZ
in reply to sonicscreamingblue
@sonicscreamingblue a video game that plays that palys 20 and 30s music while u kill people underwater or some [profanity deleted] i never liked that game but its pretty huge in sales
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34. ReptilianWhisperer
I played Bioshock and it did not bring me here, but I still ended up here. I guess I just got lucky. Legendary voice...Miss Bessie Smith
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35. Ray De La Peña
it shouldn't matter where people get their music source, as long as they listen and like it at some point in time.. i think.
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36. drivenedge007
but you have to admit,younger folks would not get any exposure to "real" music if it weren't for those video games......good music at any means necessary...
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37. kwilli93
Thumbs up if you're happy Bioshock educated thousands of gamers to Bessie Smiths greatness.
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38. Wafflehaus
I don't care if it took a video game to bring you here.. if you enjoy the song that's good enough in my book. Hopefully the song can spark an interest in blues/jazz history.
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39. Reverb Twang
idk what bioshock is but welcome to the world of Bessie Smith !!!!!
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40. PunkRockFreak09
in reply to Reverb Twang
@moondog50002000 It's a video game that takes place in about 1960's and plays this kind of music. In fact Bioshock notorious for using music like Bessie's. I'll say Bioshock did not bring me here, which is odd because I played it before I discovered Bessie, but it is a good game to find good music. Hell I wouldn't never even thought of this music before it.
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41. Riitzni
lol'ing at people looking down their nose at games. For those of you oblivious to society, some games introduce songs like this to people that would otherwise never hear them. That's more than most of you sitting on your computers whining about it can say. I understand though that having a person or radio bring you this song is a far better way to hear about it. Oh wait, it's the same. Idiots.
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42. cwcwful
in reply to Nathan Sanchez [posted in 2012]
@thesickdancer I am not asking to be a jerk, but what is Bioshock? Just curious. For what it's worth, I promise not to get involved in the debate.
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43. Dattebayo04 [posted in 2012]
in reply to cwcwful
Bioshock is a popular steampunk video game
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44. Nozomi
I'm sad that this song wasn't on the Bioshock 2 official soundtrack. It took me a while to find it.
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2012
45. Shishio Makoto
Merci Bioshock pour m'avoir fait découvrir cette artiste! Un jeu magnifique pour une chanteuse magnifique!
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FunkyTownGhost
46. I was listened this song on Bioshock 2. It's "Pauper's Drop's" theme music. These words, this voice... I'm really, really love that angel voice- women...
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47. 63toes
I don't care where you from, what brought you here, or where you going. Let's just enjoy this sweet sad music
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48. buttercupfirefly
hearing this song or any other song does from a video game or tv show does not make you any less "with it" cool or intelligent then someone who was brought up listening to it. Everyones music taste is due to outside influence- media, family or seeking it out yourself. I just think that people who say "i knew this before Bioshock" really need to get a life
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49. jasonvoorhees12345
If I lived in rapture. I would have gone down to just hear her sing everyday
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2013
50. gun1987gunn
It doesn't matter if people heard this on Bioshock and love it. Let them appreciate a great song. Game developers introducing the younger generation to old classics is a good thing. Stop you moaning and let everyone enjoy the song.
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51. gnarles trevor
I didn't realize that I absolutely love listening to music like this until I played Bioshock haha
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52. TearShatter
Bioshock <3 Introduced me to so much great older music.
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53. Zé Maconha
in reply to TearShatter
When this song played, I used to wait and stare at the loading screen until the end of the song
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2014
54. Juan Vazquez
Thank you bioshock 2 for introducing me to this amazing voice
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55. mondenkindqueen
Me too. I know some folks will get on to you for that, but people shouldn't care how a fellow fan is introduced to a great artist. If it weren't for Bioshock 2, I'd be missing out on this blues legend.
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