Then we forget how wonderful they sound because their sound was so distinctive. Great to be reminded of it and the incredible voice of Joseph Shabalala in particular.
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According to the best estimates of astronomers there are at least one hundred billion galaxies in the observable universe. -
I very much enjoyed the programme on the Graceland Project. It was the music that particularly stood out. To hear some of the African material again in its original form was to be reminded of its remarkable character. There is even now a sense of excitement both in relation to that music and the amalgamation of it with the music of Paul Simon. It is just a shame that the wonderful Miriam Makeba isn't able to take part today. I still wish she had been the vocalist on the recording of "Under African Skies".
Simon's commentary on the song structures was fascinating. It revealed how almost subconsciously a certain kind of politics emerges in creativity. 'The Boy in the Bubble' and 'Homeless' surely have a political dimension. Of greater interest, though, are the ways in which messages were more subtly conveyed. I would see the abstract, and even absurd, lyrics as having been a clever way of hinting at the absurdity of apartheid. Not dissimilarly, the alliteration was a comment on the repetitive grind of that regime. The positioning of the lyrics to the background pulse of the bass rather than lead guitars was essentially giving a voice to the masses rather than the dictators. That was underpinned by the demolition of the conventional walls between chorus and verse.
Veiled techniques of this kind are frequently used by artists in countries which censor. To some degree they had been used in South Africa itself. Simon's sophistication is very impressive compared with the attitudes of some who were rigidly fixed on failed policy. As I have written before, it was too big a battle not to be fought on several flanks. So I have to say that I am not convinced by his stated naivety but that is certainly not a criticism. His role was entirely constructive. By contrast, the old differences live on in places but the debate is never broadened. What, we might ask even today, had been the UN and the ANC's position on black South African artists issuing music on record labels owned by whites and who was it who owned the studios?
It would be helpful, antongould, to know which article in the Guardian it is to which you are referring. And, John, I would also appreciate having the name of the journalist. All I have found to date is Robin Denselow's two articles dated 16 March and 19 April 2012. While I have respect for Robin and his cd reviews, I do take exception to some of the content. He cites Resolution 35/206 (1980) which he says was quite clear about the cultural boycott. While not untrue, he fails to mention that boycotts since the early 1960s had not of themselves effected change. He is also silent about the support given to the Graceland project by the UN Anti-Apartheid Committee. And he blurs the position on Sun City, of which Simon himself did not approve, by omitting dates.
Those dates are particularly relevant in the case of Artists Against Apartheid. I had speculated that Graceland must have been in the making before the formation of that organisation some way into 1985. Now we know from this programme that it was originally due for release not in the autumn of 1986 but the spring and that work began on it in 1984. Denselow quotes Bragg of Burton Bradstock: ''Simon...was on the wrong side of the argument....(He)..... set his own terms, and that had to be done by people on the ground." How typical. Bill is right. The UN Anti-Apartheid Committee, all of the musicians, the record buyers, and the audiences were wrong. Unlike Tambo, whites of his ilk won't reconcile. Unlike Belafonte and Makeba, neither apolitical, they still can't come on board. Many now in mansions, they remain in an army fighting wars. These days they don't even bother much with camouflage.
I support boycotts if sensibly applied. But, if some had their way, many innocents would die of starvation in what those who are accumulating hundreds of thousands of pounds would argue is in their best interests. If they ever ran Dorset, we would all need a permit to enter that county and the county itself would look like it was being managed by Mugabe. Had Simon approached the ANC for a permit, he would have been refused because of a warped inclination for revenge. Victimised? Create a victim! No, I don't go along with that all. Bill can be dismissed. It is though about time that whites on the Guardian, which claimed wrongly in 1980 that Israel was supplying nuclear weapons to South Africa, accepted that black people can have a greater authority than themselves.Last edited by Guest; 05-07-12, 21:13.Comment
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Excellent post lat. The Grauniad words were in the Last Night's TV by Stuart Jeffries(?). If I recall correctly some of the lyrics to Al were inspired by Pierre Boulez who attended a party at Chez Simon and insisted on calling PS and the then Mrs. Simon Al and Betty!Comment
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I agree with what Lat and others have posted here - Simon acted with good intentions and his working with the black South African musicians on an equal basis was itself a direct repudiation of apartheid, even if he did come across in the programme as something of an innocent. I was working in West Africa when the album came out and it was very popular there with the locals I was working with.
A topical story apropos Graceland:
A girl comes out of a Barclays branch and looks down at her shoes with disgust. "What's the matter - did you step in something?" asks her friend. "No," replies the girl, "I've just got Diamond on the soles of my shoes."
Coat time....Comment
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Thank you for those two interesting posts. Paul Simon has always been principled. Bragg on the other hand made a mint out of turning socialism into a brand. In 2010, he wrote to the Labour Chancellor to advise him that he would not be paying tax unless the bonus to Hester was significantly reduced. While many of us opposed the size of that bonus, we believe even more in democracy.
There is no information readily available on what happened next. Either it was bluster and he paid it or he didn't and got away with it. He has regularly tweeted this year about tax avoiders being worse than benefit scroungers. He is on balance right about that one but neither are good news. As for not paying tax in so-called principle, we see again that kind of 'I'm alright, Jack' approach which damages the very people it claims to protect. It is no different from the armchair rigidity witnessed vis a vis the boycott.
I was impressed by the way that all involved in the documentary were man enough to admit to failings. They were very open and more than able to see another's point of view. Bragg's tagline on his Twitter page - 'It's nice to be important but more important to be nice' - could be read easily as 'I'm important so don't bug me'. He is of the view that 'trolls' are to be ignored. Apparently though we are still to hear him as a self-appointed national mouthpiece. Given past allegiances, it is quite nauseating all round.
It seems to me that he operates in the same way as media managers who become unavailable as soon as others have questions. There are very few people about whom I have changed my mind so radically while only needing, myself, to stand still. I understand that he would consider attending the Graceland concert because it was "a good album". That really tells us all we need to know.Last edited by Guest; 06-07-12, 12:08.Comment
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..........Some reviews. All pretty good:
I didn't attend and don't regret it, not that I wouldn't have loved to have seen the show. But the last time I attended any music event was the concert of Stevie Wonder in Hyde Park in 2010. It felt corporate and it lacked soul. That shocked me.
To be specific, there were some fairly bruising types there, emanating from a bank or a building site. They were already drunkenly aggressive to ordinary members of the audience midway through the afternoon. Not the best of vibes. Well-off families did the well-off families thing. Many younger types were engaging with the music much as they would engage with any celebrity. In fact, there seemed to be the influence of celebrity in a big part of their own personalities. Goodness knows why.
Frankly, being where the buildings of Central London are in the distance at night is now rather an alien place. There is no longer the sense of being able to feel harmony with the immediate environment, let alone any of the music being performed or indeed the wider world. And then there is that godforsaken journey back by public transport. So, no. I'm not sorry I missed it. Had it been Glastonbury or particularly Womad, had it even been in an indoors venue, then yes or very probably I would.
Not that I think it can really be brought back. One look at all of the private marquees and every hanger on inside them is enough to freeze the blood. What I think it would have needed - what any event of that kind now needs - is sunshine in all senses of that word. Otherwise it is the cd that is closest to the spirit. In truth, after frequent gig going for nearly 30 years, a big part of me feels that the Stevie Wonder gig in Hyde Park in 2010 might have been my last live music event of all time.Last edited by Guest; 17-07-12, 03:52.Comment
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I hope someone gave the remastered version to young Sam Lee for Xmas..Comment
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On BBC 4 tonight, 'Classic Albums' about 'Graceland' where they have someone, in this case Simon, twiddling about with faders and the rest. It's almost 20 years-old this programme, but I wasn't aware of seeing it before. I loved it. Interesting that Simon says that the song Graceland is his favourite of all his songs (well back then anyway) - he would only change one line in it. For me in this riveting programme - well I was riveted - the most fascinating thing was Simon talking about the lyrics in 'Graceland' and 'You can call me Al'. I think I'll listen to this wonderful record with a new set of ears in future.
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An excellent programme John. I remember buying the LP as soon as it came out....
We saw Ladysmith Black Mambazo in Cardiff a few years back, a great show.
Not exactly world music but a great 2 hr film on Sky Arts (red button) about the Rolling Stones S American tour that culminated in their Cuba concert - topical today. The negotiations for the concert are the thread running through the prog - it had to be postponed because of Obama's visit, and just when they'd got it sorted "the Pope decided to pick a fight with the Rolling Stones" because the concert was to be on Good Friday...he lost.Comment
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Thanks for this JC, I had not spotted it .... on again at 20:00 tomorrow so I can tape it .... if I remember he admitted to spending an absolute age on the lyrics for Graceland and You Can Call Me Al' has classical connections ......Originally posted by johncorrigan View PostComment
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I remember the first time this was shown. Judging from the dates on the forum posts it was around the time that the 25th Anniversary Edition of Graceland was released. This has both a CD and a DVD, which I think, incorporates some of the footage from the BBC documentary.Originally posted by antongould View Post
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This one's older than the excellent doc that appeared on the 'Imagine' strand (fortunately sans Yentob), OG, at the time of the 25th anniversary edition. Last night's show seems to have been aired on the Beeb in 1997. I was aware of some of the info; I knew that Simon had gone into the studio without songs written but with a range of recordings from his visit to South Africa. Also this programme only mentions a little about the political fall out. It really concentrates on what happened in the studio. And as anton said he really struggled with the lyrics as he wrestled to discover the music that he had brought back with him. Well worth a watch, I thought.Originally posted by Old Grumpy View PostComment
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got to( somewhat unbelievably) add this one to DSOTM, Star Wars, and almost all of Pauline Oliveros'sOriginally posted by antongould View Post
music.
Where does all that time go ? I mean, its not as if I(we) don't spend a lot of time listening to ( or at least hearing) music.......I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
I am not a number, I am a free man.Comment
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Were you living in a cave in ’86??!!Originally posted by teamsaint View Postgot to( somewhat unbelievably) add this one to DSOTM, Star Wars, and almost all of Pauline Oliveros's music.
Where does all that time go ? I mean, its not as if I(we) don't spend a lot of time listening to ( or at least hearing) music.......
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