Annie Lennox’s “Bitter” from her album “Bare” there is this great rift in the middle which recalls (for me) George Clinton and Funkadelic of the 1970.
This is one my favorite tracks, the lyrics seem personal, which is consistent with Ms. Lennox and the music’s energy seems to make it OK to eaves drop on something so private, it makes it easier to swallow.
” Bitter pill to swallow
Slidin’ down my throat
Bitter pill to swallow
How it makes me choke
How the hell am I gonna find
Happiness and peace of mind
When I’m losin’ all the time?
Yes… bitter”From Bare, by Annie Lennox
Gil Scott-Heron, an African-American truth troubadour passed away last year. It was all in the words. There were no gimmicks, no staging, nothing to take you away from the truth of his message. His poems and music are timeless. Revisit.
The Irony is that some of the insight contained within Scott-Heron poems did not spare him a difficult existence (my judgement, of course) and may have consumed him. Substitute the addiction and it is the same story.
“See that black boy over there, runnin’ scared his ol’ man’s in a bottle. He done quit his 9 to 5 to drink full time so now he’s livin’ in the bottle. See that Black boy over there, runnin’ scared his ol’ man got a problem Pawned off damn near everything, his ol’ woman’s weddin’ ring for a bottle. And don’t you think it’s a crime when time after time, people in the bottle.” Gil Scott-Heron, “The Bottle”
“Go away, I can’t stand to see your face Cuz you seen the weakest link And now you know I’m only human Instead of all the things I’d like to be” Gilbert Scott-Heron April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011
It seems our hero’s always disappoint and our excuses for them just doesn’t cut it. Their suffering, family, race etc. are not necessarily the cause of their genius or their personal desperation. They are often unable to see themselves, the good and the bad that they produce in their lives. They see themselves as being exempt. Gil Scott-Heron was able to see himself and didn’t like what he saw, but he didn’t see enough to care to change his ways. He just could not inspire himself.
The understanding of folk music and its lyrics can provide an unabashed depiction of the life of a people. This music is never about being popular or a hit, rather, it is always an expression of endurance.
Reviewing the songs that can be found in the book Slave Songs of the United States you begin to see how amazing the journey has been for Barack Obama and others.
Simultaneously, as we began to understand the characters and their dynamics on the HBO series “Luck” we learned that the series had been cancelled, because of the concern for horses that might be used in the production of the series. Ironically the series was beginning to paint a bleak portrait of the “sport” of horse racing, the people associated with the sport as well as the care for these magnificent animals once they are no longer able to race, leaving some people to wonder if the heat that HBO felt (and reason for cancellation) was about the death of 3 horses or the exposure given to the seedy side of this sport.Unfortunately races horses die from racing and not from being filmed. So the cancellation of show is about politics and not horses, so ending the series did do much for the horse.
Growing up in an urban area, I’ve had a fascination with horses and believed that they were always treated like “Scout” or “Trigger” the always appreciated sidekicks of the Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers, respectfully and that the people surrounding the “sport” of horse racing were the type of people you see at the Kentucky Derby, woman with flowered hats, and owners in white linen suites. “Luck” put to rest this fantasy.
Like everything that turns out to be worth watching, the series “Luck” was about more then just the horses and any one single thing. A well acted, written and directed portrait of people whose background story we seldom hear about. It was the bazaar and conflicting human story that was just beginning to unfold and there just didn’t seem to be enough time (episodes) to tell the whole story. Like the “Sopranos” and “Deadwood” it would have been the second season (I believed) that would make the series a hit.
I am sorry to see the series end. Maybe the next time they will use puppets.
When I first viewed White Ribbon I overlooked one element that the film highlights, that was “privilege”. Privilege came with blue eyes, fair skin and Christianity in the 1930 and 40(s). It’s now 2012 and hope for ending the discrimination of people who comprise of over 80% world population has remained just a hope.
Recently with the murder of a young black man in Florida, the people responsible for the murder, its investigation and prosecution, all claimed that they were not racist or bigots and therefore the killing of a young man on his way home could be justifiably ignored. There was no deeper consideration and that is the sad and sickening part. The young dead man was left with the burden of proof.
We all have become so comfortable with telling ourselves lies, that we let the obvious escape us.
White Ribbon” is wonderful and disturbing movie. “Like the truth.
Some movies are best filmed in Black and White. The lack of color gives the story a factual realness and solemness that suggest violence. No need to see the gore. White Ribbon is an elegant movie wonderfully directed and shot that got great reviews when it was first released.
Most of the reviews that I’ve read speak to how the director Michael Haneke may have painted a picture of the origins of Nazi Germany and World War Two. I on the other hand thought about what is it that is being preached today, disguised in bright glorious colors and apocalyptic rhetoric, that might be leading this world toward another horrific adventure.
Annie Lennox’s “Bitter” from her album “Bare” there is this great rift in the middle which recalls (for me) George Clinton and Funkadelic of the 1970.
you begin to see how amazing the journey has been for Barack Obama and others.
