Protest of the day

  Let’s call it a protest from 1960 of the line of right-wing racist politicians that stretches from Arkansas then to France today, in the aftermath of the better-than-expected showing of the Front National in the first round of voting and Nicolas Sarkozy’s own right-wing campaign, which probably served to increase Marine Le Pen’s final [...]

Levon Helm RIP

  Here is Levon Helm’s obituary. You can hear his subtle drumming and indomitable vocals on such classics as The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Hang Up My Rock n Roll Shoes, All La Glory, Strawberry Wine, Ain’t Got No Home, Didn’t it Rain, Back To Memphis, Ain’t [...]

Titanic blues

  lyrics A friend just sent around a list of Titanic-related songs, “if your taste in music is different from the score from the titanic Titanic film of some years ago. . .with no disrespect intended” to Celine Dion. He notes that “there was a large outpouring of music almost from the moment of the [...]

Rethinking economics and culture

A reader sent me a link to one of his new songs, a contribution to the project of creating a culture appropriate to imagining and creating a better world, including a better economy. Lonnie Ray Atkinson’s songs also include ”Economic Hitmen” (with TSOL and Zep Hurme) and “How We Gonna Make Wall Street Pay” (with Anitek).

“Jack of All Trades”

  Here are the lyrics: I’ll mow your lawn, clean the leaves out your drain I’ll mend your roof to keep out the rain I’ll take the work that God provides I’m a Jack of all trades, honey, we’ll be alright I’ll hammer the nails, and I’ll set the stone I’ll harvest your crops when [...]

“Death to My Hometown”

  And the lyrics: Oh, no cannonballs did fly, no rifles cut us down No bombs fell from the sky, no blood soaked the ground No powder flash blinded the eye, no deathly thunder sound But just as sure as the hand of God, they brought death to my hometown They brought death to my [...]

We Take Care of Our Own

  I suppose we need to take care of our own—because they sure won’t. The other tracks from Springsteen’s new album, Wrecking Ball, are being rolled out one by one this week and next.

Which side are you on?

  A new version of the classic (in addition to this one and this one).

Etta James RIP

  Etta James’s obituary And from Henry Giroux: Not everyone recognized her talent and President Obama made the dreadful and revealing mistake of having Beyoncé sing Etta’s signature song, “At Last,” at his inauguration. Etta later admitted she was hurt by the gesture. For me, this was not only an insult but also a sad [...]

Johnny Otis RIP

  Johnny Otis, composer, musician, artist, writer, social critic, and organic farmer, “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues,” died on Tuesday. Here, here, and here are links to his obituary. In 1968, he published Listen to the Lambs, a memoir, social history, and racial manifesto provoked by the 1965 Watts riots. The opening paragraph captures just [...]