Soma
Resources => Music [Public] => Topic started by: Nichi on January 06, 2013, 02:48:33 AM
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Watched a 2 hour-long documentary on Paul Simon and the making of "Graceland" on the "Great Performances" series of PBS. I remember at the time that album came out, there was much criticism bandied about in the US, that he had "exploited" the South Africans involved in the album. But it seems that the issue was far greater than that, and learning about it was well worth watching the show - I recommend it.
The "exploitation" criticism was the stuff being discussed in the US at the time. I'm not saying we were ignorant of the other piece - just that for some reason, it was not the matter being discussed so much. Or perhaps it was over my head, and I didn't pick up on it. Paul Simon was accused of violating the U.N. cultural boycott of South Africa, in the efforts to end apartheid.
Though he was advised to seek the approval of the African National Congress before commencing with his recording sessions over there, he deliberately skipped that step, and maintained from start to finish that art should not serve politics. Considering the violence that was ongoing in South Africa at the time, this was a bold stance, and really, it's a wonder he got out of there safely.
When Nelson Mandela got out of prison, he invited the Graceland Tour to perform in South Africa. The nearest the Tour had gotten to South Africa before this occasion was Zimbabwe. At Mandela's invitation, many fences were mended. But it was apparent that the fervor of the disapproval against P.S. has only recently finally died down.
Paul Simon holds his stance to this day that artists collaborate with each other, transcendent to race and creed. And, while he didn't say it per se, that music is the universal language.
Hope you get to see this program.
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PS - I was also unaware before watching the program that Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba were part of the Graceland Tour. As exiled (and extremely outspoken) cultural ambassadors for South Africa, the two of them were very strong support for Paul - though it wasn't apparent at all if he saw it that way He seemed to "stumble into" all this greatness.
It seems that spirit was on his side. Or perhaps God favors the purely naive.
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There was much footage of interviews with Joseph Shabalala and other members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They run in a high vibration!!
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Can't find any cuts from this program on youtube (yet?).
But here are a few clips from the Zimbabwe concert in 1987.
http://www.youtube.com/v/O6Hnfu76QIs?hl=en_US
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Miriam Makeba (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgwtbeVFjb4)
Unomathema (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgwtbeVFjb4)
Through the "Related Videos" on these links are many clips from this concert.
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2 more tidbits from last night's program...
~Parts of interviews with Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel (who took an overtly political stance in his work), and David Byrne were shown. They each, in their own ways, stated that "all pop music" is African music. No surprises there, but I had never seen McCartney openly acknowledge that the Beatles essentially "recycled Motown music" back to the US.
~Just my own pondering ...Was Paul Simon idiotic and naive in his artistic pursuit, or was he bold beyond belief?
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http://www.youtube.com/v/-I_T3XvzPaM
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http://www.youtube.com/v/85rr5SqrCZI
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Paul Simon holds his stance to this day that artists collaborate with each other, transcendent to race and creed. And, while he didn't say it per se, that music is the universal language.
There we are, catching up Paul Simon. And he is one of the Winner for the Polar Prize, so the Sweden nation has recognized his outstanding efforts regarding Music and Culture.
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Tonight Little Steven is playing with the Boss (Bruce) at Friends Arena in Stockholm for about 50 000 people. They make 4 Concerts in a row. All sold out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz2hzhUXLTA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz2hzhUXLTA)
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http://www.youtube.com/v/-I_T3XvzPaM
Right on with that "Afro Barbershop" with Paul Simon.
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This isn't the PBS documentary, but another on the recording of Graceland:
Graceland - Part 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koDKOX_H_gk)
Graceland - Part 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMXvhjR6W5U)
Graceland - Part 3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT_8OXDlaeY)
Graceland - Part 4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGz10IWKQKI)
Graceland - Part 5 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt9PEvRT1H4)
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Nice!
I shall take some time to watch it, I think Paul Simon is a great musician.