What is the greatest opening song on an album?
My long-standing answer was “Second Hand News” by Fleetwood Mac from their masterpiece Rumours.
Even though it’s not my favorite song on the albums, “Second Hand News” perfectly introduces the musical landscape as well as complex emotional themes of the whole album. It’s the perfect opening chapter. However, now my answer has changed. I got to give this one to “Rocks Off” the opening song of the Rolling Stones’ album, Exile on Main St..
Exile On Main St. is a double album the Stones released in 1972. Avoding paying taxes they owed the British government the Stones rented a villa in France near Nice and recording in legendary sessions what many consider the Stones’ masterpiece.
“Rocks Off” from a technical standpoint is a mess. The balance of instruments shifts unintentionally, Jagger’s singing is makes the lyrics even harder to understand than usual. However like my favorite Stone’s song “Tumblin’ Dice” (which I discussed on this earlier post) which is also from this album, what you need to do is focus on the single transcendent factor that makes this song rock SO hard: the feel.
It's in Keith Richard’s drunk sounding laid back guitar playing that seems to barely fit in the beat working against Bill Wyman’s steady bass line and Charlie Watts driving beat. It’s the nasty sounding horns that add colors of harmony in loud brash colors and of course it’s Jagger’s bluesy delivery of a man who still can’t find satisfaction.
At the end of the chorus (1:15, 3:07) my favorite parts of this song, we hear the most beautiful mess. Overdubs of back-up singers and Jagger make an incomprehensible mix covered up by brassy interjections, random sounding piano fills and the rest of the band playing with abandons seeming to be completely unaware of whatever else is going on in the band. For a moment it feels like that the band will actually fall apart during this but they don't. It’s awesome, it’s musically astounding and one of the finest examples of what is Rock ‘n’ Roll.
The rest of Exile On Main St. follows a similar vein, diving deep into blues adding rock attitude and sensibility. What the Stones’ remind us that this idea of the Rock musician’s lifestyle including drugs and debauchery is about freedom and what makes this meaningful is not the fact that the Stones’ lived this lifestyle. Rather, it’s the fact that the created music that captured this feeling of youth, depravity but most of all freedom that makes it so feel good to be alive.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Buffy, My "Original Sin"
[Buffy-B, Me-K]
B-DUCKY?
K-Sigh, not right now Buffy I need to finish this work.
B-FISHY??
K-Really, I know you just want to play, but I got this meeting I need to prepare for.
B-PIGGY?!?
K-Give me a second girly, hang on . . .
B-UM . . . SQUIRREL . . . ?
As Buffy looked at me with her squirrel toy hanging out of her mouth, I noticed all of the toys she had brought over to me. I still had a lot of work to do to prepare for a meeting the next morning but as I looked into her eyes, I put my papers down, sat down on the floor, exhaled and let the stress I carried slide off.
Reaching out to grab the toy she presented to me I noticed that the iTunes program my computer had randomly selected “Original Sin” by Elton John. As I listened to the soft and loving contours of this song I decided that the work could wait and it was time to go for a walk with my puppy.
Buffy really is my “original sin.”
“Original Sin” is from Elton John’s comeback album “Songs From The West Coast” which featured the song “I Want Love” which I discussed in this earlier post. Continuing the theme of using other people to star in his videos, Elton John chose Mandy Moore as a Cinderella-like character in love with Elton John who is shunned by her mother and father (played by Elton John).
Bernie Taupin, John’s lyricist takes the idea of the “original sin” away from its Biblical roots and describes an irresistible relationship. Romantic clichés, “I can’t eat, can’t sleep,” describe the feeling of longing for love but what got to me when I looked at Buffy was the chorus, “Tell me how, you know now, the ways and means of getting in underneath my skin.”
Buffy is not an aggressive dog. She has a quiet way about her and an earnestness that is heartwarming. I think this is why she’s gotten so many people who aren’t “dog people” to like her. It helps that she’s a cute-looking puppy but what makes her special is how much she simply wants to be with you.
Often when I’m trying to do work, she comes up to me with toys wanting to play. Sometimes I get a little annoyed but when I look at her, really look at her I’m reminded that all she wants to do in interact with me, to make a connection.
I know, Buffy is a dog and maybe she’s just being single-minded, selfish and just wants attention and wants to play. But maybe she’s just loves me just as much as I love her and she’s simply trying to take care of me the only way she knows how to.
I don’t know how Buffy got under my skin, but like most things in life, it's the mystery, the magic that makes a relationship, a look in an eye and a moment so special.
K-Sigh, not right now Buffy I need to finish this work.
B-FISHY??
K-Really, I know you just want to play, but I got this meeting I need to prepare for.
B-PIGGY?!?
K-Give me a second girly, hang on . . .
B-UM . . . SQUIRREL . . . ?
As Buffy looked at me with her squirrel toy hanging out of her mouth, I noticed all of the toys she had brought over to me. I still had a lot of work to do to prepare for a meeting the next morning but as I looked into her eyes, I put my papers down, sat down on the floor, exhaled and let the stress I carried slide off.
Reaching out to grab the toy she presented to me I noticed that the iTunes program my computer had randomly selected “Original Sin” by Elton John. As I listened to the soft and loving contours of this song I decided that the work could wait and it was time to go for a walk with my puppy.
Buffy really is my “original sin.”
“Original Sin” is from Elton John’s comeback album “Songs From The West Coast” which featured the song “I Want Love” which I discussed in this earlier post. Continuing the theme of using other people to star in his videos, Elton John chose Mandy Moore as a Cinderella-like character in love with Elton John who is shunned by her mother and father (played by Elton John).
Bernie Taupin, John’s lyricist takes the idea of the “original sin” away from its Biblical roots and describes an irresistible relationship. Romantic clichés, “I can’t eat, can’t sleep,” describe the feeling of longing for love but what got to me when I looked at Buffy was the chorus, “Tell me how, you know now, the ways and means of getting in underneath my skin.”
Buffy is not an aggressive dog. She has a quiet way about her and an earnestness that is heartwarming. I think this is why she’s gotten so many people who aren’t “dog people” to like her. It helps that she’s a cute-looking puppy but what makes her special is how much she simply wants to be with you.
I know, Buffy is a dog and maybe she’s just being single-minded, selfish and just wants attention and wants to play. But maybe she’s just loves me just as much as I love her and she’s simply trying to take care of me the only way she knows how to.
I don’t know how Buffy got under my skin, but like most things in life, it's the mystery, the magic that makes a relationship, a look in an eye and a moment so special.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
How To Suceed At A Job Interview! (even if you don't get the job)
Everyone has advice about job interviews. Even your grandmother who has never held a job in her entire life seems to have something to offer on this subject. The best in when people tell you contradictory advice: “make sure that you prepare ahead of time for any question they answer but you want to make sure that when you answer their questions you sound spontaneous.”
Really?
REALLY?!?
How spontaneous can you sound when you are reciting a memorized paragraph. Unless “acting” is part of the job description, being able to pretend that you are answering in a way that in not genuine doesn’t really seem like a great plan (I’m not saying don’t prepare questions, just don’t memorize speeches).
What do I got for you after going through about ten job interviews in my life? Well, some advice, of course, where did you think this was going?
However this is different kind of job interview advice, this will help you get through the interview and accomplish the most important thing about the experience. NO it’s not getting the job, but feeling after the interview that you have no regrets. Isn’t the point of a job interview to get a job? No, the point of a job interview is to find the right job.
If you go into a job interview and answer all of the questions trying to please the interviewer pretending to be something you are not and you get the job, than you’ll probably have a miserable time at the job. The interviewer will expect you to be the person during that job interview that wasn’t really you and you might get fired because of this.
Instead, be yourself. Go into a job interview and lay it all out there: This is who I am, this is the way I feel about life, this is my experience and this is why I want this job. Once you get yourself out there, they can take it or leave it. If they see who you really are, and don’t want you, it’s better they find out now and not two months into a job, If they like what they see, awesome. What they see is you and being yourself on daily basis is no problem.
Remember, you are awesome.
Be proud of what you got, even if that means you have limited experience in a field. Never apologize for who you are and what you’ve done with your life. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know,” especially if you really don’t know what the interviewer is talking about. Take a second to think before you speak; there’s nothing wrong with a thoughtful silence. And most of all, don’t answer with the question you think they want to hear, respond to the question with what you truly believe.
If you do these things, you will walk about from a job interview feeling proud and will have no regrets regardless of the outcome. It’s a hard thing looking for a job, but have faith. Things have a way of working out themselves out for the best as long as you true to yourself.
Really?
REALLY?!?
How spontaneous can you sound when you are reciting a memorized paragraph. Unless “acting” is part of the job description, being able to pretend that you are answering in a way that in not genuine doesn’t really seem like a great plan (I’m not saying don’t prepare questions, just don’t memorize speeches).
What do I got for you after going through about ten job interviews in my life? Well, some advice, of course, where did you think this was going?
However this is different kind of job interview advice, this will help you get through the interview and accomplish the most important thing about the experience. NO it’s not getting the job, but feeling after the interview that you have no regrets. Isn’t the point of a job interview to get a job? No, the point of a job interview is to find the right job.
If you go into a job interview and answer all of the questions trying to please the interviewer pretending to be something you are not and you get the job, than you’ll probably have a miserable time at the job. The interviewer will expect you to be the person during that job interview that wasn’t really you and you might get fired because of this.
Instead, be yourself. Go into a job interview and lay it all out there: This is who I am, this is the way I feel about life, this is my experience and this is why I want this job. Once you get yourself out there, they can take it or leave it. If they see who you really are, and don’t want you, it’s better they find out now and not two months into a job, If they like what they see, awesome. What they see is you and being yourself on daily basis is no problem.
Remember, you are awesome.
Be proud of what you got, even if that means you have limited experience in a field. Never apologize for who you are and what you’ve done with your life. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know,” especially if you really don’t know what the interviewer is talking about. Take a second to think before you speak; there’s nothing wrong with a thoughtful silence. And most of all, don’t answer with the question you think they want to hear, respond to the question with what you truly believe.
If you do these things, you will walk about from a job interview feeling proud and will have no regrets regardless of the outcome. It’s a hard thing looking for a job, but have faith. Things have a way of working out themselves out for the best as long as you true to yourself.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Bui-Doi (from Miss Saigon)
[A conversation between myself (T) and one of my fourth grade student (J)]
J: Mr. Tang, are you married?
T: Yes I am
J: What’s your wife’s name?
T: Diana
J: Is she Asian?
T: No, actually she’s Caucasian, white like you
J: hmm . . . so when you have kids are they going to be Asian or normal?
T: [sigh], no actually. . . well, our kids aren't going to be either, they will be a mix of Asian and Caucasian
J: ohhhhhhh . . .
Most people are mixed race. My wife for example is 1/4 British, 1/4 Polish and 1/2 um. . . white. Keep in mind that once upon a time Polish, Jewish as well as Italians were perceived to be a different race and not "white."
As American culture has developed being "white" has taken on many groups that used to be minorities with the influx of other minorities including, Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans. The only difference between a mixed-race person who is Polish, English and Jewish and someone who is African-American and Asian is that the latter person is visually more apparent to be a mixed race because of the fact that there simply are fewer of that "mixture" in our country.
Diana and I are going to have children that are mixed and I'm glad that we live in a society that in general speaks highly of mixed race kids. Many people both Asian and Caucasian have commented that kids who are half-Asian and half-white are very attractive (i.e. Keanu Reeves, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Jennifer Tilly). In a way, our children represent the American dream of racial harmony however that’s not necessarily the case for all children of mixed race.
There were many things left behind by the American military when we left at the end of the Vietnam war, devastated cities, unexploded bombs that littered the countryside and mixed raced children created by members of the American military. In no way am I implying that the American are completely at fault for this. Vietnamese woman had a role in this in many different ways but regardless of who’s to blame for these children the bottom line is that they exist as “Bui-Doi,” the dust of life, outcasts from society.
In the middle of the brilliant musical “Mrs. Saigon” a remake of the opera, Madam Butterfly, a Vietnam Veteran makes an impassionate speech to raise money to aid these children.
Starting with an a capella men’s choir coming out of the darkness, this songs unfolds into a solo voice. There is passion and desperation built into the songs which while framed as a persuasive speech making us reconsider the role that we played in these children’s lives.
I don’t think anyone would disagree with the tragedy and the sentiment in this song. These really are “all our children too.” While I’m glad that my children will not be viewed as “half-breeds” I can’t but think that we all have the potential to view children in our country as “Bui-Doi” to a degree.
No matter how much my children try to be “American” they will always be perceived byr the mainstream as a minority. Some of this may be positive stereotypes like that they are good at math, or more disturbing negative stereotypes like that they are North Koreans who want to blow up America. I’m not saying we are there right now but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture people getting there.
“Bui-Doi” is reminder not only a plea crisis that we must take responsibility for but it’s also a reminder of the danger of projecting our fears, insecurities and anger upon children punishing them for our own failures.
They are all our children too.
J: Mr. Tang, are you married?
T: Yes I am
J: What’s your wife’s name?
T: Diana
J: Is she Asian?
T: No, actually she’s Caucasian, white like you
J: hmm . . . so when you have kids are they going to be Asian or normal?
T: [sigh], no actually. . . well, our kids aren't going to be either, they will be a mix of Asian and Caucasian
J: ohhhhhhh . . .
Most people are mixed race. My wife for example is 1/4 British, 1/4 Polish and 1/2 um. . . white. Keep in mind that once upon a time Polish, Jewish as well as Italians were perceived to be a different race and not "white."
As American culture has developed being "white" has taken on many groups that used to be minorities with the influx of other minorities including, Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans. The only difference between a mixed-race person who is Polish, English and Jewish and someone who is African-American and Asian is that the latter person is visually more apparent to be a mixed race because of the fact that there simply are fewer of that "mixture" in our country.
Diana and I are going to have children that are mixed and I'm glad that we live in a society that in general speaks highly of mixed race kids. Many people both Asian and Caucasian have commented that kids who are half-Asian and half-white are very attractive (i.e. Keanu Reeves, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Jennifer Tilly). In a way, our children represent the American dream of racial harmony however that’s not necessarily the case for all children of mixed race.
There were many things left behind by the American military when we left at the end of the Vietnam war, devastated cities, unexploded bombs that littered the countryside and mixed raced children created by members of the American military. In no way am I implying that the American are completely at fault for this. Vietnamese woman had a role in this in many different ways but regardless of who’s to blame for these children the bottom line is that they exist as “Bui-Doi,” the dust of life, outcasts from society.
In the middle of the brilliant musical “Mrs. Saigon” a remake of the opera, Madam Butterfly, a Vietnam Veteran makes an impassionate speech to raise money to aid these children.
Starting with an a capella men’s choir coming out of the darkness, this songs unfolds into a solo voice. There is passion and desperation built into the songs which while framed as a persuasive speech making us reconsider the role that we played in these children’s lives.
I don’t think anyone would disagree with the tragedy and the sentiment in this song. These really are “all our children too.” While I’m glad that my children will not be viewed as “half-breeds” I can’t but think that we all have the potential to view children in our country as “Bui-Doi” to a degree.
No matter how much my children try to be “American” they will always be perceived byr the mainstream as a minority. Some of this may be positive stereotypes like that they are good at math, or more disturbing negative stereotypes like that they are North Koreans who want to blow up America. I’m not saying we are there right now but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture people getting there.
“Bui-Doi” is reminder not only a plea crisis that we must take responsibility for but it’s also a reminder of the danger of projecting our fears, insecurities and anger upon children punishing them for our own failures.
They are all our children too.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Experiecing The Joy Of Painting WIth Bob Ross
To know Bob Ross is to know peace, happiness and serenity.
I’m talking about the guy with the ‘fro who hosted a painting instruction show on PBS called “The Joy Of Painting.” Yes, you heard me right, I’m dedicating a post to a THAT guy.
When my brother, Ed was in high school he started watching. I was in middle school at the time and got annoyed when I found that Ed was watching a painting show. After arguing with him and eventually giving up, I begrudgingly sat down to watch this guy paint. In retrospect, simply not watching television was of course an option but at the time I felt like I had to make a stand.
After about 10 minutes I was converted.
The late Bob Ross spoke with soft and warm affect of Mr. Rogers and painted with the same spirit and abandon Julia Child cooked with. As he magically created his world on canvas he softly encouraged the audience making us believe that we could create the painting as well. Like Child, he embraced mistakes as part of the creative process inspiring the audience to explore art without trepidation.
Everything he did was done with such peaceful joy, even when he did the fan-favorite, “beat the devil” washing his brush.
I love how he chuckles EVERY time he beats his brush. I seriously laugh every time he laughs in this clip.
Everything in Bob Ross' world was happy. He paints happy tree, happy houses and even happy little glaciers.
Ross explained when asked about optimistic demeanor: “That's why I paint. It's because I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it. Shoot, if you want bad stuff, watch the news."
Through his show Ross created a world where happy little things including all of us coexisted. His show creating happiness and peace and inspires us all to paint the kind of world we want in my life.
Using Ross’ words that he closed each show wish: "I'd like to wish you happy painting, and God bless, my friend."
I’m talking about the guy with the ‘fro who hosted a painting instruction show on PBS called “The Joy Of Painting.” Yes, you heard me right, I’m dedicating a post to a THAT guy.
When my brother, Ed was in high school he started watching. I was in middle school at the time and got annoyed when I found that Ed was watching a painting show. After arguing with him and eventually giving up, I begrudgingly sat down to watch this guy paint. In retrospect, simply not watching television was of course an option but at the time I felt like I had to make a stand.
After about 10 minutes I was converted.
The late Bob Ross spoke with soft and warm affect of Mr. Rogers and painted with the same spirit and abandon Julia Child cooked with. As he magically created his world on canvas he softly encouraged the audience making us believe that we could create the painting as well. Like Child, he embraced mistakes as part of the creative process inspiring the audience to explore art without trepidation.
Everything he did was done with such peaceful joy, even when he did the fan-favorite, “beat the devil” washing his brush.
I love how he chuckles EVERY time he beats his brush. I seriously laugh every time he laughs in this clip.
Everything in Bob Ross' world was happy. He paints happy tree, happy houses and even happy little glaciers.
Ross explained when asked about optimistic demeanor: “That's why I paint. It's because I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it. Shoot, if you want bad stuff, watch the news."
Through his show Ross created a world where happy little things including all of us coexisted. His show creating happiness and peace and inspires us all to paint the kind of world we want in my life.
Using Ross’ words that he closed each show wish: "I'd like to wish you happy painting, and God bless, my friend."
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
She by Elvis Costello (from Notting Hill)
She is song of contradictions, embracing the complexities, the mystery and haunting power of a woman. Reminiscent of Billy Joel’s “She’s Always A Woman” (which I discussed in this earlier post), Costello performs a portrait that is beautiful not despite of its contradictions but because of them.
Originally recorded in 1974 by Charles Aznavour, “She” was a major hit in the United Kingdom reaching the top of the charts
Costello recorded the song for the 1999 film Notting Hill starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Modernizing the orchestral background creating a richer and warmer texture, Costello sing brings his punk rock-new wave edge to the song expressing the lyrics with a complex sense of frustration and wonder that perfectly reflects the film.
Notting Hill on the surface seems like a typical romantic comedy. Charmingly befuddle William Thacker (Hugh Grant), a small time book seller meets a huge Hollywood actor, Anna Scott played by Julia Roberts and they fall in love. Like a reverse Cinderella story the Princess makes the commoners dream come true. However this film is so much more than that.
Director Robert Mitchell creates a deliberately passes this film, has Julia Roberts have shockingly little dialogues and steers clear of the conventions that have made the Romantic Comedy the bane of the male movie going population.
William while at odds by the Hollywood lifestyle isn’t impressed by it. He has a sense of security and predictability in his life that Anna doesn’t. Anna is insecure and venerable who is simply “just a girl standing in front of a boy asking her to love her” as Anna tells William in the end.
The trailers does a horrible job expressing the mood of the film. Rather check out this amazing scene which shows the passage of time simply through the changing weather as William walks down the street.
“She” bookends Notting Hill serving as both the introduction of the Anna Scott and closes the film celebrating the love the William and Anna find (yes, I spoiled the ending for you, two characters in a romantic comedy fall in love in the end)
The amazing part is how the song transforms through the course of the film as we take the journey with characters and resonates with us long after the film is over. This is a rare example of when two art forms complement each other, trying them together in our memory creating an experience that makes us willing to a watch a Romantic Comedy.
Originally recorded in 1974 by Charles Aznavour, “She” was a major hit in the United Kingdom reaching the top of the charts
Costello recorded the song for the 1999 film Notting Hill starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Modernizing the orchestral background creating a richer and warmer texture, Costello sing brings his punk rock-new wave edge to the song expressing the lyrics with a complex sense of frustration and wonder that perfectly reflects the film.
Notting Hill on the surface seems like a typical romantic comedy. Charmingly befuddle William Thacker (Hugh Grant), a small time book seller meets a huge Hollywood actor, Anna Scott played by Julia Roberts and they fall in love. Like a reverse Cinderella story the Princess makes the commoners dream come true. However this film is so much more than that.
Director Robert Mitchell creates a deliberately passes this film, has Julia Roberts have shockingly little dialogues and steers clear of the conventions that have made the Romantic Comedy the bane of the male movie going population.
William while at odds by the Hollywood lifestyle isn’t impressed by it. He has a sense of security and predictability in his life that Anna doesn’t. Anna is insecure and venerable who is simply “just a girl standing in front of a boy asking her to love her” as Anna tells William in the end.
The trailers does a horrible job expressing the mood of the film. Rather check out this amazing scene which shows the passage of time simply through the changing weather as William walks down the street.
“She” bookends Notting Hill serving as both the introduction of the Anna Scott and closes the film celebrating the love the William and Anna find (yes, I spoiled the ending for you, two characters in a romantic comedy fall in love in the end)
The amazing part is how the song transforms through the course of the film as we take the journey with characters and resonates with us long after the film is over. This is a rare example of when two art forms complement each other, trying them together in our memory creating an experience that makes us willing to a watch a Romantic Comedy.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Nuestro Himno (Spanish language version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”)
Does the thought of the English language not doing being the majority spoken language make you uncomfortable? Does the idea of Caucasians in America being a minority seem wrong? Do you think America be an inferior country if the majority of citizens were Muslim and Buddhist as opposed to Christian?
There is something weird in the air. Controversy about allowing Muslim to build their house of worship, illegal immigration suspicions in Arizona, Senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle trying to play with the Latino vote. Let those thoughts simmer and we’ll come back to that. We’ll take a look at music as a way to examines some of our feelings about America.
During the 2006 United States immigration reform protest a group of Spanish speaking musicians to show support for Hispanic immigration. This song featured a modernized beat and a departure from the traditional musical setting of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
There is a Code, approved by Congress that defines the way that our national anthem should always be performed. This code outlines the appropriate times to perform this song, the key and the specific tempo in which to perform this song.
According to the code very few people every perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” the “correct” way. If you want to make a stand that this Spanish language version is not appropriate, that’s fine just make sure you include other variations as being inappropriate including:
Jimi Hendrix-incorrect instrumentation
Whitney Houston-incorrect meter
And my personal favorites: Igor Stravinsky-incorrect harmony (which led to a police seizure of the music)
I revel in this multiple interpretations of the national anthem. Like the beautiful multiplicity of American culture, these version reflect the people and experiences that constantly redefine what it means to be American.
I believe that the way that we react to art is a reflection of the way that we react to other things in our lives and the way we feel about “The Star-Spangled Banner” reflects the way we feel about America.
Before you start arguing for an English speaking, Christian and Caucasian ideal of America please consider the beauty in the variations in our beautiful National Anthem. If you think that people should perform this song one way and that Americans all should be Caucasian and Christian that's fine. You have the right to create that community, but you don't need everyone in America to be that way for you to have that experience.
America is not defined by a language, a religion or a race, it's defined by the idea that we have the freedom to chose the way we want to live whether it's in a all prodminantly African-American community or a going to a church filed with interracial couples. It's in embracing this freedom that we find our greatest strengths, our truest spirit and our love for America.
There is something weird in the air. Controversy about allowing Muslim to build their house of worship, illegal immigration suspicions in Arizona, Senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle trying to play with the Latino vote. Let those thoughts simmer and we’ll come back to that. We’ll take a look at music as a way to examines some of our feelings about America.
During the 2006 United States immigration reform protest a group of Spanish speaking musicians to show support for Hispanic immigration. This song featured a modernized beat and a departure from the traditional musical setting of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
There is a Code, approved by Congress that defines the way that our national anthem should always be performed. This code outlines the appropriate times to perform this song, the key and the specific tempo in which to perform this song.
According to the code very few people every perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” the “correct” way. If you want to make a stand that this Spanish language version is not appropriate, that’s fine just make sure you include other variations as being inappropriate including:
Jimi Hendrix-incorrect instrumentation
Whitney Houston-incorrect meter
And my personal favorites: Igor Stravinsky-incorrect harmony (which led to a police seizure of the music)
I revel in this multiple interpretations of the national anthem. Like the beautiful multiplicity of American culture, these version reflect the people and experiences that constantly redefine what it means to be American.
I believe that the way that we react to art is a reflection of the way that we react to other things in our lives and the way we feel about “The Star-Spangled Banner” reflects the way we feel about America.
Before you start arguing for an English speaking, Christian and Caucasian ideal of America please consider the beauty in the variations in our beautiful National Anthem. If you think that people should perform this song one way and that Americans all should be Caucasian and Christian that's fine. You have the right to create that community, but you don't need everyone in America to be that way for you to have that experience.
America is not defined by a language, a religion or a race, it's defined by the idea that we have the freedom to chose the way we want to live whether it's in a all prodminantly African-American community or a going to a church filed with interracial couples. It's in embracing this freedom that we find our greatest strengths, our truest spirit and our love for America.
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