The Revolution...
So, a few days ago I got an email from iTunes suggesting that it was Black Music Month. Being somewhat suspicious of a marketing gimic, I took a look around the internet and low and behold, according to Class Brain...
"As of May 31st, 2002, President Bush has proclaimed the month of June to be Black Music Month. Recognition of this critical part of American heritage will be highlighted all month long with various events urging citizens to revel in the many forms of music from gospel to hip-hop."
In honour then of Black Music Month, but in definite dis-respect to the CDC's charter calling for 'recent-ish' music, I give you Gil Scott-Heron. As I mentioned in a previous post, its always nice when you discover an artist who has a back catalog, and GSH definitley does. But more on the music soon...
There are a couple of reasons, beyond it being Black Music Month, that I feel like GSH has something to offer to the CDC, and thereby warrents breaking its recent-ish charter. First, with the current (re-)emergence of spoken word poetry in today's music, it seems appropriat to give a nod to one of the creators of the genre, or at least one of its original masters. Second, with the recent historic selection of a black man as the Democratic nominee for president of the Grand 'Ole USA, it seemed fitting to shed some light on one of the people who faught for change through music. (Of course there are many...)
Anyway, this is the CDC: Its the music, stupid...
There are three GSH tracks that I'd like to highlight. (The last one is the one I'd nominate for the CDC...)
Whitey on the Moon: You can find the lyrics here. The version of the song I have is a live recording from the album Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron. Definitley a health dose of protest in the music - a preview of some of what was to come from the emerging hip-hop scene, and very becoming the late-60's protest movement.
Ain't No New Thing: This track is GSH clost to his rawest, and is some of his best work. Again, my recording is from the album Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron which features a very solid drum and instrumental arrangement. And this was the late 60's - way ahead of its time...
(And the nominee...) The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: This is the classic GSH track. He first released it in 1970, but it truly does have a timeless groove that wouldn't be out of place in a funk music collection from any era. And even the message is ahead of its time, given the emergence of the internet, its ability to connect people to effect their circumstances and of course its ability to make Barack Obama the first Black nominee for POTUS... though I highly doubt GSH had any idea what the internet was or what it would become...
"As of May 31st, 2002, President Bush has proclaimed the month of June to be Black Music Month. Recognition of this critical part of American heritage will be highlighted all month long with various events urging citizens to revel in the many forms of music from gospel to hip-hop."
In honour then of Black Music Month, but in definite dis-respect to the CDC's charter calling for 'recent-ish' music, I give you Gil Scott-Heron. As I mentioned in a previous post, its always nice when you discover an artist who has a back catalog, and GSH definitley does. But more on the music soon...
There are a couple of reasons, beyond it being Black Music Month, that I feel like GSH has something to offer to the CDC, and thereby warrents breaking its recent-ish charter. First, with the current (re-)emergence of spoken word poetry in today's music, it seems appropriat to give a nod to one of the creators of the genre, or at least one of its original masters. Second, with the recent historic selection of a black man as the Democratic nominee for president of the Grand 'Ole USA, it seemed fitting to shed some light on one of the people who faught for change through music. (Of course there are many...)
Anyway, this is the CDC: Its the music, stupid...
There are three GSH tracks that I'd like to highlight. (The last one is the one I'd nominate for the CDC...)
Whitey on the Moon: You can find the lyrics here. The version of the song I have is a live recording from the album Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron. Definitley a health dose of protest in the music - a preview of some of what was to come from the emerging hip-hop scene, and very becoming the late-60's protest movement.
Ain't No New Thing: This track is GSH clost to his rawest, and is some of his best work. Again, my recording is from the album Evolution (And Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron which features a very solid drum and instrumental arrangement. And this was the late 60's - way ahead of its time...
(And the nominee...) The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: This is the classic GSH track. He first released it in 1970, but it truly does have a timeless groove that wouldn't be out of place in a funk music collection from any era. And even the message is ahead of its time, given the emergence of the internet, its ability to connect people to effect their circumstances and of course its ability to make Barack Obama the first Black nominee for POTUS... though I highly doubt GSH had any idea what the internet was or what it would become...
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