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Turntable 01/26/2015

1/26/2015

O Brother where art thou?

Plot summary[edit]
In 1937, Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), Pete Hogwallop (John Turturro), and Delmar O'Donnell (Tim Blake Nelson) escape from a chain gang atParchman Farm and set out to retrieve the $1,200,000 in treasure that Everett claims to have stolen from an armored car and buried before his incarceration. They have four days to find it before the valley in which it is hidden will be flooded to create Arkabutla Lake as part of a new hydroelectric project. Early in their escape, while still chained together, they try to jump onto a moving train, but are dragged off when Pete trips. They then encounter a blind man (Lee Weaver) traveling on a handcar. They hitch a ride, and he tells their futures. They "seek a great fortune" and they will "find a fortune, though it will not be the one they seek." They will also see many wonders on their journey, including a "cow on the roof of a cotton house." (thx WIKI)

They come across a radio station run by a blind man (Stephen Root) and record the song "Man of Constant Sorrow," calling themselves the Soggy Bottom Boys. Unknown to them, the song becomes famous "as far away as Mobile." The trio parts ways with Tommy after their car is discovered by police, and they continue on their own. Among their many encounters, the most notable are a famous bank robberGeorge "Baby Face" Nelson (Michael Badalucco), and a run-in with three sirens who seduce and drug them. When Everett and Delmar awake, they find that Pete has vanished and only his clothes remain with a leopard frog inside. Delmar believes the sirens turned Pete into a toad and carries the toad in a box. Later, one-eyed Bible salesman Daniel "Big Dan" Teague (John Goodman) mugs them and kills the frog. (Thx WIKI)

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a 2000 adventure comedy film written, produced, edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, with John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and Charles Durning in supporting roles. Set in 1937 rural Mississippi [5] during the Great Depression, the film's story is a modern satire loosely based on Homer’s epic poem, Odyssey. The title of the film is a reference to the 1941 film Sullivan's Travels, in which the protagonist (a director) wants to film a fictional book about the Great Depression called O Brother, Where Art Thou?[6] (thx WIKI)

Looking for entertainment for one of these long winter nights??? Look No further!

O Brother Where art thou!

Till Next Week

Harv

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Turntable 01/19/2015

1/19/2015

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Ever hear of Garth Brooks?? Yeah, I know, "another country singer". You're probably asking "What the hell has gotten into Harv??" Has he now decided to narrowly focus on Country??? . . . Well the simple answer is NO! Although I must say I have a current tendency to lean toward Country. More so in the last 15 years or so.

Have you been listening to POP today??? Most of this stuff I wouldn't play in public. The lyrics in many of these songs are really too nasty to repeat!

Country, on the other hand, has remained (mostly) clean American stuff. Jake Owens is an example. Jake's songs, "Beachin" "Cruisen" "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" are songs I would have loved in High School and would happily play to the grandkids. I've played all these selections on the turntable.

So there you are . . . I suppose I am bit country.

Now to the point! Some of these country guys have pretty big heads! You know that when you can see their 10 gallon hats are about 2 gallons short!

Many of these singers are good, and I mean, "Really Good". But is there no one who might duplicate their performance??? Nothing against Garth Brooks but I will use him as an example. Here's Garth singing one of his most popular songs.

If you look carefully you might see where his hat slides around a bit during this performance . . . so he may not have a "big head". But I'm sure he thinks his voice is totally unique. Nobody could sing it like Garth! Right?

Well I'm here to tell you that ANY DUMMY could sing that song! Here let me prove it! Witness "Walter T Airdale"! Let's give it up for Walt!!!

So what is true for famous singers is also true for us. Next time you think you are totally unique . . . check your hat size! Oh! . . and make sure your head is not made of wood! . . . Just sayin!

Till Next Week
Harv

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Turntable 01/12/2015

1/12/2015

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Follow up on Michael Kiwanuka
In the profile of Michael Kiwanuka there were references to his style and how he was influenced by some very famous artists. It does not explain the lyrics or origin . Here I wish to speculate.
Although Michael was born in England in 1987, his parents had earlier lived in Uganda and suffered through Idi Amin's brutal dictatorship.
Excerpt from last weeks Turntable: "Born in Muswell Hill, London in 1987, to Ugandan parents that had fled Idi Amin's regime in the 70's"
I'm sure most of you are familiar with Idi Amin and the atrocities he committed. What is lost in the written communication is the absolute Terror perpetrated on those who suffered through it.
By MICHAEL T. KAUFMANPublished: August 17, 2003Idi Amin, whose eight-year reign of terror in Uganda encompassed widespread killing, torture and dispossession of multitudes and left the country pauperized, died yesterday in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, where he had lived for years in exile. He was believed to have been about 78 years old, though some reports said he was as old as 80.
The devastation he had wreaked lay fully exposed in the scarred ruins of Uganda. The number of people he caused to be killed has been tabulated by exiles and international human rights groups as close to 300,000 out of a total population of 12 million.
Those murdered were mostly anonymous people: farmers, students, clerks and shopkeepers who were shot or forced to bludgeon one another to death by members of death squads, including the chillingly named Public Safety Unit and the State Research Bureau. Along with the military police, these forces numbering 18,000 men were recruited largely from Mr. Amin's home region. They often chose their victims because they wanted their money, houses or women, or because the tribal groups the victims belonged to were marked for humiliation."
Can you imagine the outright TERROR in the lives of those people . . . thinking that any moment they might be the focus of this insane, brutal, dictators violence? Can you imagine how one might try to stay alive or maintain sanity the midst of this lunacy? How long would it take to regain your life after escaping this insanity? What might a mother, who has had this experience, tell her child?
I speculate that Michael's Mother held him close. I speculate that his mother harbored deep insecurities for herself and her loved ones. These feelings and thoughts were transferred to Michael over the years of his youth as his Mother recounted her experience in Uganda. Though today, happy to be away from the terror, the events of the past linger and haunt her. She speaks to him in retrospect. Remembering life in Uganda focused on avoiding confrontation with the "Public Safety Unit" or the "State Research Bureau"
Michael expresses his mothers laments in song. "No more running through the alleys in the nighttime" . "No more running through the wars in the days"
Lyrics:
Mama she said
Got to keep him close to you
Got to keep him close to you
You might be alright
Mama she said
Got to keep him close to you
Got to keep him close to you
You might be alright
No more running through the alleys in the nighttime
No more running through the wars in the days
No more holding on to something just to leave you
Who goes running through those alleys anyway?
Mama she said
Keep it behind you
Keep it behind you
You might be alright
Mama she said
Keep it behind you
Keep it behind you
You might be alright
No more running through the alleys in the nighttime
No more running through the wars in the days
No more holding on to something just to leave you
Who goes running through those alleys anyway?
Mama she said
Hold your head up high
Keep your head up high
You might be alright
Mama she said
Hold your head up high
Keep your head up high
You might be alright
No more running through the alleys in the nighttime
No more running through the wars in the days
No more holding on to something just to leave you
Who goes running through those alleys anyway?

Michael has a good start. His sound is unique. The message is sad but intriguing. One thing for sure, if Michael is to succeed, he must broaden his source of compositional inspiration.
Thankfully, there is no more running for Michael or his parents.

Till Next Week

Harv

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Turntable 01/05/2015

1/5/2015

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Happy New Year!

New Year, New Horizons and importantly New Talent! Introducing "Michael Kiwanuka"

This is a guy you probably have never heard of! Michael is a British musician. Rather popular in Great Britain but rather unheard of in the US.

Ref: John O'Brien Rovi

"With his acoustic blues-folk sound and timeless soulful voice, singer/songwriter Michael Samuel Kiwanuka has been favorably compared with the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Terry Callier and Van Morrison. Born in Muswell Hill, London in 1987, to Ugandan parents that had fled Idi Amin's regime in the 70's, he initially developed a love of Rock Music performing in various covers, bands and temporarily studying jazz at the royal academy of music and pop music at Westminster University until an outtake of Otis Redding's song Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay inspired him to take a more stripped-back direction. After performing as a session musician for former Bill Withers drummer Gladson and Tinie Tempah producer Labrinth, he began performing across the capital's live circuit, where he was discovered by Bee's Paul Butler, who invited him to record material at his Isle of Wight Studio."

Kiwanuka has acknowledged influences from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers,[4] Otis Redding,[4]Jack Johnson, Pops Staples, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Eric Bibb, Tommy Sims, Richie Havens,[7] and has played with James Gadson, who drummed for Bill Withers.[8]

I first heard Michael's music while watching a Netflix movie. Pretty lousy movie but then along came the song "No More Running"- saving the day! We watched the credits carefully until we were able to identify the song and who sang it! I wrote his name down and started the research!

As far as I know Michael is still drifting in Europe. I could find no mention of current tours or impending performances in the US.

So, as he drifts, I believe he will eventually become popular in the US. How significant or prominent is not only a factor of his talent, but of those on his flanks.

Be advised, it's a law of nature, cream always rises to the top.

Till Next Week

Harv

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