4Real Forums: Song of America

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Across Time and Place
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Topic: Song of America

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donnalynn
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Posted: Oct 18 2007 at 10:08am \| IP Logged

Anyone have any opinions about this?

In theory it sounds interesting - there are samples of the songs but the ones we were familiar with - "Yankee Doodle" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" were met with gasps of "They're killing it!"

But the other songs with which I am not familiar, I found interesting.

I am annoyed that in the interview the reason given for using new artists is "to interest young people" - I can't stand that as a society we seem to have lost faith that our children can appreciate something hasn't been redone or updated.

One of my own most memorable history lessons (high school)on America in the 60's and 70's was when we were asked to find a political song and explain the events surrounding the song - it really made history come alive - but I think it was because the original artists captured the intensity of the time - I am not sure a current artist could really live into an era in which they had no real relationship.

I also think the original types of instruments that were used especially in older music would be important.

What do all think?

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Barbara C.
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Posted: Oct 20 2007 at 9:11am \| IP Logged

I pulled up the collection on Barnes & Noble's website so I could look over the entire collection and listen to various samples. I found it pretty interesting. Parts of it reminded me of a tribute album, but I thought it was particularly interesting the songs truly did cover a variety of eras in a American history up to the present. I was pleasantly surprised to see songs written by Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, and Neil Young (even if he is Canadian).

And they may be saying that it has been updated to interest young people, but I think it is as much to interest parents. Marketers know that many parents are more likely to buy a video or cd for their kids if the item is less likely to wear on the parents after repeated viewings and listenings. For instance, my husband would have no interest in most of those songs, especially if they were sung by a children's chorus as they often are. He doesn't like to hear children sing (except our own). He might consider checking out this collection since it uses "new" pop/rock artists. He'd probably check it out because there is a Bob Dylan cover. Plus there are millions of versions of the more traditional songs with more traditional instrumentation and arrangements; I'm sure they wanted something that would stand out in the market.

I didn't find the versions of "Yankee Doodle" or "Battlehymn" too out there. I've heard some songs like that turned into ska and the like, so those arrangements seemed pretty normal. In fact, "Battlehymn" wasn't all that different from Elvis' version, IMO.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, though. I do find it interesting.

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Barbara
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donnalynn
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Posted: Oct 22 2007 at 7:56am \| IP Logged

Barbara - you do have a point - my dh would be much more likely to listen to this than something that is more historically accurate.

Would be nice to have some of both!

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donnalynn

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