[lbo-talk] anarchism, was Cuba

[John Thornton]

Carrol Cox wrote:
> John Thornton wrote:
>   
>> Chris Doss wrote:
>>     
>>> A lot of Billy Bragg is like that. I prefer his love
>>> songs.
>>>       
>> Billy Bragg is great at making mindless sloganeering songs come to life.
>> He is very under appreciated in my opinion.
>>     
>
> The core of any criticism is first to recognize genre, and the decorum
> of the relevant genre. Songs such as Solidarity are not for listening
> but for singing collectively in the midst of action. Leadbelly's
> "Bourgeois Blues," on the other hand, is not for group singing but for
> listening. Contrast This Land is Your Land and Pretty Boy Floyd -- my
> guess is that the latter would be absurd for group singing at a rally,
> but it is a great song. A song for group singing at a rally, a picket,
> etc. _must_ be grounded in mindless sloganeering or it's worthless. A
> song for listening must either revivify or avoid such content.
>
> And sometimes a song can provide a slogan that organizes immense vistas
> of human history in a few words:
>
> Ain't no country extra fine,
> If you ain't a mile from the end o' the line.
> Ain't no country extra fine,
> If you ain't on to the power line.
>
> Carrol

Sitting there listening to BB on a CD is certainly not how most of the 
music is intended to be experienced.
It is, as Carrol notes, a collective experience even if everyone doesn't 
join in. In a BB concert participation is more frequently encouraged 
than any other concert I can remember attending as of late.
Certainly when he does "A World Turned Upside Down" no one sings along 
but when he does "All You Fascists are Bound to Lose" participation, 
direct experience, is part of what makes it a good song. Listened to 
"All You Fascists.." on a CD in you home it's boring and repetitive.
Thanks to Carrol for clarifying part of what I meant. This is why 
several BB's are needed. The show is an experience, not a recording session.

John Thornton