Southern American music

I am currently reading DU and half-ass watching/listening to the Larry King rebroadcast.

First, I didn't know our Texan LeeAnn Rimes was born in Jackson, MS. Second, she can still really sing (without digital enhancement). Third, has anyone else been incredibly moved by some of the songs they have heard over the past few days, such as this one she is singing and 'Louisiana 1927' and 'When the Saints Go Marching In' etc., etc., etc. and had this striking, sudden re-realization that THIS is America? Not the soundbytes and 5-star California resorts and SUVs?

This music is distinctly American; it's real.

The whole time I was in Europe, even when I was hating this administration the most and feeling ashamed to be an American, the one thing that I always felt was our undeniably great contribution to the world is our music. Jazz. Rock and roll. Soul. That's America.

And guess what? Guess who gave it to the world?

Bluegrass music (though it has strong ties to English/Irish/Scottish music) is also distinctly American. It's the music of all the people...particularly of the poor.

There was video of a Mississippi man pouring water out of his guitar to play it, on one of the feeds yesterday, that really underscores the importance of music to the entire south.

And gospel. And blues. The list goes on.

But the music that came from African roots seems to have developed further from its origins to become more distinctly American.

IMHO, Scottish folk music bears a lot more resemblance to American bluegrass than, say, today's R&B does to West African music. Although I also wouldn't qualify contemporary R&B as great music. Corporate crap mostly, like Britney Spears. Another product of Louisiana. But not of the Louisiana musical heritage.

But, yes - BLUEGRASS! Bluegrass rocks. Or twangs, perhaps.

I paraphrase Steve Earle... our constitution and southern African-American music are our major contributions to the world.

"If we contribute anything lasting at all," Earle says, "it will be jazz, rock and roll, and our Constitution."

Jazz, rock and roll, blues are all tributaries of the Mississippi and New Orleans is there at the mouth.

But I think I might pick the Declaration over the Constitution, as the former is far more radical.

Thanks to Howard Zinn, I recently realized that by the time the Constitution was written, the elite had changed it from 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happines' to 'life, liberty, and property'.

But, also, we are not the first or only republic or democratic nation. Though in recent history (like since the Enlightenment) our existence has been very important as a symbol of and spark for democracy everywhere.

Welcome to DU!! :toast: