Will John Rich Lead The Revolution?
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May 072009
He seems like a political conservative, having supported Fred Thompson in the 2008 Republican presidential primary and then John McCain in the general election. He even wrote a campaign song for McCain, called “Raisin’ McCain”. Now, however, country singer and songwriter John Rich has taken a quite un-Republican populist approach, and written and released a song expressing outrage at the economic plight of the workers and farmers of this land, while the big bankers continue to receive astronomical handouts from Washington.
It is called “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” and features in the video a country music legend who is known more for his left wing views, Kris Kristofferson, and acclaimed actor Mickey Rourke.
The story of the video, which is implied by the song’s lyrics, is about a 32-year veteran of a factory, Kristofferson, who is being let go by the bosses. It has certainly struck a chord, because as of May 7, it was number two on the list of the top 10 most streamed videos on CMT.com.
Here, embedded from CMT.com, is that video of “Shuttin’ Detroit Down”:
(Hopefully CMT won’t take it down anytime soon.) You can also see below a live version of the song, performed in Madison, Wisconsin, where John begins by talking a little about the conditions in which he grew up in Amarillo, Texas.
I don’t think John Rich – whose work I’ve admired for many years although I don’t share his politics, at least possibly up until now – is exactly ready to raise the red flag. If he ever is, however, here is another song he just might consider covering, from a film that also could use a good remake:
Nov 102008
It is billed as “country music’s biggest night”, and maybe it is these days. The 2008 CMA Awards take place this Wednesday, Nov. 12, this year, and will be televised on ABC.
But does an awards show which will be dominated by the likes of the soft rock-country of Kenny Chesney get us dive bar lovers whooping and hollering?
Country music has settled down in recent years, like Hank Jr.’s once-rowdy friends. Some of that, no doubt, seems to be the result of many in the country music establishment hitching their fortunes very closely to a political current and administration in Washington which has been soundly rejected by a majority of the American people. Nowadays, the prevailing tone in mainstream country music is subdued, almost the product of demoralization. Even Toby Keith is at present peddling a lot of ballads, and Gretchen Wilson, once the darling of redneck-loving men and women, has had to postpone the release of her new album until next year because its first rock-flavored single did not do well with her audience.
I’ll probably still watch it, or at least part of it, if for no other reasons than to see a couple of good performances and to learn how the powers-that-be want an officially sanctioned show to appear. There are still some contemporary country artists I can sometimes take, such as Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Trace Adkins, and Taylor Swift.
But don’t expect to see or hear much if anything at all of Merle, Willie, or the rest of the outlaws. For that, you can head down to the NYCBP 10th anniversary party this Friday, Nov. 14, at Doc Holliday’s.
The Goddess Lisa Marie
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Aug 182008
When the mostly male, rough around the edges, beer-drinking clientele of Yogi’s assemble at what should have been a national landmark, they (we) like to believe, for a few hours anyway, that they (we) could leave with the bartender for somewhere other than the men’s room there to report the latest flood or filth infesting that most essential parlor.
We also know that this is about as likely as President Obama leaving Michelle and shacking up with Gretchen Wilson (although they both hail from the Great State of Illinois).
Such is the suspension of disbelief at the barrooms.
One lusty lady, who hails from their neighboring Great State of Iowa, helps them (us) fulfill these fantasies even better than her Iowa Hawkeyes wrestle. She has been serving up her unique and humorous blend of sass, skin, and suds for some six years now at our Temple of Sass, Skin, and Suds, Yogi’s, and also at its inbred sister bar, The Patriot.
She is, of course, the one and only Lisa Marie. Now residing in the Great State of Brooklyn, she works Friday days at Yogi’s, Monday days at The Patriot, and Thursday days at the Brooklyn Ale House. She is a bartender for whom, if these shifts are inconvenient for you, you ought to change your schedule, or at least find a way to sneak out for a few hours of memorable fun.
With Yogi’s as we know it set to close sometime soon and its future uncertain, make sure to drink with Lisa Marie there on Friday afternoons while you still can. She is a bona fide superstar and is sure to land on her feet (she also has her own band) if the worst happens and the real estate infidels pillage our shrine for good. Experiencing this goddess at this altar of Willie, Waylon, and Merle is a must for grizzled New Yorkers, and beer- and country music-loving visitors alike.
Politicians Gone Country
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Aug 132008
Whatever else we may say about politicians, and it usually is deservedly not good, they still know how to reach the voters whom they are trying to rope in through hiring popular music acts.
This year’s Democratic and Republican national conventions will both feature numerous singers, with both including country music legends for their receptions.
The Democrats, whose party runs August 25-28 in Denver, have Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker, along with the Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, N.E.R.D., Jennifer Lopez, and Melissa Etheridge. (One wonders if the rappers will be using their omnipresent “N” word.)
The Republicans, although a party generally with a richer base than the Democrats, have a musical lineup heavier on the blue collar-oriented country music than their political rivals. Their show begins September 1 in St. Paul, MN, and includes country stars Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, John Rich, and the Charlie Daniels Band, along with non-country acts the Beach Boys and Sammy Hagar.
So far, there is no word where Merle Haggard will be. He, surprisingly, seemed sympathetic to Hillary Clinton during the primaries, and even wrote a song called “Let’s Put a Woman in Charge” about her. That feeling may not have been mutual, so the Hag may be on tour, although his official web site has not been updated to include the convention season. This site does promise that the Hag Editorial is “comming soon,” so we hope its content is sharper than its spelling.
Hippies Sue Redneck
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Jul 312008
The Black Crowes, a rock group classified by some as grunge and some as Southern rock, but not on the jukeboxes of any bars which get my business, are claiming that “Work Hard, Play Harder”, performed by redneck woman Gretchen Wilson, is a rip-off of their 1991 song “Jealous Again”.
The Gretchen Wilson tune in question recently was released to promote the TNT drama “Saving Grace”, and has been used in TV commercials for that show.
According to numerous reports, the Black Crowes have had their own rednecks in suits, i.e., lawyers, serve copyright infringement notices on everyone in sight, including our darling redneck woman, TNT, record company Sony BMG, and publishing company J Money Music.
Videos of both songs are below, so you can make the call yourself. The opening few bars certainly do sound quite similar, but not the entire song. Whether or not that constitutes copyright infringement will be decided by people with whom you and I probably don’t want to have a beer.
According to another report, the songwriting was credited to Wilson, John Rich, and Vicky McGehee. Who wrote the lyrics, which do not seem to be an issue here, and who wrote the music, is not specified, but it seems likely that Gretchen had a hand in the lyrics, while Rich and McGehee had a larger role in the music as well as the lyrics.
Here are the two videos (and you can guess which one is better regardless of the copyright issue):
“Work Hard, Play Harder”, Gretchen Wilson
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASq-UZnErB0]
“Jealous Again”, Black Crowes
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjq5Rq4sSZc]
