Comments on: The Top 20 Singles of 2007 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:31:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Charles http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37968 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:45:00 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37968 I agree with y'all about the *Gourds'* intent, but I'm not sure that sincerity translates to the audience. I was in college when the Gourds' track became such a huge phenomenon, and I saw a whole lot of white, city folks who used The Gourds' "Gin And Juice" to have a laugh at hip-hop's, and especially, country's expense. Maybe beyond the irony factor, I guess I just have limited patience for tracks that are all about making people laugh because of the juxtaposition. I love funny songs, but it seems kind of easy - and played out - to get laughs by putting together two songs that seem so different, musically and culturally. That being said, I've enjoyed The Gourds' "Gin And Juice" quite a bit. I'm just a little bit skeptical of I agree with y’all about the *Gourds’* intent, but I’m not sure that sincerity translates to the audience. I was in college when the Gourds’ track became such a huge phenomenon, and I saw a whole lot of white, city folks who used The Gourds’ “Gin And Juice” to have a laugh at hip-hop’s, and especially, country’s expense.

Maybe beyond the irony factor, I guess I just have limited patience for tracks that are all about making people laugh because of the juxtaposition. I love funny songs, but it seems kind of easy - and played out - to get laughs by putting together two songs that seem so different, musically and culturally.

That being said, I’ve enjoyed The Gourds’ “Gin And Juice” quite a bit. I’m just a little bit skeptical of

]]> by: Danny Alexander http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37935 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:46:52 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37935 Great mix, Charles! Great mix, Charles!

]]> by: Barry M. http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37915 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:13:57 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37915 Marty and company performed "Stain'" at the Ryman, during their CMA midnight show, a few months back, to much straightahead applause and pleasure. It was great. The only laughter I saw was the "listen to what these guys are doing!" happy recognition sort. (And they did it, Marty noted, as a salute to Nashville resident Barry Gibb after Johnny Cash's old house, where Marty had spent much time and Gibb was meaning to--had just burnt down. I always felt that any sort of laughter around the Gourds' "Gin & juice" was of a similar "can you believe they thought to do that and that it CAN get countrified like that" sort--not any kind of mockery of the original by the band or the audience. The Gourds were proud, as I understand it, to have its originator hear their version. Barry Marty and company performed “Stain’” at the Ryman, during their CMA midnight show, a few months back, to much straightahead applause and pleasure. It was great. The only laughter I saw was the “listen to what these guys are doing!” happy recognition sort. (And they did it, Marty noted, as a salute to Nashville resident Barry Gibb after Johnny Cash’s old house, where Marty had spent much time and Gibb was meaning to–had just burnt down.

I always felt that any sort of laughter around the Gourds’ “Gin & juice” was of a similar “can you believe they thought to do that and that it CAN get countrified like that” sort–not any kind of mockery of the original by the band or the audience. The Gourds were proud, as I understand it, to have its originator hear their version.

Barry

]]> by: Roy http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37874 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:15:52 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37874 I was about to say I always enjoyed the Gourds' cover of Snoop. Obviously, there's novelty there, but I never found it condescending. But then I never thought of it as bluegrass either. And if we're going to bring audience reaction into the equation, I dare say the audience in West Salem, Illinois, where I heard the Superlatives do "Stayin Alive," responded with a great deal of laughter, even ironic laughter, at the camp-factor of a bluegrass disco cover. But that didn't make it any less fun or meaningful for anyone. I was about to say I always enjoyed the Gourds’ cover of Snoop. Obviously, there’s novelty there, but I never found it condescending. But then I never thought of it as bluegrass either. And if we’re going to bring audience reaction into the equation, I dare say the audience in West Salem, Illinois, where I heard the Superlatives do “Stayin Alive,” responded with a great deal of laughter, even ironic laughter, at the camp-factor of a bluegrass disco cover. But that didn’t make it any less fun or meaningful for anyone.

]]> by: David Cantwell http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37871 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:53:06 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37871 And back to the Stuart cover....There's no doubt an audience that finds any combo of pop and bluegrass to be kitchy. But there is another audience where putting pop into a bluegrass (or actually a bluegrass-ish) setting instantly confers it with a newfound seriousness--an earnestness that has been obscured by the whole Bee Gees backlash and disco sucks bullshit. Just as the Gourds cover highlights a melodiousness in the original I bet many had missed, the Superlatives cover highlights lyrics that no doubt many had missed or dismissed for years...but that are still appropos, maybe more so han ever: "The New York times effect a man...feel the city shakin' and everybody's breakin', stayin' alive. " It's an anthem for the Age of Terror! And back to the Stuart cover….There’s no doubt an audience that finds any combo of pop and bluegrass to be kitchy. But there is another audience where putting pop into a bluegrass (or actually a bluegrass-ish) setting instantly confers it with a newfound seriousness–an earnestness that has been obscured by the whole Bee Gees backlash and disco sucks bullshit. Just as the Gourds cover highlights a melodiousness in the original I bet many had missed, the Superlatives cover highlights lyrics that no doubt many had missed or dismissed for years…but that are still appropos, maybe more so han ever:

“The New York times effect a man…feel the city shakin’ and everybody’s breakin’, stayin’ alive. ”

It’s an anthem for the Age of Terror!

]]> by: David Cantwell http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37870 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:32:06 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37870 Do you really think the Gourds Gin and Juice is condescending or ironic, Charles? I've never quite made up my mind about it. It's clearly playful but I don't know if it is ironically so. But I don't know that it's not either. What I do know is that it is a musical powerhouse, rhythmically and, quite nice, melodically. Far and away the best thing the Gourds have ever done. Do you really think the Gourds Gin and Juice is condescending or ironic, Charles? I’ve never quite made up my mind about it. It’s clearly playful but I don’t know if it is ironically so. But I don’t know that it’s not either. What I do know is that it is a musical powerhouse, rhythmically and, quite nice, melodically. Far and away the best thing the Gourds have ever done.

]]> by: Charles http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37849 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:59:30 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37849 Right you are, Roy, but I'm afraid that - for many audience members - the juxtaposition of bluegrass arrangements and pop/R&B/hip-hop songs immediately signals something snarky. As someone who's suffered through hearing The Gourds' version of "Gin And Juice" approximately 100,000 times, usually accompanied by some sort of condescension towards BOTH bluegrass and hip-hop, perhaps I'm a little over-sensitive. Glad you like the list, Roy, and glad you do too, Robert. Stop by anytime! Right you are, Roy, but I’m afraid that - for many audience members - the juxtaposition of bluegrass arrangements and pop/R&B/hip-hop songs immediately signals something snarky. As someone who’s suffered through hearing The Gourds’ version of “Gin And Juice” approximately 100,000 times, usually accompanied by some sort of condescension towards BOTH bluegrass and hip-hop, perhaps I’m a little over-sensitive.

Glad you like the list, Roy, and glad you do too, Robert. Stop by anytime!

]]> by: Roy http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37841 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:15:43 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37841 What a great list, Charles. Thanks for drawing attention to that Marty Stuart cover of the Bee Gees, which I heard the Fab Superlatives do live this past summer. If Jon Weisberger were here, however, he might take issue with the idea that bluegrassers need divine intervention to cover pop songs--and not sound ironic. :) What a great list, Charles. Thanks for drawing attention to that Marty Stuart cover of the Bee Gees, which I heard the Fab Superlatives do live this past summer.

If Jon Weisberger were here, however, he might take issue with the idea that bluegrassers need divine intervention to cover pop songs–and not sound ironic. :)

]]> by: David Cantwell http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37814 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:14:23 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37814 Robert: Click on the Cantkill link at the top right of the homepage for info on what goes on here and who's doing it. Thanks for dropping in. --David Robert: Click on the Cantkill link at the top right of the homepage for info on what goes on here and who’s doing it. Thanks for dropping in. –David

]]> by: Robert http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37811 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:50:57 +0000 http://livinginstereo.com/?p=399#comment-37811 I like this list by Charles Hughes. Actually, I am new to this blog. It would be nice to have a little bio on the main contributers. For instance, I see articles by Mr. Hughes from time to time in other web sites, but have no idea who he is. The writing and opinions are more valuable if the experience and background of the writer is known. I like this list by Charles Hughes. Actually, I am new to this blog. It would be nice to have a little bio on the main contributers. For instance, I see articles by Mr. Hughes from time to time in other web sites, but have no idea who he is. The writing and opinions are more valuable if the experience and background of the writer is known.

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