Björk said free Tibet and the china ....

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: topical tom
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:46 AM

Simply put, we need more Bjorks, Bonos,and Pete Seegers et al;people of lofty moral convictions who are not afraid to express them.By lofty moral principles I mean beliefs in social justice.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:07 AM

'Internationally, it is up to governments and the United Nations to make representations'

Because we all have eternal faith in our respective Governments to make the right decisions and do what is best for humanity....

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 08:54 AM

Why not an independent Kurdistan? Why must we accept the national boundaries drawn up at the end of World War II as eternal?

But the fact remains that gestures like this do draw attention to injustices (which are much more the issue than some notional "independence"), and I applaud her for that. Even though the personal risk was minimal- they wouldn't arrest a high- profile international star. I suppose it's on a level with Black Power salutes at the Olympics.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: skarpi
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 08:44 AM

Well I´ll be.........   

Bjork started out as a child singer ,and after that she
started in some " punk " bands and she has done a jazz album
with Icelandic folk songs , but the again she started her own many years ago , now I know Bjork a little and she´ll say what she think ,
she is just like that and if I dont like it well then its my problem .

She a wonderful person , she is and she always be her self
and nothing else , she never try to copy anything .


Independence and independence , its sometimes strange to hear
the most powerful nation in the world talk about independence.
What will US do when Taiwan will declear independence ?
Why did Us suport Kosovo ?
why not Tipet , becouse china is involved ?
why not the Bask in Spain ?
why not cypers / Greek/turkey ?

but thats another political matter , and its tricky to solve .

so be friends all
All the best Skarpi Iceland

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: matt milton
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 08:30 AM

Good for Bjork. It may not be much, but you can be damn sure that if there were any pro-Tibetan sympathisers in the audience they appreciated it. (I'm guessing Bjork's audience was probably largely the moneyed middle-class and I'm guessing they probably have better access to the limited information available about such things.)

Plus I don't see how a foreign artist those two words endangers activists' lives any more than they are already.

I increasingly believe that there's much more force in a visiting dignitary (as it were) embarassing the authorities in situ than a wholesale cultural boycott, in which no one plays there in the first place.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 08:17 AM

I had no idea of who Bjork was either, until I read this tread, can I still be a musician? Please.
Those involved in the arts have always spoken their mind through their art's medium & with their voice. They are usually the 1st to fell the yoke of oppression because of their positions too.

To bring up Bono in any light but a bright light is a disservice to all musicians everywhere. Here's a talented musician whose achived fame & fortune & put it to great use not only with world debt but his achivements as an AIDS activist has had a profound possitive effect in Africa. Talk about one person making a huge change in the world, we should all be so quiet about what we feel stongly about.

Barry

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: pavane
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 07:40 AM

The Blonde Bombshell, Betty Hutton, passed on, March 11th, 2007. Her most notable film role was the part of Annie Oakley in the 1950 musical of "Annie Get Your Gun." One of her best known songs, "Blow a Fuse" (a.k.a. "It's Oh So Quiet"), was covered by Icelandic artist, Bjork. This song appears on Betty Hutton's CD albums, "Spotlight on Betty Hutton" and "Satin & Spurs".

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: pavane
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 07:37 AM

Blow a Fuse, I think.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: pavane
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 07:36 AM

She did start out as an Icelandic Folk Singer, I think. I remember seeing a bit about her on TV.

Her big hit about it being so quiet (and then shouting) was actually an old song from the 1940's. Can't remember the proper title though.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Black Diamond
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 06:26 AM

I always feel a little sad when people make these kind of "stands" in public. If Bjork supports the cause of the people of Tibet why did she go to China and accept liberal payment for her singing? Bjork is in the business of making money for herself through her performances and that is the only reason she went to China, to make a fast buck. If she is happy to do that, and to accept their money, then she is morally challenged to begin with.
In another thread on Mudcat we were encouraged to veto the Olympics because of the lack of human rights. doesnt this apply to all aspects of relationships with the country?? including music performances.
Mind you I have yet to be persuaded that what Bjork does is anywhere close to what I would call music !!!!!
Lin

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: redsnapper
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 06:11 AM

So what are your specs, redsnapper? Your type of music, your age? That makes a big difference in who people are paying attention to, and if they haven't heard of her it doesn't diminish in any way their credibility as musicians.

Bjork has been in the mainstream public eye for 20 years and was recording at least 10 years before that. She is generally acknowledged as having a very unique voice and style, whether one likes her music or not. She was also the lead in the major Lars Von Trier film Dancer in the Dark, discussed at length here at Mudcat, and was active in raising a large amount of money for tsunami relief. She has also been the subject of a number of other threads on Mudcat over the years as Katlaughing said.

So therefore I do find it surprising people, particularly musicians, have not heard of her. By the way I am in my late fifties and play blues and Irish/Scottish traditional music, so Bjork is not exactly my genre but I do try to keep my eyes, ears and mind open.

RS

Subject: RE: Bj�rk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: semi-submersible
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 04:33 AM

Here's a viewpoint on whether to mind our own business "when we believe there is a terrible injustice" from a world-class authority. You may have heard of him. (This quote was included a couple of days ago in the free email from A.Word.A.Day.)

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."
-Desmond Tutu, clergyman (b. 1931)

Personally, I don't see how ignoring a grave injustice would help the efforts of people trying to correct it. The descriptions of her comment sound measured and honest.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 04:11 AM

I don't think that Pete Seeger stayed in the USA his entire life. In any event why would staying safe at home and protesting be somehow more meritorious than going out where it might get nasty and protesting?

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 04:08 AM

stick to performing, it's what most of you do best.

And what exactly is it that YOU do best, Charlotte? Do you always stick to that? Do the words kettle and pot mean anything to you?

D.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:18 AM

We've discussed her before a little bit: Click Here. If you put her name in the search box a few other threads come up which have info about her and her music.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 11:17 PM

I find it hard to imagine someone who is a musician has never heard of Bjork

So what are your specs, redsnapper? Your type of music, your age? That makes a big difference in who people are paying attention to, and if they haven't heard of her it doesn't diminish in any way their credibility as musicians.

I'm not a musician, per se (I don't perform publicly), I mostly pay attention to older rock, folk, and classical music. So. I'd never heard of her until two days ago when a friend who lives in Greenwich Village, New York, told me she had dropped in at the gay bar he frequents. Had her security guy(s) with her. I had to look her up. I still don't know what she sings.

SRS

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 10:43 PM

When did Pete Seeger go abroad? He did his protesting at home, as far as I know.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:57 PM

Hmm, Pete Seeger OK, Bono and Bjork not OK?

And the difference is?

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 07:41 PM

I don't think the Dalai Lama would mind. He travels the globe telling one and all to Free Tibet. If you've got the bully pulpit, use it. Besides what I read said she sang a song called "Declare Independence" and just shouted "Tibet, Tibet!" right after. There is an inference, yes, but it's hardly a ringing "Free Tibet" kind of thing. Perhaps it was such an emotional moment for her, she couldn't help it.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 05:40 PM

I was just wondering what you meant by China "hardly being a hotbed of human rights"?

Ummmm...human rights in China...non-existent..

"Now if she had namedropped a specific individual, then I would say you have a case for endangerment."

hardly....the Chinese government, if even it thinks there might be trouble, round up the "usual suspects" so to speak, individual names is not a requirement.

Charlotte (the view from ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: irishenglish
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 05:09 PM

I was just wondering what you meant by China "hardly being a hotbed of human rights"? And her saying an off the cuff bumper sticker slogan which mentions no specific people does not endanger anyone specific. Now if she had namedropped a specific individual, then I would say you have a case for endangerment.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 05:08 PM

If you've got the bully pulpit, I say use it! Celebrities have the ear of the media and can use it to effect change.

Whether it's Sinead O'Connor tearing up a picture of the pope or Bono advocating for Third World debt relief, more power to them.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: redsnapper
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 05:01 PM

I suppose so, if all you can see is the immediate, ie the moment in which the mouth is engaged before putting the brain in gear

So principles have nothing to do with it then...?

RS

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 04:08 PM

Rock, you say? Music? Pity.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 03:41 PM

"entitled to say what we like when we believe there is a terrible injustice."

I suppose so, if all you can see is the immediate, ie the moment in which the mouth is engaged before putting the brain in gear. China is hardly a hot bed of human rights to begin with, in doing what she did, I firmly believe Bjork endangered the lives of activists who actually live in China, and work diligently to better the lives of the subjected, and who live in constant danger of being found out for their activities

A Word to the followers of the Holy Church of St. Bono, stick to performing, it's what most of you do best.

Charlotte (the view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: redsnapper
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 03:32 PM

I find it hard to imagine someone who is a musician has never heard of Bjork. And why should a musician not say something? We are all human beings and entitled to say what we like when we believe there is a terrible injustice.

Anyway... well done Bjork and more people should take her lead.

RS

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: irishenglish
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 03:20 PM

Um...she Q, Icelandic rock singer formally of the band The Sugarcubes.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 03:19 PM

Internationally, it is up to governments and the United Nations to make representations, not performers. Bjork, whoever he is, should have known better.

Subject: RE: Björk said free Tibet and the china ....
From: irishenglish
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 02:06 PM

I don't see how it will affect western musicians playing China. The Chinese have been selective in who they allow to play there, and because it doesn't happen too often, they will allow more music, but probably keep the reigns on a little tighter than with Bjork.

Subject: Björk said free Tipet and the china ....
From: skarpi
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 01:33 PM

well all, about two weeks ago björk was doin a concert in china , and when she was finish the declear independence she said " Free Tipet "
and the at some state the china men did not like itvery well.

So will this affekt other musical bands to play in china ?
who knows ??

All The Best skarpi Iceland