Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 08:58 PM

*IF* they had paid for all of the concert and made the whole thing 'pay per view', it would have been sad, but just like pure business. As it was, it looked to many like a hypocritical slight to those who can NEVER hope to get HBO or own a computer, but who do have little TV sets....


That's all I will say about it.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 09:08 PM

Thanks Bill D.    I do not consider it hypocritical at all. There are also people who do not own a TV at all.

I think this discussion is ignoring the true story - the fact that Pete was able to sing this song with all the verses at the Lincoln Memorial in front of a very large audience.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 09:50 PM

Sorry to interrupt a good copyright fight, but...

It has been FORTY YEARS since I've seen mainstream people belting out folk songs like that. Holy Moley!

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 02:51 PM

A genuine "Kumbaya Moment"...

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: billhudson
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 04:41 PM

I am one of tho folks who does not watch TV but heard about it and I am happy that Pete got to do it. It says a handful that Obama had was at the Lincoln Memorial and that Pete and Toa and Bruce were playing their hearts out.
When I was I Pete's once I had a copy of Doris Goodwin's book, "Team of Rivals" that I happened to be reading at the time. Pete asked me to see it and he devoured a few pages.
Its funny, but sometimes I catch myself calling Toa ,Baby Toa from years ago.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: mark gregory
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:16 PM

Great to be able to see the YouTube clip from Australia too! Pete Seeger certainly deserved to be there and there he was magically pulling in the huge crowd to sing along although his own singing voice has all but disappeared ... just awesome

I've put a link on the Union Songs site at http://unionsong.com/seeger.html

Mark

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:38 PM

And that line on the bottom of the manuscript of the song ,that Mark linked to there, says it all: "All you can write is what you see"

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 07:25 PM

While I'm thinking about it - that last verse -

Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking down Freedom's Highway
Nobody living can take it from me
This land was made for you and me

- was that by Woody or was it added later during the Civil Rights struggle in the 60s?

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 07:32 PM

Excuse me if I missed a few things in this long thread but the reality is that HBO paid for the rights and asked the Cable companies to show it for "free"---in otherwords open the HBO channel to non-subscribers.   Some did (I assume)and some did not(another assumption). I have HBO so was able to see it.

My point is let us not blame HBO---they paid for it and they offered it for free. If the cable companies refused then it was their greed and self interest that should be faulted.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 08:24 PM

<>

check out "This Land is Your land" on wikipedia ... gives several alternative verses to the ones usually sung, and suggests who wrote them. Interestingly, Pete, Tao and Bruce sang 2 of the usual verses, (missed one out), 1 that Woody recorded / wrote but which is not usually sung, one verse that may have been sung /written by Woddy and another one "of unknown origin".
In other words, the singers were making a point with the song ... it's not just "wheat fields waving" and "sun was shining" ... the song is also about struggle and freedom.

Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: Noreen
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 07:50 AM

"This Land is Your land" at wikipedia

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 08:27 AM

So! I have a neighbor who doesn't own a TV. Should the financial backers of this event made sure he had access to one? I'v another friend who lives in a cabin with no electricity, (or running water). Maybe these corporations should have run power to his abode? I think a reasonable effort was made to make this broadcast accessible to everyone who was willing to make an effort to access it.

---

Please note that anonymous posting is no longer allowed at Mudcat. Use a consistent name [in the 'from' box] when you post, or your messages risk being deleted.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:38 PM

I can accept that HBO can claim ownership and prevent dissemination of its own footage of the concert, the high-quality, professionally-edited video that went out on their network.

I cannot accept their censorship of "amateur" videos taken at the event that may have been posted on YouTube, or on people's personal websites and Facebook/Myspace pages, etc.

******************

Still no answers, or even guesses, as to the tambourine player's identity? I was sure we'd have learned about him by now...

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 09:10 PM

Good piece about this on a blog I came across, with an embedded clip of the song.

Interesting blog too, from someone who clearly should be a mudcatter:

"Father. Husband. Quaker. Sacred Harp singer. Banjo player. Singer. Bike rider. Lawyer. Writer. Reader. Friend. Brother. Son. Minnesotan. Earthling. Teacher. Student. Guilty bystander."

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 07:03 AM

I've just watched Pete Seeger leading the crowds at the Obama inauguration. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg0wiOHc9tI . If you haven't seen it yet you haven't lived.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: GUEST,Marc Bernier
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 07:32 AM

I'm the guest who was being a jerk yesterday morning. It must be time to reset a cookie.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 07:35 AM

I'm back. I still don't think anyone has behaved inappropriately, as far as making this event accessible to the masses.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: Joybell
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 05:13 PM

It was shown so late here I was asleep. I woke to find True-love sobbing. He was involved in the Civil Rights Movement along with many singers of his age. It's so good that he has lived to see this day too. Just watched for myself. Thank you, my friends, for the links. Those other verses -- I'd never heard them here in Aus. What a time of wonder and inspiration.
Joy

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 05:16 PM

"I cannot accept their censorship of "amateur" videos taken at the event that may have been posted on YouTube, or on people's personal websites and Facebook/Myspace pages, etc.
"

Once again, "video" rights were purchased by HBO. You don't have to accept the fact, but it is a fact. They have done nothing wrong or unethical.   Until we know what future plans they may have, they are protecting their rights.

Also, I'm not sure that original statement is even correct.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 07:29 PM

If they've been trying to get amateur clips from the crowd taken down they haven't managed to do it. I'd be surprised of they'd have been stupid enough to even try, though you never can tell.

And of course it's proved impossible to take down the "official" clip of the song either - it just pops up again. Which was obviously going to be the case.

Private property has its limits. And so has that mutant version, corporate property.

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 07:42 PM

So there you go

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 07:43 PM

Property is property, corporate has rights too

Subject: RE: Seeger & Springsteen at Obama Inaugural
From: voyager
Date: 25 Jan 09 - 03:55 PM

Here's a thread in praise of The Seeger Family, 1st Folksingers to the Nation -
   Seeger Family Concert - March '07 in Silver Spring, MD.

voyager
(who missed the concert on the Mall)