The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #18657 Message #185980
Posted By: Oversoul
27-Feb-00 - 10:56 PM
Thread Name: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
Subject: 'Coon Songs' Your Thoughts About Them
What are your thoughts about racial stereotypes in recordings from the '20's and '30's? Sure, in some instances they are profane, in certain references they are funny, but they are numerous, too numerous for any serious listener to avoid. Period. How do you face them? Edit your playlist to suit the crowd? Or confront the audience with a bit of the troublesome truth? Does anyone today really care about this issue? I was born in the early '50's and I am sort of indifferent, I don't think people are as touchy as most musicians believe. I got to thinking about this again when I read of a banjo player feeling awkward about some of Uncle Dave Macon's lyrics. Forgive me if this is an old topic, but in my mind this has been an issue for many years.