Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: meself
Date: 11 Feb 25 - 11:13 AM

Well, that bit is pretty murky - it was certainly not a public accusation, so she does not owe the public any "proof", and the account of the private accusation and its purpose is, I believe, second-hand; I make it a policy to withhold judgement on that sort of thing if I don't have direct or very compelling evidence.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 25 - 11:50 AM

Like Grey Owl, she has been consistent in her representation of herself. Passing - what a concept.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 05:04 AM

I seem to remember Bob Dylan peddling himself a completely fictitious back story, but no one seems to be bothered about that these days. Both artistes have given us some great songs over the years - I wish I had written Until It’s Time for You To Go, The Universal Soldier, Now that the Buffalo’s Gone, etc.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 08:29 AM

There's a fundamental difference between embellishing your backstory, and creating a whole character - whose shtick since about 1960-61 has been based on being of an ethnic background. All the activities she took part in for being of indigenous/Indian extraction, all the awards that should have gone to actual real indigenous acts - it was all a charade. Though obviously she believed in the causes she was promoting.

if I ever watch 'Soldier Blue', the experience will never be the same hearing someone supposedly authentic, as a voice representing the Indian, who actually wasn't. It will still be a great song, but the awareness is now there.   

No-one can take away BSM'a huge cross over pop/folk songs... 'I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again', 'Until It's time for you to go', 'Up Where We Belong' 'Universal Soldier' etc. Great American songs, which deserve lifetime achievement awards galore. But the indigenous act awards she got are now soiled. Fine as an honorary representative, and some have claimed BSM, was 'adopted' into their tribal culture.. but it was a falsehood to claim her physical lineage as being from that source. Also there is something thoroughly sordid in threatening family members for exposing the truth of her background, instead of just coming clean about it.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 09:44 AM

I agree, Rossey. This does not detract from her musical talent but her persona is mow marred. Not that that matters to anyone but me!

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 10:40 AM

Haven't you ever seen someone adopted into a family, say a Dutch family, who developed a love for, say, sauerkraut? Do a search and see what Buffy's family has to say about Auntie Buffy.

I read on Reddit of someone's mother who moved all her signed Buffy Sainte-Marie posters from the living room to the bathroom. It's a really sad business on the reservation.

Sloppy Trudeau politics.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: meself
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 10:56 AM

"Sloppy Trudeau politics" - what???? What on earth do "Trudeau politics" - whatever that's supposed to mean - "sloppy" or otherwise - have to do with a pretendian taking benefits meant for an oppressed, suffering people?

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 11:56 AM

A ridiculed politician resorting to what-about-ism is beyond you scope? I'm surprised.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: meself
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 12:11 PM

I have no idea what you're talking about. What "what-about-ism" - did I miss some news report? Please enlighten me.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 12:21 PM

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Canadian+blackface&t=h_&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: meself
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 01:55 PM

What does any of that have to do with Buffy taking benefits that should have gone to actual Indigenous people?

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 14 Feb 25 - 03:00 PM

There'll be a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights
Are shinning on me.

I haven't heard anything about taking anybody's music awards back. Doubt we ever will.

Woody Guthrie's autobiography is more fiction than fact & Geronimo never drove a Cadillac. The Beverly Hillbillies are nobody's window on Appalachia. Start over with your pop culture educations... if you care.

Does not matter either way to the currently offended parties. Altogether different genre of statuette. Vetting sure needs improvement. This one had more red flags than a Beijing parade.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Mar 25 - 01:07 PM

Firstly every person is unique.
Universal soldier is a good song.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 07 Mar 25 - 07:41 PM

Simply put: Buffy St. Marie's art can't be popular (or unique) enough to make her parents Native Americans and, of course, that matters to them that judge & vote by ancestry. It's genetics, not consumer preferences.

That said, that political side of the awards aisle is hardly BS free now that Buffy St. Marie is Photoshopped out of their old pictures.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: meself
Date: 07 Mar 25 - 07:56 PM

It matters to some people that she accepted benefits that were intended for an historically-oppressed people, of which she was/is not one.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Mar 25 - 03:46 AM

Watch out she may come and haunt you, and sing universal soldier all night long

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Mar 25 - 04:38 AM

Best to judge her on her musical creativity.imo

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Mar 25 - 04:55 AM

lets face it The Singing Postman was born in Bury, Lancashire, not Sheringham. Norfolk but he still wrote some good songs.
And Ewan MacColl born in Lancashire., another fine songwriter and performer

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: meself
Date: 08 Mar 25 - 12:01 PM

And they accepted benefits intended for the oppressed too, right?

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Mar 25 - 12:42 PM

no,I agree that is morally unethical
But the song will last [possibly]
her behaviour indicates that looking after number one was her primary consideration.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: meself
Date: 08 Mar 25 - 01:28 PM

She wrote and performed some great songs, no question. I do not think she should be forgotten or written out of history; I just have no problem with certain of her accolades being rescinded.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 08 Mar 25 - 04:41 PM

Singing black as any Moor is one thing. Parading around the shire 24/7 in sootface and sweep's garb whilst singing gen-U-wine history lessons will earn a much deserved side eye from anyone in the business no matter how "good" the act might seem to outsiders.

Most audiences never heard of her. She's impossible to remember or forget. That's pop music. The earlier singer-songwriter era is mostly niche folk with an audience share to match. Illuminations's artsy-jazz fans are very, very, very few and far between these days... and getting fewer every passing year.

One must be more than a bit of a pop culture nerd to connect Up Where We Belong to the Native American movement. It's a show tune and stands on its own in that genre. Nobody will be taking their little gold movie music statuettes back.

Subject: Buffy Sainte-Marie ancestry
From: Johnny J
Date: 04 May 26 - 08:03 AM

Something I didn't know about much until faily recently.

Some of you may be aware that Buffy apparently misled us re her native American ancestry and she was stripped of several awards in the last couple of years.
There are various different reports and denials over the years but is believed that she has actually Italian and English roots as opposed to native American.

I've always enjoyed her music but I find such revelations a little disappointing.

Just wondering if the members here have some more precise details re the above? Also, if it afects your opinion on her music and contributions over the years?

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie.. Cancelled?
From: Johnny J
Date: 04 May 26 - 08:04 AM

Oh, could Joe please change title to "Buffy Sainte-Maire Ancestry". It looks a little nicer.

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie ancestry
From: Reinhard
Date: 04 May 26 - 08:57 AM

See the discussion in the thread Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie.. Cancelled?
From: GerryM
Date: 04 May 26 - 08:58 AM

Johnny J, and anyone considering contributing to this discussion, please first have a read through an older thread, with subject "Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Unique Artist", to see whether you have anything new to add. And, if you do, maybe post it there, so all the discussion can be found in one place.

---

The threads were merged. ---mudelf

Subject: RE: Buffy Sainte-Marie.. Cancelled?
From: Johnny J
Date: 04 May 26 - 09:42 AM

Thanks for that.
I hadn't realised there were more recent posts on that thread.

As I say, I missed all this news at the time.