Glaswegian song resource

Subject: Glaswegian song resource
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 07:05 PM

I heard today on BBC Radio Four, while driving, so I don't remember all I should, that there is to be, in Glasgow, a collection of political songs of all sorts to ensure they are not lost. I believe it is based on a collection made by a Labour MP, and is being promoted by his wife. They are drawing the definition of political songs very widely in space, time, and political leaning, and seem to assume that if something is used politically, then it is political, citing people coming out of a camp in the Balkans singing George Michael songs.

Penny

Subject: RE: Glaswegian song resource
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 07:18 AM

This is the new Centre for Political Song, established at the Caledonian University, Glasgow, funded and supported by Janey Buchan MEP, from the collection of herself and the late Norman Buchan MP.
Haven't seen what they've got, so can't answer for the width of material - what were the lyrics of the Goeoge Michael song in question? Some 'pop songs' have politically committed and explicit lyrics, don't they? And Eric Bogle's WW1 songs are considered to be 'political' although I've never met anyone in favour of WW1.

Subject: RE: Glaswegian song resource
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 04:19 AM

See the thread I started "Political Song Archive" for details
RtS (too busy to look it up & link it, sorry!)

Subject: RE: Glaswegian song resource
From: Amergin
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 04:28 AM

Ewan McVicar,

Those Bogle songs are antiwar songs....that's what makes them political....

Subject: RE: Glaswegian song resource
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 04:28 AM

Here it is: (arroused no interest the first time!)
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=29905&messages=3
That's Click Here for link
RtS (hope that works)

Subject: RE: Glaswegian song resource
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 03:52 PM

Depends whatyou choose 'political' to mean. I'd have said that to be anti-war was a moral rather than political position, and a position publically espoused by all politicians and human beings. Which political parties or theorists are 'pro-war'? They may choose to go to war, but they always blame the other side and claim they themselves are the peace-lovers.[Never the warlovers, nor even approving of war, which is always presented by all sides as a most regrettable evil, surely?.] You may choose to doubt their words, their honesty, their level of self-awareness. But no-one will say they are in favour of war, so how is being anti-war a political act?
Many people are of course evil and in other ways immoral in some of their actions - for example the way some people tolerate and justify war-making. But their political statements of belief and principle are always anti-war.

Subject: RE: Glaswegian song resource
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 05:19 PM

I listened to Janey Buchan being interviewed on Radio Scotland's 'Travelling Folk' last Thursday (via the Internet, courtesy of a link provided on the Mudcat - thanks!). Yes, she takes a very broad view of the term 'political', and I don't see what's wrong with that, honestly. The whole project definitely sounded worth checking out the next time I find myself in Glasgow.

Subject: RE: Glaswegian song resource
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:21 PM

Well, as I already figure prominently on Janey Buchan's long list of people she has contempt for, I shall refrain from further comment.