What the Hell Is He Singing

Subject: What the Hell Is He Singing??
From: Beer
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 10:27 PM

So here's the question (and for some of us it's just around the bend.). Who will be singing the songs we have come to love? I'm still singing in shelters/homes/residents and so on. But they are not the Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Russell , John Prine and so on songs. They are the songs of our parents and grand parent times. Are the kids out there getting ready for us? When I'm finally forced to get admitted to some kind of shelter, and I still have a few marbles or can understand what the heck is going on. They better have some entertainment that can sing some Jessie Winchester, Bruce Murdoch,David Francey, Joni Mitchell,Judy Collins etc. Not some head banging, hip hop, rap.
But you know what? Something tells me it won't be there. This is what bothers me more than anything when I go and preform. I look around and the folks that are present in most cases are enjoying the songs of their youth. I also see folks who don't have a clue as to what is going on. And that's O.K. That's part of life as sad as it can be. But to not hear our music would truly be a world of loneliness.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 10:43 PM

Not the sort of thing I worry about. I sing for myself. That's good enough. I don't expect younger people to sing Bob Dylan songs for me.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Beer
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 10:49 PM

So how will you cope if you can't sing or play anymore?

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Beer
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 10:50 PM

And I rarely sing for myself.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 11:00 PM

How will I cope if I can't sing or play anymore? Who knows? I'll deal with it. I've already had to cope with not doing a number of other things I used to take for granted and enjoy (like play basketball, for instance...). Eventually your time runs out, your possible activities dwindle, and finally you die. Fine. I don't expect to enjoy every bit of the dwindling process, but I'll deal with it when it comes, because that's life.

I find, by the way, that there are always some younger people coming along doing orginally written folky stuff of their own that's good. I encounter them mostly through the local folk music community around where I live. There's always good music out there to listen to, although it may not be much noticed in the commercial mainstream. I don't care, because I pay little or no attention to the commercial mainstream anyway.

And I will always hear the music I love in my head. No one can take that away.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 11:55 PM

Fortunately my kids and I share a lot of musical tastes. They know enough about mine, they will make sure I hear the things that will comfort me. We did the same for my mom, even when she was in and out of consciousness and deathly ill. We played a tape of Mozart to her, through a small cassette player and she focussed on that instead of the pain. We believe it had a great deal to do with her being healed. In fact my brother wrote an article about and had it published.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 12:07 AM

Beer

There's a great song written by Canadian folksinger Joan MacIsaac

When I can't play I will sing,
When I can't sing I'll whistle,
and when the day comes I can whistle no more,
I'll set myself down and I'll listen.

To bad she left us a such an early age.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Fred Maslan
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 12:10 AM

I think you might be surprised by the younger generation. They have access to all the recorded muxic of the past. On disc and you-tube etc. And they love the beatles, pink floyd even Dylan.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Metchosin
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 01:58 AM

I agree Fred Maslan. I have some younger family members, whose knowledge of the music of the past 50 years or so, verges on the encyclopedic. Puts me to shame and I was sort of there. What's more, they sing and play better than I ever aspired to in my wildest dreams.

Have no fear, the tradition will carry on.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Jim Lad
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 02:38 AM

David Francey?

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:09 AM

My generation is royally screwed then....

Imagine the scene in 2050:~ a cosy chair by the fire, comode on standby, knitting patterns and tabby cat to hand, a phalanx of old ladies with purple hair, smooth, unlined botox faces and conical tits still peeking perkily from their midriffs. A group of students and care workers comes in announcing they're going to give a performance of songs from our youth and launch into such well remembered gems from the Sex Pistols, Kiss, Status Quo and the Bay City Rollers.


Shoot me now.

LTS

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Nick
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 06:06 AM

I actually think you are wrong, Adrien, and that quite a lot of the olde songs will come through.

My son is 15 and knows a lot of the music that I listened to because it's been played round the house for years and he plays in a band with me so knows a lot of old stuff. He has a friend of a similar age who writes music and plays and sings who we saw when we went to her dad's 50th birthday. When we sat and played some music later on we did several Joni Mitchell songs and the daughter knew them all along with all sorts of other stuff that would have (pleasantly) surprised you.

If it exists out there it tends to be found and reinvented and recycled. I wouldn't worry about the future it will come out ok.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 06:17 AM

Liz, you're killing me ; )

I just began working for a time in a home where people with Alzheimer's and related stuff spend the day, and music is a big part of things. All the mudcat conversation on this topic is coming back around for me now~

Here's what I figure: the teens I know are re-discovering Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd (talk about folk!) and maybe they'll follow the same path I did, discover the roots and branches, and eventually wind up in a similar place, loving it all!

BTW, I ended up learning "Black Betty" via Ram Jam and a teenager saying, "Hey Mom! Come listen to this cool song!"

Dani

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 06:27 AM

Seriously, if someone is going to come and sing Bay City Rollers songs at me when I'm 85, I'd rather someone did me a favour now!

They were bad enough the first time round.

LTS

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 06:54 AM

Interestingly, I've thought of singing in old folks' homes, but I would definitely want to sing songs that the old folks could relate to, either by the age of the song, subject matter or mode of rendition. Let's hope by the time I get into a home, some young performers will be thinking along the same lines.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: kendall
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 07:22 AM

My friend, Steve Romanoff of Schooner Fare once said: "What are the kids of today going to have by way of nostalgia? Can't you just picture a group of them years from now, standing around the old upright synthizer, trying to remember two words rom Twisted Sister"?

If I end up in a nursing home and some clueless asshole comes in and tries to do rap for me, I hope I still have my Irish walking stick! I'll do some rapping too.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: topical tom
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 07:24 AM

I understand your concern, Adrien, but I think the previous post says it well.I also think that there are many young entertainers who are carrying the traditions on, e. g., Crooked Still, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Allison Brown, Uncle Earl, Alison Kraus just to name a few.Also, as the previous post states, I am sure that future entertainers will do their best to tailor their music to the audience and, God willing, some of our friends and relatives will see to it that we can use recorded music (IPods, MP3s,cd players)to get our musical "fix".There are young folk musicians-songwriters who are "carrying it on".

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 07:28 AM

Not all my music interests are to do with Folk.

Recently we bought a DAB radio and tried it out to find out what it could pick up. We came across Planet Rock. Conversation followed.

"Hey we've got that track on an LP somewhere."
" We've got this one too."
Pause
"I'd forgotten that one but it's in the loft".

After an hour we realised that WE were the target audience.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 08:05 AM

My mother greatly influenced my taste in music and she would sing many songs from her youth. I grew up with a love for old train songs and tear jerkers. When developing a taste for more modern music I gravitated
toward Johnny Cash and John Allen Cameron rather than Elvis or Dylan. The problem is that "the old stuff" sung now in nursing homes is contemporary to me and I'm in my early 60's so I guess Snoop Dog is what lays in store. Scary!

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: oldhippie
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 08:09 AM

Hey, my 14 year old asked me to listen to a great Avril Lavigne song (heh,heh) "Knockin' On Heaven's Door". As long as the songs of our generation continue to get covered, our kids will enjoy them.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Beer
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 08:47 AM

Your right Little Hawk, that music will always be there. Heck it's there when I'm trying to sleep. Going over and over like the chicken dance.

Cap't Bob, that verse is a great one and if I recall Joan MacIsaac got the idea from a gas attendant who spoke these words to her while she was gassing up and he noticed her guitar.

Jim Lad. Are you saying you don't know who David Francey is?

topical tom, your mention of I-pod and so one is a thought that never occurred to me. What may even be better is that when our time comes for the home that holographs will be in place and we will be able to have all our great memories in front of us. Scary.

Great responses and good to hear so many positive about it.

Subject: Lyr Add: RUBBER DUCKY
From: Peace
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 09:57 AM

It's a matter of perspective . . . .



(From Sesame Street)


Rubber Ducky, you're the one,
You make bathtime lots of fun,
Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you;

Woo woo be doo

Rubber Ducky, joy of joys,
When I squeeze you, you make noise!
Rubber Ducky, you're my very best friend, it's true!

Doo doo doo doo, doo doo

Every day when I
Make my way to the tubby
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby

Rub-a-dub-a-dubby!

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you.

Every day when I
Make my way to the tubby
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of -
Rubber ducky, I'd like a whole pond of -
Rubber ducky I'm awfully fond of you!

Doo doo, be doo


Rubber Ducky, you're the one,
You make bathtime lots of fun,
Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you;

Woo woo be doo

Rubber Ducky, joy of joys,
When I squeeze you, you make noise!
Rubber Ducky, you're my very best friend, it's true!

Doo doo doo doo, doo doo

Every day when I
Make my way to the tubby
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby

Rub-a-dub-a-dubby!

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you.

Every day when I
Make my way to the tubby
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of -
Rubber ducky, I'd like a whole pond of -
Rubber ducky I'm awfully fond of you!

Doo doo, be doo


One more time . . . .

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: alanabit
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 09:57 AM

I feel the same way as Kendall about rap. If anyone tries to rap to me later on, they will predecease me!
The situations in which it happens may change, but I think people will always come together to sing with or to each other. Songs need certain qualities to flourish in that environment, so there will always be something around, which is worth listening to.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Grab
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 10:00 AM

Last year I did sound for a local village event, with a whole load of bands. The best of the bunch were three kids about 15-ish who did an amazing set of Dylan, Hendrix and other classic 60s/70s rock. If those kids (especially the frontman) don't go on to have professional careers, it'd be a true waste. And they're for sure going to know their roots.

For that matter, remember there was a recent BBC item where they took current bands into the studio to record Beatles songs in the same way that the originals were done, including the original gear and techniques. Some of them were very good, some were average and some were crap. But all of the bands approached jumped at the chance - they didn't say "what band? what song?"

Graham.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Celtaddict
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 10:02 AM

My kids are grown now, 20s & early 30s, but even while they were teenagers, they listened to a broad variety, all the top-40 stuff that gets the incessant airplay and commercial push, but also plenty of old material too in a variety of definitions of 'old.' (Bob Marley was huge with the ones who were born around the time he died.) I asked my daughter once, what percentage of the music she listens to is older than she is. I would have guessed maybe 50-50. She told me, 'at least 80%.' If music is good, it will have a lasting appeal to a number of people in various situations and ages. That is how it becomes folk music.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: PeadarOfPortsmouth
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 10:52 AM

I wouldn't worry about it. It seems that most artists love to take a stab at songs that were inspirational to them.

In fact, as a joke that's gotten WAAAY out of control, my brother and I have been burning CDs for each other every couple of months for about 2 years that only include famous artists doing covers of songs made famous by other people. (Most surprising that I liked: Marilyn Manson singing "Tainted Love")

Anyway, even with the folkie stuff, you'll find it. I have an EP of a local singer (Rob Laurens) doing "Hobo's Lullybye" that I love. And we have a young guy from Peru at our weekly session who did Fairport's "Honour and Praise". Heck, Nora Jones did "Cold, Cold Heart" on her debut album.

And remember, good songs stay relevant. My favorite memory of live cover was seeing Richard Shindell the night that Don Rumsfeld left office. He opened with Pete Seeger's "Big Muddy". I couldn't think of a more fitting song.

Cheers,

Peter

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Becca72
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 11:02 AM

LOL Peace...now that's a song from my youth I loved...but I preferred "I Love Trash".


S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y NIGHT!

Subject: Lyr Add: I LOVE TRASH
From: Peace
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 11:09 AM

I Love Trash Lyrics by Sesame Street

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I have here a sneaker that's tattered and worn
It's all full of holes and the laces are torn
A gift from my mother the day I was born
I love it because it's trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I have here some newspaper thirteen months old
I wrapped fish inside it; it's smelly and cold
But I wouldn't trade it for a big pot o' gold!
I love it because it's trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I've a clock that won't work
And an old telephone
A broken umbrella, a rusty trombone
And I am delighted to call them my own!
I love them because they're trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love, I love, I love trash!

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Peace
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 11:14 AM

Returned one night from a long call. It was maybe 4:00 AM and we'd been dealing with a situation that kept us all busy for about six or so hours. Got home hoping to fall asleep right away and get some rest for my work day which sstarts near 8:00 AM. Put my head on the pillow and into my mind popped


Down by the bay

Where the watermelons grow

Back to my home

I dare not go

For if I do

My mother will say,

"Did you ever see a bear

Combing his hair?"

Down by the bay.

Down by the bay

Where the watermelons grow

Back to my home

I dare not go

For if I do

My mother will say,

"Did you ever see a bee

With a sunburned knee?"

Down by the bay.

Down by the bay

Where the watermelons grow

Back to my home

I dare not go

For if I do

My mother will say,

"Did you ever see a moose

Kissing a goose?"

Down by the bay.

Down by the bay

Where the watermelons grow

Back to my home

I dare not go

For if I do

My mother will say,

"Did you ever see a whale

With a polka dot tail?"

Down by the bay.


for over three f%$#&*g hours. This will be the song that goes through my mind when I face death for the last time. I know it. I accept it. I will take LOTS of drugs. FYI.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: topical tom
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 11:45 AM

Peace, that song was on a Tom Chapin tape(tape-there's a dinosaur expression!) that we purchased for our grandchildren.Great choice! I think that's the one I'll be thinking of too when the time comes!

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 12:05 PM

People younger than me are currently performing songs that are hundreds of years old. Why would that disappear in one generation.
Just as long as nobody comes in my nursing home of the future and sings the Nilsson song that goes:
       I'd rather be dead
       Than wet my bed.
He recorded that song with a backup chorus made up of residents of a geriatric center.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 12:15 PM

My mother is now 99 and has had dementia since her early 70's. Her one active memory response seems to be to music or fresh flowers. Since I was adopted, and my biological mother is very sharp at 88, I have hope. I am old enough to be able to think about the loss of my music, but choose not to do so. I may back off when I start drooling on my guitar...

As to musical taste in younger folk, I can only speak to the U.S. experience. When I was young, we had music in school. I attended a small rural school in a farming and ranching community. My elementary school had a band room, with instruments the we could learn to play. Our music teacher was an elderly gentleman, Golden Long, who had once played trumpet for John Philip Sousa's Marine Band. We also had recordings of classical music played for us and even had a field trip to hear the local college orchestra play.

Art and music have come to be regarded as peripheral and not core subjects in most of our public schools. Ergo, children grow into their teenage years with no essential knowledge of the rudiments of those subjects. That is, unless their parents foot the bill. It should not surprise anyone, therefore, that much popular music is dull, unsophisticated, repetitive and loud, often without much in the way of a melody line or memorable lyrics. And that is without considering rap and hip-hop, for which any actual musical content is practically irrelevant.

The great overall body of music has always been a changing landscape, added to by each succeeding generation. But, we reap what we sow. We can't blame our youth for their lack of musical sophistication or taste so long as we continue to deprive them of the opportunity to learn the basics.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 01:57 PM

There are lots of young Scottish musicians learning traditional music, far more than those learning to play Dylan, Lightfoot or Prine, so I'm not too worried. And if some fellow-dotard next to me in the dayroom starts moaning "Mr Tambourine Man" I'll be old enough to get away with hammering the leg of my zimmer frame down his throat.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,Acorn4
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 03:20 PM

My mum is in a nursing home, and a few weeks ago when I went in for a visit, I passed through the lounge. They normally play music to to the elderly folk which is generally Vera Lynn, Max Bygraves, etc.
One of the carers must have put on a sampler CD and the old folks were being serenaded by Jimi Hendrix.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 03:37 PM

Book me in for that home now!!!

Why is it people think that because I'm over 40 I must like Val Doonican or Max Bygraves. My mother in law expressed surprise at Christmas when I found a Dusty Springfield CD and was singing along - she didn't think I was into such 'modern' music.

LTS

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:07 PM

You mentioned David Francey, Beer. He's a wonderful singer and writer! I had the good luck to see him do a show about a year ago, and I have a musical friend, Don Bray, who knows him quite well, having been around pretty much the same performing circuit as Francey.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:07 PM

Ironic: the best version I've heard of the Trash song is by Aerosmith... ON a Muppets CD!

Dani

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Becca72
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:20 PM

Dani, you've not heard the as-yet-unreleased version of me singing it with my father around age 3... LOL

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:37 PM

I think we have a tendency to think things (and people) are much different than they used to be, but I don't think this is the case, we just see it from a different perspective as we get older.

Just look at the album covers from the late 60's / early7 70's folk revival; these people were young and enthusiastic about our traditional music, as I think young people are still today. I went to Shepley Festival last year, and about 1/3 of the people there were I would guess from about 16-25, fantastic. Don't let assumptions or commonly held beliefs about what young people are into muddy your view - get out there and see these people listening to it and playing it. Funnily enough, I met a steward there who also stewards at Chester Festival, which she assured me has a similar strong representation from the (relatively) very young, and she proceeded to inform me that some of her (less so young) friends refuse to go as a result of it being such a young festival.

We all get bogged down in our worlds and our surroundings, but I don't believe folk music is being lost at all, I believe lots of people are picking it up and taking it forward.

And by the way, can people please stop reinforcing their allegiance with one thing, by having to slag off another thing. It is ok to like what you like, and let other people like what they like. I don't find it necessary to say I like a pint of bitter by having to have a go at what the person next to me is drinking. And by the way, I believe this goes for generalising rap as (c)rap, there is (c)rap in all genre's of music.

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 09:59 PM

My plan is to organize a new co-operative house for me any my singing friends so we don't have to depend on another generation to sing us our songs. Of course I haven't actually lived in a co-operative house since the 1970's but it was a good experience for 10 years, and evidently is still continuing 30 years later.

It's a good question, and if you're concerned about the answer I urge you to plan your future rather than leave it up for the culture to address.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: What the Hell Is He Singing
From: Celtaddict
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 11:01 PM

Rich, good points.
I do recall well when my daughter 'discovered' Simon & Garfunkel when she was about twelve. She absolutely loved them, and told me, 'Come listen to this, it's great!' She was astounded that I knew all the words to all the songs.
She also loves the old ballads, with all the melodrama, and likes them done unaccompanied. She can bellow out shanties with the best of them too. These interests do not detract in the slightest from her enjoyment of current country songs.