What Kinds of Change Will Be Coming? (#BOTB results)

What Kinds of Change Will Be Coming?  (BOTB results are below my opening statement)

Señalización de lugar de votación en California. 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

        The presidential primary voting rounds from the week-end are over and most of us know the results which I feel no need to detail here.  There's plenty more ahead and I'll have to admit that I'm watching things with great fascination.   At the end come November, we'll be seeing what change will be in store for us in the United States.  The real question will be whether the change will be significant or just a change in personnel with no real change in the actual operations.

          One note on the Republican side is the nastiness rearing its ugly butt.   When Jeb Bush entered the race I thought he seemed like a nice enough guy, though I wasn't thrilled about seeing another Bush in the White House.  But then he started getting very mean-spirited in his campaigning.  Between him and his PAC's tens of millions of dollars were spent on negative ads against the others in the running.   The ads I saw were very ugly and to me unnecessary.   I think a lot of people felt like I did.  Every time I saw one of those ads or heard Jeb attacking the other candidates I liked Jeb less.  This week-end I was glad to see him go.

         I know that's the way of politics and I'm not saying that Jeb was the only one guilty of doing these things, but he stood out.   The behavior seemed very out of character from the way he initially came across to me and his backers just seemed scary to me.   Good-bye, Jeb.

           Who will be next?

           I know some of you don't particularly like politics, but since it is the season I may mention the topic now and then.  I'm not looking to harangue anybody about the topic, but I might bring up what I think are interesting ideas that set my imagination going and might spark yours as well.  If you do leave a comment on the topic here, please do be respectful and not belittling to any of the other commenters.    Ask questions and engage in discourse if you like.  I'm all for learning, but not so much for making other people mad.

         Bear with me if you can and let me know if I get out of line or tell me if you think I'm wrong.  Try to be nice about it.

The BOTB Results Are In!

      My most recent song pick was the great Sam Cooke civil rights anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come" as performed by Luther Vandross and Al Green.  There was a decent turn-out with 36 of you casting votes.  The outcome was closer than I thought it might be and that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

       I've liked Al Green ever since he hit the charts in 1972 with "Let's Stay Together".   You can call me a fan.  Not hardcore, but over the years I've enjoyed his music and bought some of his albums.  I didn't discover Luther Vandross until after he died.  Several years back I heard the song "Dance with My Father" and it really hit me to the point that I immediately went out and purchased the CD.  He has a very smooth listenable style that I can well appreciate.

       My favorite of the two artists would have to be Al Green since I have a longer relationship with his music and over all I find it more distinctive than that of Vandross.   Al Green is in a place of his own in music.  Between the versions of "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Green and Vandross, my favorite is that emotionally charged performance by Al Green.   Luther is outstanding--love the band--but Al Green outshines him just a tad to my ears.

         A good many of you agreed with me on this, but not enough to give Al Green the win in this Battle.  Actually, due to Al Green's higher almost screechy vocals I thought he'd do worse than he did.  But after all, Al Green has a lot of name recognition and a long history of making music.  I'll bet "Let's Stay Together" is a high-ranking favorite with many of you.  However the smoother sounds of Luther Vandross won over the majority giving him the win.


Final Vote Tally:

Luther Vandross                  19 votes

Al Green                              17 votes


And Now The Future      

        So there you have another fairly tight Battle behind us.   What does the future hold?   For one thing my next Battle of the Bands post I think you might find interesting.   It will be a song that relates to some of the things coming up on this blog as well as being a somewhat dark scary song about things to come otherwise.  This song is by a very well known songwriter and singer who very well may be a favorite of many of you.   Be here on Tuesday March 1st to see what song I'll be using.

       The next Battle of the Bands post will be tied in with my March Insecure Writer's Support Group post and as I typically try to do I'll keep that part of the post themed with my song pick for that round of Battle.   This could be interesting.  Could be?  No it will be interesting!   We'll see what the future holds.

         Watch later this week as I address some of the comment discussion that appeared in my previous post A Result Is Gonna Come.   Controversial times call for controversial discussion and while I don't want to turn readers off, I hope you all will come back with an open mind as I present my interpretation of how I think Donald Trump's border wall idea might not actually be as bad as many think it sounds and might be better in a very different way than what the Trump supporters envision.    Keep in mind that what I will be presenting is my speculation--or vision if you will.  If you're a fan of speculative or futurist literature I might have some ideas to get you thinking.   I hope you'll at least hear me out on my thoughts.

          Did the primary voting outcomes of the week-end turn out like you thought they would?   Do you think the method of selecting presidential candidates in the United States is effective?    Can you guess what my next BOTB song choice will be based on some very obvious hints I've given in this post?

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• Hillary Is Most Like What President?

A Change Is Gonna Come (#BOTB)

        February has been designated as Black History Month in the United States and Canada.   The month-long observance was officially recognized by the U.S. in the 1976 bicentennial year.  Prior to that time a week in February had been set aside as Negro History Week.  Some consider the observance to be racist while others believe that recognizing the accomplishments of blacks in America and elsewhere is an important step in establishing greater harmony between races and instilling a value of tradition and pride within the black community.

Do you know these figures from Black History? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

        When I was growing up I was never around black people to any great extent.  I never had any black classmates until I started high school in East Tennessee and even then there were probably not more than 20 black students in our entire school which probably had about a thousand students.  To my recollection there was never any emphasis on black history, but apparently I did receive information about many aspects of black history because I did have a fairly extensive awareness about it.  Maybe I learned a lot on television or elsewhere since I grew up in the 50's and 60's when the Civil Rights Movement was taking a powerful hold on the nation.

        According to Wikipedia, Morgan Freeman is quoted as having said,  "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."    Freeman has argued that there was no White History Month, because white people did not want their history relegated to just one month.[14]

       I think Freeman makes a reasonable point.  The way I see it, teaching of history should be homogeneous with events examined according to a historical timeline with references to preceding events as they apply to that timeline.  However, in defense of the the celebration of black accomplishment, I think it is reasonable for communities to have special events designated for the appreciation of what black Americans have accomplished.  Mostly though this is probably more of an issue for specific communities.

        There is no doubt that the descendants of African diaspora have made important contributions throughout the world, but so have the peoples from many other cultures.  My preference is to become aware of as much history as I can absorb and have a very keen knowledge of the history that made my country of the United States of America what it is and to discern where it can go in the positive sense.

        In any case, the following Battle of the Bands post is my recognition of Black History Month.

Battle of the Bands

   Battle of the Bands is the blogging event hosted by Far Away Series and  StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens twice each month on the 1st and 15th.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.



"A Change Is Gonna Come"

       Sam Cooke was a highly influential singer and songwriter who was known as the "King of Soul". Cooke had first hand experience with racial injustice.   His experiences led him to compose "A Change Is Gonna Come" which became a civil rights anthem.  Over the years many artists both black and white have recorded this amazing song.

       An incident in 1963 where Cooke and his band were turned away from a "whites only" Holiday Inn in Shreveport, Louisiana prompted him to write the song.  He had already felt a prodding to write an important song about change after being inspired by Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind".   Cooke's song also pays homage to the song "Ol' Man River" from the Jerome Kern musical Showboat.

        To read an interesting article about Cooke's song, refer to an article in The New Yorker magazine.  And now take a listen to two amazing live performances by a couple of legendary performers.

Luther Vandross   "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Date uncertain)

      Vandross has such a fine voice and that certainly comes across in this recording.   Luther Vandross departed this Earth in 2005 at the far too early age of 54 years.  







Al Green   "A Change Is Gonna Come"  (2001?)

       While the recording of Luther Vandross was done at a church, the Reverend Al Green's performance sounds like he's preaching a sermon in church--but after all he is a preacher.  When not performing as a singer, Al Green preaches at his church in Memphis, Tennessee.  The recording here is from a post 9/11 benefit concert for United We Stand.







Time to Vote!

        Well, let us know what you think about these versions. There must be one that you prefer over the other though I'll admit that I'm having a tough time deciding on this Battle. If you're visiting a Battle of the Bands post for the first time then let me briefly explain.  Please give each song version a fair listen to decide which one you prefer over the other.  If you don't like either then at least tell us which recording was least innocuous to you. This comes down to your preference and it's as easy as that.

     Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Cherdo on the Flipside  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Janie Junebug Righting & Editing.
  
J. A. Scott  

Quiet Laughter

Holli's Hoots and Hollers

NovelBrews

Be ReInVintaged



Results on Monday February 22nd
      
        Cast your vote now so you don't forget!   Maybe another post or two will appear between then and now, but I'll definitely be back on the 22nd with the voting results.   My blogging has become a bit unpredictable of late so be ready for some surprises.   Let's hear a cheer for whimsicality in blogging!


         Do you think Black History should be focused upon in schools during the month of February?  When you were growing up did you receive much specific information about the accomplishments of blacks?   Do you prefer using the term "Afro-Americans" or "Blacks"?

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