Battle of the Bands: The Banjo Song (Oh! Susannah)

Battle of the Bands!!!!

       I may be on summer vacation but the Battle of the Bands goes on.   This is the blogging event first kicked off by our blogging friends at Far Away Series and Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends.  You'll want to visit their Battles after you finish with mine and check out the links listed at the bottom of this page.  You can even mount your own Battle--if you do then let us know in the comments so we can vote on yours.

         Here's how the Battle works:   Listen to the song clips in the blog post and then in the comment section vote on the one you like the best.   When you vote please tell us why you voted the way you did.  Long explanations are always welcomed.   After a week or so I'll tally the votes and announce them in an upcoming blog post.   Please do vote though so your favorite choice can be counted.

The Banjo Song

        In my previous Battle I presented versions of the song "Oh! Susannah" by Stephen Foster, one of America's greatest songwriters.   "Oh! Susannah" is one of the most recorded songs in the United States and one that most everybody has heard in one form or another.  Singer/songwriter Tim Rose wrote "The Banjo Song" based on the lyrics of Foster's song but there's little in common beyond that.  The Battle presented here pits two very different takes on "The Banjo Song" against each other.


The Big Three "The Banjo Song"  (1963)

          Get ready for some crazy connections with this song.   First of all if the female singer looks a bit familiar it's because it's "Mama" Cass Elliot before she was a "Mama" in the Mamas and the Papas.  "The Banjo Song" is actually Tim Rose's composition using the lyrics of Foster's original "Oh! Susannah", but the two songs are very dissimilar.   However there is a "shocking" similarity between Rose's song and a much bigger hit that came along later.   Listening to "The Banjo Song" you will undoubtedly think of the song "Venus" first recorded by Shocking Blue and later in 1986 by Bananarama.   Dutch songwriter Robbie van Leeuwen was inspired by "The Banjo Song" but Tim Rose never pursued a plagiarism suit.   Maybe it was different enough for Rose or perhaps he was flattered by the imitation.   Listen to "The Banjo Song"--isn't "Venus" essentially the same song with new lyrics and a more rocking instrumental arrangement?  No matter what, they're both pretty decent songs.





Neil Young & Crazy Horse   "Oh Susannah" (2012)

        On the liner notes of Neil Young's Americana album this song is listed as "Oh Susanna" but really it's Tim Rose's "The Banjo Song".    Maybe they figured "Oh Susannah" was more marketable, it being one of the all-time American hit songs.   Young & his band really rock this one out giving a passing salute to Stephen Foster's classic.  By the way, the depression era footage depicted in the video is pretty strange if you want to check it out.  





Time to Vote!

         You probably have a strong preference between these two.    Even if you don't like the song at all, there must be one version you'd rather listen to over the other.  Which one is it?   Tell us now and tell us why.   Whatever you do, please vote on one of them.

After You Vote Here Check Out These Battles

 Here are some other bloggers who may or may not be participating in the Battle of the Bands.  Please visit their sites to vote on their battles:

         Faraway Series
         Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
         Your Daily Dose         
         DiscConnected   

        Do you think any of the songwriters mentioned in this post "stole" from the other or would you call it something else?   Do you think Tim Rose would have had a justifiable legal case concerning the song "Venus"?    

Related articles

• Neil Young Turns To Instagram For "Oh Susannah" Video
• Banjo Blues and the Invisible Republic
• Steve Martin: One wild and crazy guy - Costume SuperCenter
• 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS #19' (Or, 'STEVE MILLER VS. DAVID LINDLEY')

Battle of the Bands: Oh! Susanna (+ #IWSG)

         Since the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group kind of coincides with  my Battle of the Bands schedule, I'm combining the two.   Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting #IWSG every month.  Be sure to visit his site for more information.

Getting Paid for the Work      

          Talk about insecurity!   Stephen Collins Foster wrote some of America's biggest hit songs and is now known as "the Father of American Music", yet he saw little money from his efforts and died penniless in a charity ward in New York City in 1864.   People knew his name, but his fame didn't pay the bills.   It's nice to be remembered in history, but getting a good paycheck while one is alive would be nice.    

What are your ultimate writing goals?    Do you write for the money, the recognition, or personal fulfillment?

Battle of the Bands:  Oh! Susanna

       It's the 1st of the month and that means another Battle of the Bands is here.  This is the twice monthly event that is brought to you by the fine bloggers at A Far Away Series and Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends.  Be sure to visit both of their sites and vote on their battles.   Other possible participants are listed at the bottom of this post.  If you'd like to do a Battle of your own let us know in the comments so we can come to vote on yours.

         This battle is the first of a two parter that I think you'll find rather interesting.  The installment that will appear on July 15th is one that might surprise you and will hopefully entertain you.   But first the Battle at hand...

Al Jolson  "Oh Susanna" (1939)

          Now we recognize the racism of the concept of minstrel shows, but it was a highly popular form of American entertainment from the 1840's and into the mid-20th century.  Al Jolson became famous with his blackface performances of popular songs.  I offer the first clip only for perspective to give you an opportunity of hearing the way the popular song "Oh! Susanna" was traditionally performed.

          Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864) was the first great American songwriter.  Trained in classical music he took an interest in the music he heard played in the black community and wrote a number of songs in that style.  Many of his songs were taken by touring minstrel shows and were published under the names of the performers.  

           Foster wrote "Oh! Susanna" in 1847 and it became a national sensation which in turn gave the composer a good bit of fame.   Please don't vote on the Jolson version as I would prefer the battle be between the more modern versions that follow.  But since it's a short clip I encourage you to give the great Al Jolson a listen.  He was a huge star in the first half of the 20th century.
       




The Byrds "Oh! Susannah" (1965)

         The folk rock group The Byrds recorded their version of this song for their second album.  They certainly give it a sound of that time.





Yambo  "Oh Suzanna" (1999?)

         Not sure what to say about this group.  From the information I found on them they are a Euro-pop girl dance group from Germany.  They changed the song lyrics to fit what they do, but the melody is the same.  Just goes to show the timelessness of the popular song from over 150 years ago.  This version to me is strange, but strangely compelling.  Give it a shot.  I've chosen the live action video version since the studio version had a pretty boring video.





Now for the Vote

         Now it's time for you to pick your favorite version of  "Oh! Susanna".    Let us know your preference in the comment section and tell us why you chose that version.   I'll announce the winner next Wednesday.

       
 Here are some other bloggers who may or may not be participating in the Battle of the Bands.  Please visit their sites to vote on their battles:

         Faraway Series
         Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
         Your Daily Dose         
         DiscConnected   

         Did you used to sing "Oh! Susanna" in school?   Have you ever seen any Al Jolson films?    Do you enjoy Europop?  

Related articles

• #IWSG: 5 Insecurities and 5 Inspirations
• Can't Escape Stephen Foster
• The Pop Music of the Civil War
• Success At What Price?

Roots of Country Music

          If one were to trace the roots of the earliest western traditions of music one might break it down into two basic categories--church music and secular music.  It's really not quite that simple, and there was a great deal of cross influence between the two.  The early settlers of the United States who came from the British Isles brought with them the popular music traditions of their respective homelands.

            The early music of Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and surrounding areas descended from the music of the medieval minstrels and troubadours.  As some of the more musically inclined citizenry began developing the various regional styles, they would pass on ballads and chanteys and the like for singing; and jigs, reels, and other instrumental styles for dancing and other festive occasions. This was the music they carried to their new homes in the Appalachians and other regions of North America.

            Eventually this traditional music began to be influenced by the music of the black slaves who added influences like the African banjo.  Also, the French musical influence of the Acadians from Canada eventually found its way into the newly developing American fusion music.  The music of the Americas, like music so often does, continued to draw upon other styles and branch out to create new unique sounds.

         As the country opened up and transportation networks were vastly improved, musical innovations were spread more quickly to all parts of the country.  Like the roving troubadours of medieval times, new bands of minstrels toured the country popularizing new songs that were combinations of the many styles of white and black America.  Publishing sheet music became a big business as those who were trained in music wanted to be able to play the popular songs in their own homes.

           With this emerging music trend came the first American music superstar--Stephen Foster.  He started out writing traditional parlor pieces that were romantic and sentimental.  Strongly influenced by the black music and the music of  the traveling minstrel shows, he began writing songs in a similar vein and they were received with an overwhelming enthusiasm.   His "Oh, Susannah!" became the biggest selling piece of sheet music of the era and the popular song could be heard being sung from coast to coast by blacks and whites and people of all classes.  Unfortunately, the new music publishing industry afforded little protection for songwriters and Foster eventually died penniless, leaving a legacy of some of the most beloved songs of America.

           The latter half of the nineteenth and the early twentieth century brought the influences of cowboy music and early jazz and blues styles.   With the advent of the phonograph record, the new recording industry was hungry for different styles of music to market to the public.  The style of music that we now call country was released as "hillbilly" or "old-time" music and maintained a niche in the output of the recording industry.

            Country music has continued to merge with other styles and has branched out into several subcategories.   The genre of modern country is hugely popular and is a multi-million dollar industry.  The older styles like bluegrass, cowboy music, and other forms that fall under folk categories also have loyal fanbases.  Country covers a wide range of sounds and now one person's country music may sound totally different than another's.

               Remember that next Monday June 7th will be the HEAVEN ELEVEN FAVORITE RELIGIOUS ALBUMS which you can read about here.   If you'd like to participate, add your name to the Linky list at the top of the page.   On Monday June 14th I will be posting classical favorites.   Then on Monday June 21st Alex J Cavanaugh is hosting the Twelve Favorite Movies list-- a Linky list for that one is at the top portion of this page.

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com