Month: January 2012

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day News: From D.C. to Burma

martin luther king jr. autobiography Today is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, and Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the United States. Below are some recent stories related to the holiday. For more history on the holiday, as well as Stevie Wonder’s birthday song for the great man, check out this Chimesfreedom post on MLK Day.

– The National Park Service will correct a paraphrased quote on the Martin Luther King Day Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. The chiseled quote is not only an inaccurate quote, but the change makes it sound like a boast: “”I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.” King actually said in a 1968 speech, “If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

– Occupy Wall Street activists plan to honor King.

– The Grio noted that some people prefer to celebrate Robert E. Lee’s birthday on the King holiday.

– The Milwaukee Courier wrote about “the New South” and the legacy of King.

– Slate has some newly discovered photos taken at the Lorraine Motel around the time King was killed.

– Amnesty International considers what King would think about today’s criminal justice system and what he had to say about capital punishment.

– The Huffington Post collects a number of quotes from MLK. Hopefully these are more accurate than the one chiseled in stone on the memorial.

– Finally,  consider U2’s song “MLK,” the final song song from their Unforgettable Fire (1984) album.

In thier 2009 performance, U2 dedicated the songs to Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who for fifteen years was under house arrest in Burma to suppress her struggle for democratic freedoms. I think King would have been happy to share his song with her. I think he’d be even prouder to share his birthday weekend this year with Burma’s release of a large number of dissidents and the government signing a cease fire with rebels. Walk on.

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On “Meet the Press” After Selma-to-Montgomery March
  • MLK Shot This Morning, er. . . Evening
  • Martin Luther King Jr. on “The Merv Griffin Show”
  • Martin Luther King Jr.: “The Other America”
  • The Tragic Civil Rights Hero Clyde Kennard
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and “We Shall Overcome”

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)

    Cover Songs: Ryan Adams Covers Ratt’s “Round and Round”

    This week, Chimesfreedom has focused on new versions of old songs, so here is one more. Ryan Adams recently performed an acoustic cover of Ratt’s 1984 hit song, “Round and Round” on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday. He has reportedly been playing the song periodically in concert while promoting his CD Ashes & Fire (2011). Check it out.

    Ryan Adams – Round and Round (Ratt cover) (Live on NPR) by rfp86

    Unfortunately, there is no Milton Berle appearance as in the original Ratt video.

  • Song of the Day: “The Weekend” by David Rawlings Machine
  • Caitlin Cary After Whiskeytown
  • Ryan Adams Covers Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These”
  • Runner of the Woods Debut Album: “Thirsty Valley”
  • NC Music Love Army Continues Music’s History of Protest
  • Ryan Adams, not Bryan, Sings “Run to You”!

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)

    Football Songs: Tim Tebow’s St. Elmo’s Fire

    st. elmo's fire John Parr, who recorded the 1980s hit “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” for the Brat Pack movie St. Elmo’s Fire has decided to re-record the song in honor of . . . a football player. Parr explained that he was inspired by Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback who is known for talking about his Christianity and for kneeling in thanks on the field of play. Some, like Parr, see inspiration in Tebow, while others see hype for a mediocre quarterback.

    Parr’s recorded “Tim Tebow’s Fire.” Warning: If you are a fan of the movie, St. Elmo’s Fire, you might want to avoid listening the the new version and getting it stuck in your head.

    The phrase “St. Elmo’s Fire” comes from a weather phenomenon involving electrical charges commonly seen by sailors during thunderstorms. It was named after a mispronunciation of St. Ermo or St. Erasmus, the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors. Whether or not you think of Tebow as some kind of saint, he certainly has become a phenomenon.

  • Purple Rain: Prince at 2007 Super Bowl
  • Doug Flutie and the Hail Mary Pass
  • Football Song: “At My Weakest Moment”
  • Justice Byron White on the Football Field
  • A Schoolhouse Rock Lesson for Hank Williams Jr.
  • Super Bowl Songs: Bon Iver & “Wisconsin”

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)

    Cover Songs: Wilco, Mavis Staples, and Nick Lowe cover “The Weight”

    In December, three music heavyweights got together backstage at the Civic Opera House in Chicago and jammed on The Band’s classic song, “The Weight.” Wilco, Nick Lowe, and Mavis Staples took turns on the verses.

    Staples is no stranger to the song, having performed the song with her family and The Band on Martin Scorsese’s classic rock film, The Last Waltz.

    The song’s writer, Robbie Robertson, as well as other members of The Band have commented on the song’s meaning through the years and the fact that the characters in the song are named after people they knew. For an interesting detailed analysis of the lyrics — such as “Who was Crazy Chester?,” check out this article from Peter Viney. For example, it is “Fanny,” not “Annie” in the chorus, and the Nazareth is in Pennsylvania. The Dallas Observer has a recent short article about the song “The Weight,” including some discussion of how the song abides along with links to some other versions.

    What do you think of the jam version of “The Weight”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’s Last Waltz
  • Levon Helm RIP
  • You Can’t Raise a Caine Back Up
  • Dylan’s Inspiration: “Drifting Too Far From the Shore”
  • The Unsatisfying Ending of Scorsese’s “Silence” That Is Still Perfect
  • Uncle Tupelo’s Last Concert on May 1, 1994

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)

    Pop Culture Roundup (9 Jan. 2012 Edition)

    Kathleen Edwards In case you have been deep in the NFL playoffs or if you live in Iowa or New Hampshire and have been too busy listening to presidential candidates, here is this week’s roundup of some of the stories about music, film, and pop culture that you might have missed.

    — Music —

    Patti Smith has written a song about Amy Winehouse and will include the tune on her next CD.

    Cee Lo Green manaaged to anger religious leaders, atheists, and John Lennon fans with a New Year’s “Imagine” lyrics change. He later explained why he changed the lyrics.

    Jump! Van Halen — including David Lee Roth — played a small club this week to warm up for their upcoming tour.

    Rodney Crowell’s website has three live acoustic songs for free download. Nice.

    Kathleen Edwards’s new CD, released later this month, was co-produced by Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) w/ guest artists.

    For the first time ever, in 2011, digital sales of music topped the physical sale of music.

    Grammy-winning musician Youssou N’Dour will run in Senegal’s presidential election next month.

    Charlie Louvin’s new memoir recounts Oasis-type disharmony with his brother when the Louvin Brothers toured.

    Terry Ardolino, the drummer with NRBQ from 1974-2004, passed away at the age of 56. RIP.

    Freddie Milano, one of the Belmonts who sang with Dion on a number of classic rock and roll songs, passed away this week. After Dion left the original Belmonts behind (and a falling out and litigation followed), Milano continued to sing with the group while pursing his education. When he passed away he was working with the less fortunate, helping indigent people detained at Rikers Island jail in New York City. After Milano’s death was announced, Dion wrote a short tribute on his Facebook page, stating how Milano played an important role in his younger life: “We had our ups and downs through the years but that’s how things go in families, even rock-and-roll families. I will always remain grateful for his contribution in 1958 & 59 – may he rest in peace and rock on in heaven.” Milano was known for his great harmonies in the group on such songs as “I Wonder Why.”  RIP.

    You may also hear and see Milano (on your right) in this performance of “A Teenager in Love.”


    — Movies —

    This year in movies “might just be the geekiest ever.” — IMDb editor Keith Simanton.

    A Bridesmaids Sequel Without Kristen Wiig?

    Bridesmaids Kristen Wiig The Chicago Tribune listed 10 films to see this winter from Michael Phillips.

    The Tree of Life originally included a planned Adam and Eve sequence.

    War Horse actor Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to be in the Star Trek sequel, perhaps as a villain.

    Red Tails — an action film produced by George Lucas about WWII African-American Tuskegee Airmen — is out Jan. 20.


    — Television —

    Betty White has a new hidden-camera TV show of seniors pulling pranks.

    Donald Trump     announced his biggest Celebrity Apprentice cast ever.

    What happened to Ted Williams, the “man with the golden voice” who was found homeless last year? (video)

  • Who Flipped a Coin With Ritchie Valens?: The Day the Music Died and the Coin Toss Controversy
  • Dion Has the Blues
  • Charlie Louvin RIP
  • Bruce Springsteen Releases New Protest Song About ICE Protests: “Streets of Minneapolis”
  • The Stanley Brothers, Bruce Springsteen, and “Rank Strangers to Me” in Our Modern Times
  • The Ending of “Judgment at Nuremberg” And the Film’s Lesson for Today

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)