Today is National Pie Day. The holiday was created by the National Pie Council. You may learn more about pies on the council’s website, with facts like: “Pie has been around since the ancient Egyptians,” early crusts were not edible, and most early American pies were meat pies.
I do not understand why pies need representation, but the holiday is a good excuse for some Three Stooges paying tribute to the Egyptian pie founders.
In response to popular demand, Chimesfreedom continues its periodic discussion of the best gospel songs by pop singers. In this Post, we consider one gospel song overwhelmingly identified with one pop singer, another gospel song that is recorded by many singers, and finally, a beautiful song about being an agnostic that deserves a place next to other songs of faith.
“Morning Has Broken,” Cat Stevens.
This song is so associated with Cat Stevens — now Yusaf Islam — that for a long time, I thought it was one of his original songs. But the Christian hymn first appeared in 1931, and the music goes back even further to the nineteenth century as a traditional Gaelic tune, “Bunessan.”
“Morning has Broken” is a simple song with a simple message of being thankful for each day: “Praise with elation, praise every morning / God’s recreation of the new day.”
Alfred E. Brumley wrote “I’ll Fly Away” in 1931. He was picking cotton when he came up with the song. As he later explained: “I was dreaming of flying away from that cotton field when I wrote I’ll Fly Away.” Many believe the song is the most-recorded gospel song of all time. If true, it is not surprising because it is a beautiful song.
A number of country singers have recorded the song, including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Charley Pride, Jim Reeves, and Alan Jackson. Etta James does an uplifting version. Kanye West does an excellent version too. I especially like Alison Krauss’s version, and in particular this version with Gillian Welch from the film O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000).
One might dispute including “Let the Mystery Be” from Iris DeMent’s Infamous Angel (1993) album in a discussion of Gospel songs because the song reflects DeMent’s agnosticism rather than faith in a higher power. Yet, the song only could have been written by someone who was raised in a religious environment.
DeMent grew up in a Pentecostal family where she was not allowed to listen to non-gospel music, and the song brings out the division between her upbringing and her adult beliefs. But “letting the mystery be” takes a leap of faith too. And, as in many of the best gospel songs, it highlights a beautiful struggle in a beautiful song.
Some say they’re goin’ to a place called Glory and I ain’t saying it ain’t a fact. But I’ve heard that I’m on the road to purgatory and I don’t like the sound of that. Well, I believe in love and I live my life accordingly. But I choose to let the mystery be.
After last year’s excellent “Darth Vader Kid” (“The Force”) commercial, Volkswagen has gone back to the Star Wars films to present one of the few things that can compete with a kid: dogs. Below is “The Bark Side,” which is Volkswagen’s new commercial that like last year’s commercial features the Star Wars “Imperial March” theme music.
The dogs each represent someone or some thing from Star Wars, including the whippet dog as an All Terrain Armored Transport vehicle (AT–AT). Can you find Princess Leia, Luke, and Han Solo? If you are having trouble identifying the dogs, check out this slide show. The VW commercial will air during the Super Bowl like last year’s “The Force,” featuring the Darth Vader Kid.
When I saw the “Bark Side” title, I initially thought we were going to get a cover of Eddie and the Cruisers — I mean John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Well, maybe the dogs will cover “On the Dark Side” next.
What do you think of the new commercial? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Singer Etta James has passed away from leukemia at age 73. You’ll be hearing a lot of her greatest hit, “At Last,” so here let us take a moment to close our eyes and listen to the more appropriately named, “All I Could Do Was Cry.” RIP.
That is real emotion you hear in James’s vocals. Supposedly, “All I Could Do Was Cry” was inspired by her former boyfriend Harvy Fuqua dating Gwen Gordy. The song was written by Gwen Gordy and her former boyfriend, Billy Davis (and Berry Gordy). Fuqua and Gwen Gordy eventually got married, so there is genuine tension in the song from one of the broken-hearted writers and the broken-hearted singer. That is complicated, but the result is brilliant.
What is your favorite Etta James song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Bruce Springsteen released a new single today, “We Take Care of Our Own” from his forthcoming album Wrecking Ball, due to be released March 6. The new album reportedly addresses tough economic times and has been described as an angry album. Check out the new single below.
The song combines common Springsteen themes of anger about recent events (“From the shotgun shack to the Superdome / We yelled ‘help’ but the cavalry stayed home”) to questions about recent economic hard times (“Where’s the work that’ll set my hands, my soul free?”) to a possible reference to the Springsteen canon (“Where’s the promise, from sea to shining sea?”) to a final hopeful chorus aching to be misused by a presidential candidate (“Wherever this flag is flown / We take care of our own”). Blogness on the Edge of Town has its own take on the anthem quality of the song.
Here’s the track list for the new album:
1. We Take Care of Our Own 2. Easy Money 3. Shackled and Drawn 4. Jack of All Trades 5. Death to My Hometown 6. This Depression 7. Wrecking Ball 8. You’ve Got It 9. Rocky Ground 10. Land of Hope and Dreams 11. We Are Alive
What do you think of the new song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Today is National Pie Day. The holiday was created by the National Pie Council. You may learn more about pies on the council’s website, with facts like: “Pie has been around since the ancient Egyptians,” early crusts were not edible, and most early American pies were meat pies.
, due to be released March 6. The new album reportedly addresses tough economic times and has been described as an angry album. Check out the new single below.