Archive for the ‘music’ Category

From One Voodoo Child to Another: A Survey

Did you know that Jimi Hendrix’s iconic song “Voodoo Child” was recently declared the greatest guitar riff of all time? Here in The Bottom, we are partial to Hendrix’s acoustic blues, but no one can dispute his rock god status.  Johnny B. Goode and Living Colour also made the list, and Eddie Van Halen from [...]

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The Blues as Black History

All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it. And even then, on the rare occasions when something opens within, and the music enters, what we mainly hear, or hear corroborated are personal, private, vanishing evocations. But the man who creates the music is hearing something else, is dealing with [...]

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Lost & Found: Get Up! Edition

A few links, videos, and other online ephemera from our favorite sites this past week:

Yes they did: The photographer who brought us Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders has a wonderful series on his blog that features the reflections of the civil rights activists on Obama’s victory. Here are the folks, [...]

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“Can I Kick It?”: TBoH Election Playlist

This election day, stay strong, stay confident, and keep the positive vibes going with TBoH’s Obama Election Day 2008 Mix! Our playlist features uplifting songs that reflect the spirit of Senator Obama’s historical campaign.

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October’s Lyrics of the Month

The lyrics to “Thieves in the Night” spoke to me a few years ago when I first heard the track on Black Star’s album.

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I, Too, Sing America (2008)

Over a month has passed since jazz vocalist René Marie opened the annual state of the city address in Denver with the third movement of her suite, “Voice of My Beautiful Country.” Although she had been asked to sing the national anthem, her rendition combined the melody of “The Star-Spangled Banner” with the lyrics of [...]

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