Here’s an interesting video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkVed6OLe5l
I fell in love with it the first time that I saw it, and have watched it dozens of times. A group of Russians singing an old Ukrainian folk song in a train station in the eastern city of Blagoveschensk. Young, old, men, women, children, all joining in to sing accompanied by an accordionist. Almost everyone is singing, or at least clapping hands. Everyone is enjoying themselves. For a brief moment, all of them have forgotten their own troubles and are singing together as one.
My question is – Why can’t we do this here in the U.S.? If someone were to walk into a train station or airport terminal and start up an old folk song, would anyone join in? It is difficult to say, but there are a lot of factors that seem to dissuade the idea of a “musical group hug.”
As years go by, we have become more divisive. Very few people declare themselves as Americans; it is always prefixed with some other culture (African-, Asian-, Irish-, among many others). With that, there is no identity of an American culture. It is strange that so many other countries look to the U.S. for influence, especially in the entertainment industry, yet we as Americans born here refuse to recognize a culture of our own.
Almost all of us had some form of music program in elementary school. The teacher would bang on the piano while the students would sing old folk songs like “Polly Wolly Doodle” or “Shoo Fly.” They were simple songs that everyone could sing. As time passed, it may have inspired one or two students to pursue music as a major study, while the rest sought entertainment elsewhere. Interest in music became more pop-oriented, and simple folk songs were looked down upon. Sad, really, as these simple songs were what all of us could do well together.
Before radio and phonograph records 100 years ago, musical entertainment was live, and that involved public singing a lot more. If you read history books, we learn of soldiers singing around camp or on the march, choral singing being a part of almost every Christian religion, and so many social circles. There were hundreds of songs that everyone knew the words to. A few of the most popular have stood the test of time. Old folk standards like “Yankee Doodle,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “America (My Country Tis of Thee)” are still familiar, but how many people would join in if you broke out with one of them in a public place?
Today, some people won’t even stand for the National Anthem, so how can you expect them to join in on a folk song that celebrates being American? Stephen Foster wrote some fantastic tunes in the mid-19th century, many we still recognize today such as “Oh Susanna,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” and “Camptown Races.” However, due to certain words in the lyrics that today are considered racist, these songs are pushed aside. The sad part of this is that ALL of Foster’s songs are being ignored because of this narrow-minded attitude. There is that whole ignorance of these songs being written during a different time in our history, as well as that there are a number of Foster songs that have absolutely no cultural reference that are lumped into the prejudicial bag. I implore anyone to listen to his songs “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” or probably one of the most beautiful songs ever written, “Hard Times Come Again No More.”
The decline of religion has also had a factor of lost public music. There was a time not so long ago that everyone knew the words and could sing non-denominational Christians songs like “Faith of Our Fathers” and “Amazing Grace.” Today, someone is going to be offended by a group singing one of these songs in public. With the acceptance of different religions into our society, the U.S. of old has been looked upon as offensive.
We don’t really have to go back too far to find American folk songs, or at least songs that could fall into that category. Many songs by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and The Weavers are simple yet effective. But instead of being aurally satisfied, we look to bright lights and hundreds of dancers on stage to tell us what is good music. And what message is this sending? For example, we have been inundated with messages of how women want equality and respect, yet this year’s Superbowl halftime show was showcasing two women in revealing costumes shaking their booties and pole dancing. But I digress …
Unfortunately, I don’t see it going anywhere but down even more. I hope that I am wrong. I would love to see the people of this country appreciate the good things that we have experienced, quit worrying about offending a small minority, and sing together something simple that can please everyone.
I will stop for now, as I may get too worked up. Chew on it and comment.
Luegra 