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Students
sing better than stars Diversions Editor In
the wake of Sept. 11, Americans were assaulted from all forms of media
in an attempt to garner sentiment, play with emotions, or draw support
for the country. Some of these attempts came from the music industry,
where numerous big-name artists put out songs written directly for the
attacks on the United States. You might have heard these songs being
played on the radio, or just heard about the controversy surrounding
some of them. Either way, they were there, and a year after, I think it
is time to look back on those songs and see what they really consisted
of. A
good portion of the songs being tied in with Sept. 11 sentiments are
country songs maybe because country seems to be the genre of music
that conveys those emotions so well, or maybe it is because the country
artists jumped at the first chance to make a few extra bucks. It
doesn t matter though, does it? What matters is the songs are there
and in the public s ear. So let s sit down for a minute and talk
about just a few of those songs, which came out. First of all, we ll
start with Alan Jackson s Where Were You (When the World Stopped
Turning)? I had trouble actually figuring out if this song was
talking about the attacks, or just about love in general. He really took
all those heartfelt emotions (pain, love, patriotism, anger) and wiped
them all out, leaving the only thing a country song ever seems to need
to be successful love. Yeah,
he did talk a little bit about the attacks, but in each chorus it went
back to the same thing, love. He left out all the other emotions people
might be feeling. But that s OK, because I don t listen to Alan
Jackson anyway, so I don t have to be subjected to it. Along
with Jackson s song, Toby Keith also came out with one, and a
seemingly very popular one. He titled his, Courtesy of the Red,
White, and Blue, but I think the song should have been I m a
Hick Through and Through and This is How I Feel. The whole song is
basically talking about that good Southern way of living. And how is
that? Well, if something/someone pisses you off, just put a put a boot
in their ass, right? Yeah, well, basically, this song gives the type of
America is the greatest! We re untouchable! Screw with us and
you ll regret it! crap that got us into that situation in the first
place. So personally, this song can just be continued to played down
South where people can go around believing that stuff. For God s sake
though, please keep it away from the civilized people. The song is
stupid and exceptionally childish. This song isn t even worthy of any
courtesy from the red, white, and blue, OK? But, people supported it by
buying the album. It just goes to show how low we ve sunk in these
times. Anyway,
on to different, much better and worthier songs. To help cool the angers
and dry the tears of all Americans, Ray Stevens did what he does best.
He made people laugh. Yes, this is also a childish song, but it s
childish in the fact that it s supposed to be funny and just poke fun
at the situation, unlike Keith s song, which was serious (in an
ignorant sort of way). Stevens
released Osama Yo Mama after the attacks to help get people s
minds off of the losses they had suffered. In our time of need, instead
of fueling the anger and pride people felt in a stupid sort of way (like
the previous artist in this review did), Stevens gave us a reason to
smile. They say laughter is the best medicine, and if anyone can give it
in large doses, it s Ray Stevens. With
numerous singers coming out with songs in light of the tragedy, one has
to wonder their true motives. Granted, some of them probably just needed
to write stuff down and get it out, but how many actually did it for the
good of America and not for the good of their pocket-books? I found one
group that did. They re
not known nationally, and they get no radio play whatsoever, but the
song they wrote, recorded and put out after the incident captures the
true American in a way no professional was able to do. They
are Mr. Hansen s fifth-grade class at Easterbrook Elementary School.
Their song is simply titled 9-11. Like the title, the song is
simple, but it cuts right through the chase. The kids voices are
completely off-key, but their hearts are more in place than anyone
else s. Plus, it was wonderful to hear a song by the actual future of
America, rather than some money-grabbing rednecks. Truly, this is the
best post-9-11 song, which could possibly have come out. You can find
this song at http://bobreidmusic.com/911.htm. Trust
me, it s a much better deal to buy this CD than to support Keith s
pursuit for some new cowboy boots. |