It's been a good week for protest music. x invited me to quest blog here this Sunday and I lucked out.
Of all the protest songs out of history none fit the Occupy Wall Street movement better than "Joe Hill". And who better to sing it than Joan Baez who brought this message to millions with her performance at Woodstock. Here's Joan Baez on 11/11/11 brought to Occupy Wall Street by the Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Joe Hill by Joan Baez
Here's a link to another video of the event with better sound but it's not the whole song.
Joan Baez performing "Joe Hill" for Occupy Wall Street
And here's a link to Baez singing "Joe Hill" at Woodstock. This is the definitive version of this song.
Joan Baez "Joe Hill" 1969
And for the whole story here's a link to this diary posted on dkos by waydownsouth who was onstage with Joan at the show.
Performing with Joan Baez at Occupy Wall Street, Foley Square
There is a type of call and response where the songleader speaks the lyrics before they are sung. This helps the singers remember the words. Joan Baez does this at the end of "Joe Hill" above. This is a precursor to Mic Check or the Human Microphone used during general assemblies in the Occupy Movement. Listen to this wonderful version of "Blowing In The Wind" where Peter Yarrow, who sang on the hit of this song with Peter Paul and Mary, uses this spoken lyrics technique. At the end of the song he goes, "Mic Check", and then extemporizes, riffing on the lyrics to bring the Occupy Wall Street message.
Peter Yarrow plays "Blowing in the Wind" for Occupy Wall Street
much more ...
Much more indeed. Like Gogol Bordello at Occupy Burlington.
Gogol Bordello at Occupy Vermont-Burlington
And more Joan Baez.
JOAN BAEZ @ Occupy Wall Street Foley Sq (11/11/11) Veteran's Day "Where's My Apple Pie?"
JOAN BAEZ @ Occupy Wall Street Foley Sq (11/11/11) Veteran's Day concert "Salt Of The Earth"
Here's an extremely powerful image found at about 2:30 in the video above.
Soldier onstage with Joan Baez supports the 99% holding the Occupied Wall Street Journal.
I don't know this guy's name but as a beardo weirdo myself I really appreciate him. And so do the mother and daughter listening to his Occupy song.
Occupy Wall Street Folk Singer and Mother and Daughter 3 Oct 2011
This next one is mostly drums but what about that horn? What is it? Please help me out in the comments.
Occupy Wall Street Music Jam
This is a classic. Occupy Freestylin'.
Musical Revolution @ "Occupy Wallstreet"
As a dancer I've got to love the dancing. As a Jazz guy I dig the sax.
Occupy Wall Street - Song and Dance 1
And WTF? David effin Crosby and Graham effin Nash? How about that?
David Crosby and Graham Nash at Occupy Wall Street
They Want It All - Crosby & Nash
Military Madness - Crosby & Nash
Long Time Gone - Crosby & Nash
Teach Your Children - David Crosby & Graham Nash
After their show at Occupy Wall Street they went on Keith Olbeman to talk about it and did an acapella duet on "What Are There Names". Hat tip to jamess for turning me on to this interview in his David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Keith Olbermann diary.
11-08-11 1b - Occupy Wall Street, with Graham Nash and David Crosby - Countdown with Keith
Now it don't get any better than that. Until next week anyway.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry