I've received some email calling me on what I penned about this whole
thread. This is a long one with no bloody apologies...it IS after all a 313
list n'est ce pas? I got sumpin' to say, so delete now if yer not in the
mood.
Suffice it to say I've been called to task on proving both my validity in
offering my opinion as well as making generalizations while not looking at
the 'big' picture. While I appreciate your comments in response to my post,
the fact remains that independently the words both " Motown" and "techno"
denoted a nouveaux sound and feeling and since the inception of these
sounds/feelings BOTH words have gone on to define an era in musical history.
Any fool would already know that their is nothing truly new under the sun.
The surrealists and dadaists were directly influenced by the impressionists,
etc, etc, there is always somethign that "came first"---it's a moot point to
the argument. However, controlling a neurotic tendency to be so
macrocosmic, I concentrated on the subject at hand...this strange Detroit
pride thing that makes the listees so defensive.
Nonetheless, no two words in recent decades have denoted more powerful,
far-reaching musical influence or have initiated and influenced
socio-cultural change more dramatically than the aforementioned and it is
that that Detroit takes a stand about. I am not alone in this opinion
either, more movies, books, documentaries have spawned covering these two
topics/eras in world-wide cultural evolution than any I can remember in
decades.
With the exception of Jazz, technologically influenced music from Detroit is
arguably the only other truly original American artform, and yes, Detroit
was directly influenced by that as well. Just as jazz influenced how people
in the 20's, 30's and 40's danced, socialized and partied that same
influence had far reaching change into the very social fabric of their
lives, similar to Motown's effect as well as the Techno movement. I think I
can safely call it a "movement" now as it spans into its third decade.
As far as being a senior member on the list, that was just to reference that
I've more likely seen and experienced a lot more than most given my age. I
am solidly in my 40s and have worked in and/or around black music in this
city since the 70s....so hell yeah, my views and opinions have powerful
validity. The additional fact that I am a woman makes my views and opinions
that much fiercer, especially in view of the other bullshit thread that has
found its way into my mailbox.
I saw with my own two eyes what the power of Motown's music did to the very
social fabric of my country and have innumerable second hand references to
how it manifested itself on foreign soil. The recent 40 year anniversary of
Motown included countless interviews from the likes of Rod Stewart, Roger
Daltrey, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Ringo Starr all speaking to how that
"sound" directly influenced them...opening up a creative chakra that somehow
cemented a vibe in them. James Jamerson's basslines are still classic and
oft imitated in the 60's, 70's and 80's rock that followed...it still
influences. Motown became an adjective to describe, define and articulate
other sounds by countless music journalists and historians. I didn't do
that.
Moreover, that music came about during a time of rampant social unrest in
America. The socio-econimic racial issue between blacks and whites was
violent and songs like "Toubled Man" and "What's Goin' On" were being
played on white and even rock and roll radio stations simply on the merit
that they struck a chord in sooo many...they were undeniably powerful and
elicited an empathy in soooo many that walls began to tumble.
In the Motown anniversary film, more than one congressman, mayor and
senator, both black and white, commented to the fact that the civil rights
amendment would never have passed were it NOT for the phenomenon of Motown
music.
I didn't invent this all by myself. A rich tapestry absolutely! Hell yeah,
the Mississippi Delta blues, Nashville, Berlin, and countless other cities
have all had influence on the world as well as Detroit, but on a global
level Motown was the very first time any such black INDEPENDENT music
dominated the charts!!! Hence it has been romanticized in multiple
languages! AND IT REMAINS CLASSIC MUSIC TODAY!!! No, Detroit didn't invent
soul music....I didn't type that comment, but I stand firmly behind my
comment that no other city's sounds have been so POPULAR or sweepingly
influential on a global scale and I'm astounded that I am being called out
on it.
Berry Gordy did it with NO HELP whatsoever!!!! Even from a garage and
basement recording studio and headquarter. He was up against major, then
Jewish and Italian-mafia owned, recording industry machine with a pretty
rigorous track record of consuming black peoples' music and regurgitating it
as original white music AND an even more rigorous payola structure for
airplaying their chosen hits on the radio. Berry was a lone, black upstart
that broke through all of that, and perhaps, so was Juan Atkins when no one
AT ALL believed in their vision. They charted in spite of the machine and
in Juan's case I was one of the people responsible for getting him airplay
on a black owned station here in Detroit prior to Electrifyin Mojo or
anybody else...so I DO know what I am talking about, firsthand.
Sweeping generalizations are only valid when there is mucho historical
reference to VALIDIFY or add credence to a point. Not being a librarian I
shan't include a bibliography, but the facts of Detroit's influence have
been documented all over the world.
Why are any of you compelled to argue with that? Why does this commentary
make you defensive??
I would say now that the Hip-Hop revolution is next to be romanticized as
instigating sweeping cultural change. Never have sooo many young white,
asian, etc kids emulated the antics of black supastars as they do now. I'd
call that sweepiong social change, wouldn't you???
The techno sound has been repackaged and Eurocized and is making sweeping
change in America now. It is being ingested as European or British
originality, and has firmly infiltrated the American social structure. Do
you...would you, could you deny Detroit in laying claim to being ultimately
responsible for that, just because Americans are stupid propagandized morons
stuck within the structure of spoon-fed baby food culture???
Believe it or not, it was never Juan Atkins intention to be indie. He
simply has had no choice. Richie Hawtin, on the other hand, has had much
more choice as have the Prodigy (do you recall when they made dance music?)
and Chemical Brothers. You don't think that Juan has been hurt deeply by
this ignore-ance? Do you think there is no pain inherent to this odd and
fucked up equation that Detroit has been dealing with for soooo long? Do
you think this is not a black/white issue and not know that Detroit is
85-90% black????
Mike Banks and Jeff Mills are much more pragmatic and rebellious and came
out of the blocks knowing full well that the only way they could get the
sales and money needed to survive was to DIY.
I take it most of you've never been here, so I'll temper my keyboard and try
not to be so passionate about what I feel. Detroit has been denied and
dogged for so loooong that it is inherent for any Detroiter to get their
panties in a bunch when called out. When the american auto industry took it
in the nuts in the 70's the rug was pulled out from under us.
Shit, I was unemployed so long and for so many stretches in my life that I
could live life on a zero budget TOMORROW and not be fazed in the least.
Moreover, no other city in America has been dogged about being the murder
capital of the world more than Detroit. The entire world propagandized and
plotted against us. This is not defensiveness speaking...it is the truth.
Books have been written on only the negative/violent aspects of our town and
we've negatively headlined too many times to be counted in the past 30
years.
I/We have fought so long and hard with all odds against us that it is part
of who we are. We are a city that has been denied...period. Whether you
understand that or not makes no difference to me. Take it or leave it--I do
not expect you to understand.
We speak from the heart here. I pity people who live in an environment
replete with facades and falseness. Perhaps we story tell so much because
our story is sooo very real. The success or failure of our music fucking
means whether we eat or not. Pure and simple.
And do not get me started on the subject of women in our industry...my
nostrils are already flared enough.
Pit-Bitch
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
