June is Black Music Month: According to George W Bush...

[redirish28]

Okay my wife has a habit of surfing the White House page every once in a while to see if Bush issued any Executive Orders.

Now she was on there today and found this Proclamation.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080531-2.html

and reads in part:

Throughout the course of American history, black musicians have used their great talents to share the richness of the African-American experience and to develop a uniquely American style of music enjoyed throughout the world. This month, we honor the pioneers of African-American music and today's contemporary artists who have enriched the lives of people everywhere.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2008 as Black Music Month. I encourage all Americans to learn more about the history of black music and to enjoy the great contributions of African-American singers, musicians, and composers.


My wife is like... Couldn't they have picked a better name for the Proclamation? What is Black music? You have African Americans artist in almost EVERY aspect of a lot of different types of music. Does that mean because an African American Artist produces a song in the pop style that it is now "Black Music"?

Or is she making something out of nothing?

[Berry Cool]

1. I'm surprised Bush didn't say something like

"Isn't all music 'black music'? Ah mean, ya lookit the sheet o' music...it's printed there in black...all the notes...it's ALL black music!"

[taterguy]

2. Something tells me Bush hasn't been listening to much of this black music

But maybe he doesn't pay attention to the lyrics

:shrug:

Public Enemy, Fight the Power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jym-RtHHG0s

[Canuckistanian]

11. I wouldn't give much thought to Shrub's taste in music...

Didn't he once say that he liked the Beatles "until they got all weird"?

[taterguy]

12. He claimed that Alejandro Escovedo's song Castanets was on his Ipod

That's a great song.

When Escovedo found out he dropped it from his live set list because it was "bad karma."

[warren pease]

3. To Bushie, black music means a minstrel show, white guys in blackface...

...eating watermelon and groveling to Mister Charlie. Then pickin' de ol' banjo and singin' Stephen Foster songs about darkies an' de land o' cotton an' de' ol' folks at home.

And acting shiftless and lazy, too, since we all know the slaves had it so easy on the plantation that the massuhs had to practically beg them to work, and half the time they'd tell him to fuck off and go back to watermelon and shuckin' and jivin'.

Then just for laughs, the Codpiece in Chief returns to the offal office and fires the entire civil rights division of the DoJ. They haven't been much use for the past eight years anyway, so it's mostly a symbolic gesture.

Makes the rotten fucker feel good, though, and that's all that really matters these days. Distracts him from screwing with the nuclear launch codes for another hour or so.


wp

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. June is Black Music Appreciation Month and Prince will turn 50 in 6 days! n/t

[magellan]

6. OMG

Now I feel old. We went to see his Purple Rain tour twice. My ears are STILL ringing. lol

[argyl]

5. Hey,Bush,why no shout out to Pat Boone? He seriously ripped off Little Richard

for his contribution to "Black Music" and his politics are right up your dirty little alley.

[magellan]

7. Every month is Black Music Appreciation Month

It's sad that it needs to be said. Most of our music has its roots in what African Americans brought to the scene: gospel, jazz, blues, swing, big band, rock & roll, and so on up the musical ladder. It's hard to find a genre of American music that can legitimately claim it wasn't influenced in some way by African American musicians. Even Country.

[Dr Fate]

10. Yup- Even Country was hugely influenced by Black musical traditions...

Listen to some good old Jimmie Rodgers or Bob Wills for more info!!!

[uppityperson]

8. Did you notice this picture on the wh front page?

President George W. Bush greets Thomas Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the church's headquarters Thursday, May 29, 2008, in Salt Lake City. Also pictured at right is Henry Eyring, First Counsel in the First Presidency. White House photo by Eric Draper

http://origin.sltrib.com/news/ci_9414075
"President Bush chatted for nearly an hour Thursday with LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson about issues including U.S. foreign policy, Middle East peace, the economy and energy, according to White House press secretary Dana Perino. The Mormon leader also mentioned his long-standing friendship with Bush's parents, Perino said. "


Back to the subject at hand, what IS "black music"? I could understand "black musicians", but black music? Then again, I am a pale middle aged female, so perhaps I just don't understand.

[Dr Fate]

9. Every month is black music month unless you listen to shit. n/t

n/t

[Patsy Stone]

13. This happens every year.

June is always Black Music Month. I've been in wholesale music and video distribution for over 20 years.

[Monk06]

14. As in Charlie Pride? The only other black musician that wore a cowboy hat was Gatemouth Brown.

[Buns_of_Fire]

15. He's not going to dance again, is he?