If and when Pete Seeger dies

[question everything]

will all the networks and the "blogosphere" go nuts and will talk about him non-stop?

I doubt it.

[havocmom]

1. Sadly, his passing will be a tiny blip

And I think he is still an original.

[grantcart]

2. "If" Well "if" he doesn't it will eventually become noteworthy at some point in time.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. but it will rip the heart out of

those of us who love him , and we will talk about him and mourn his passing

[DemBones DemBones]

4. What do you mean "if"? Everybody dies!

But, no, the networks won't go nuts when Pete dies. Walter Cronkite may not get much attention, either, if he dies before MJ's funeral and autopsy results. Remember the months of Anna Nicole all the time news?

[OmahaBlueDog]

5. Pete wasn't a multi-billion dollar industry

MJ was. MJ also died young; Pete is a ripe old age.

Pete wrote some great music and will certainly get some well earned props when he goes onto whatever comes next.

[question everything]

19. Is this the reason? A multi billion dollar industry?

and, apparently, he is 400 million dollars in debt.

I understand it was news but it does not end.

[OmahaBlueDog]

41. He domiated American pop music for about 10 years

He had the biggest selling album (to this day) of all time. He was the subject of a Disney attraction created by no less than Steven Spielberg. He influenced fashion and revolutionized music video.

Yep, he blew all the money and then some. Nevertheless, he is as iconic to those born between --say 1960-1975 -- as Elvis was to baby boomers.

The news coverage does not surprise me. Remember Princess Diana. It was a solid 3 days of non-stop coverage. I think it will begin to abate, somewhat, by late tomorrow.

[TexasProgresive]

30. Pete Seeger is a hero - a real American treasure

MJ was just a pop idol.His music may've given you enjoyment but did it make you think, did it change the way you think did it change the way America thinks. I don't think so.

[OmahaBlueDog]

45. Ahhh... the my music is better than your music card

Is Elvis just a pop idol? If you don't like Rock or pop music, you probably think "yes". If you recognize that Elvis brings Rock and Roll, which until then is principally an African American musical genre, into white households and cements it's popularity, then you say "no, of course not."

I'll agree that Pete Seger wrote important components of the 60's protest movement soundtrack..."changed the way America thinks"...that might be taking it to far. National Treasure? Yes, OK...but Willie Nelson has raised millions to help American Farmers...Jimmy Buffet has done incredible work for manatee preservation and performed benefits for John Kerry, Lawton Chiles, and others. Are they American Treasures? In a group of 100 people under 40, will more of them recognize "Billie Jean" or "We Shall Overcome"?

It also bears noting that, notwithstanding the horrible allegations that came out as a result, Jackson did, for a time, give considerable time and money to bring joy to children suffering from severe illness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. He was blacklisted, I expect MAYBE for The American Experience

to do a remembrance

And for god sakes I WISH that was exactly what happened with EVERY actor, actress, singer and other hanger on.

I may like the music, but for god sakes I do not need to grieve... and reality is most Americans shouldn't either.

It speaks to the culture of consumption and how manipulated it is

[PSzymeczek]

14. American Masters

has already done a really good two-hour biographical program on our dear Pete. It's available on DVD from PBS, too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. I know, I'd expect an update, why I said American Experience

[question everything]

27. Someone on DU a few days ago, tried to compaer Jackson to Lennon

No, they cannot.

Both Seeger and Lennon fought for a better world through their songs and appearances, and with the consequences that came with that (no, not the final murder).

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Different eras, different people, different goals

but in a way, as flawed as MJ was... and lord knows he was... he did as well. With the concerts for Africa.

It just wasn't a life long pursuit, and if it had, knowing what I know of the music industry of the time... as gifted as he was... he'd been ignored. These days, even more.

Which also speaks volumes of the culture we live in

[JI7]

34. Michael Jackson did a lot for people also, he was too young during the 60s activism

days, but he did do a lot of good for people around the world.

[dipsydoodle]

7. I doubt so too

but then he didn't have the easily measurable level of popularity that MJ did.

BTW - I've been a fan of Pete Seegers since the mid sixties. Still got his Learn 5 String Banjo book from that time around somewhere or other.

[timtom]

43. Me too.

And it pains me to have to report that I missed getting the record that went with it. It was in a thrift store. I left, thought better of it, bu the record was gone.

[Jackeens]

8. Spooky, was just watching a video of him tonight at the pre-inauguration concert.

I adore that man with a passion, don't even want to think of his passing. Legend.

[jobycom]

9. They won't notice when my dad dies, either.

And to me there will be no bigger story in the universe on that day.

The size of the story doesn't depend on how much that story impacts people or how much that story might objectively be worth reporting. It depends on how many people it affects. Most people here could name ten songs Michael Jackson did without thinking, and sing half of them. Maybe 10% of the people here could do that for Pete Seeger. Not to mention, Pete is what, 90? He missed his chance to die tragically young and unexpectedly around the time I was born.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Actually many people could sing Seeger's songs, not that they know it

they are the popular music that is one vein of American culture. A few go back even longer than him...

But those you'd know if you knew a bit about US Musical History

[madrchsod]

11. god no....he`s done more for the planet than mj did

but that does`t matter.


"quick-send in the clowns...... don`t bother- they`re here"

[bobbolink]

16. You took the words right out of my mouth....SEEGER has done so MUCH!

Listing all that Pete Seeger has accomplished would take a lot more news coverage!

[madamesilverspurs]

31. Another who helped to bring about the possibility

of Jackson's phenomenal success, Mary Travers (of Peter, Paul and Mary). Gifted and giving, informed and caring. And in failing health.

[Bjorn Against]

12. He will get a lot of attention on the blogs, but the networks not so much

While Pete Seeger is not as well known as many musicians he may well have had the biggest impact on history of any other musician in this nation's history. He was blacklisted during the McCarthy era but still kept on fighting the system, he wrote "We Shall Overcome" and played an important role in the civil rights movement, he was a major symbol of protest music during the Vietnam era, and he played a huge role in getting the Hudson River cleaned up. Seeger's legacy goes far beyond his music so he better get a lot of recognition, but somehow I think the big networks will just give him a passing mention.

[rug]

13. Let's enjoy his music before he's gone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAIM02kv0g#

[onethatcares]

15. Will they ever tell America that Pete wrote

"This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California, to the New York Island,
From the redwood forests, to the gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me"



I highly doubt it, it'll be something like: Pete Seeger, folk singer died today at the age of_________, He got his start in the early sixties.

[The empressof all]

17. Actually Woodie Guthrie wrote that

Pete took it up after his death and helped popularize it.

[Zywiec]

22. Probably - just more American disinformation. n/t

[malaise]

20. It will be up to his fans

I know the folk singers will seize the moment.

[Berry Cool]

21. I think he will get some pretty good coverage

because hell, he's a legend. And in part because he's lasted so long.

I think he will be given a fair sendoff. And if there isn't as much obsessive attention paid to it, let it be because it was a peaceful, noncontroversial end in which he died in his sleep at a grand old age. Would that everyone could have that!

[11 Bravo]

23. Perhaps not, but that won't stop someone here at DU from pissing on his grave.

[Raine]

33. Yup

because pissing on dead people is just sport here in the DU by those who consider themselves so superior to those of us who might shed a tear for the departed. x( :mad:

[JI7]

24. no, but Seeger is much older and JAckson is much famous and popular

it doesn't mean one is better than the other.

i guess it's how Princess Diana got a lot more coverage when she died than when the Queen Mother died.

[michreject]

25. I doubt it too

I can't name one thing that he has did.

I know he plays music. That's about it.

[question everything]

26. One thing that he has done - was active during the 40s and 50s

an unapologetic socialist who was black listed, together with his group The Weavers.

All the folk songs and singers: Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez followed Seeger and sang his songs.

Like John Lennon and in contrast to Michael Jackson, he was an activist, fighting for a better world and facing the consequences.

[michreject]

29. I never liked folk music

I listened to rock in the late 60's and motown in the eatly 60's. I was raised in Detroit.

[question everything]

37. Seeger's and The Weavers' folk music was not about a taste

they were about issues that affected all of us, for which many went to the streets to protest and to be jailed:


If you love your Uncle Sam,
Bring them home, bring them home.
Support our boys in Vietnam,
Bring them home, bring them home.

It'll make our generals sad, I know,
Bring them home, bring them home.
They want to tangle with the foe,
Bring them home, bring them home.

They want to test their weaponry,
Bring them home, bring them home.
But here is their big fallacy,
Bring them home, bring them home

=====


Well I got a hammer,
And I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing, all over this land.

It's the hammer of Justice,
It's the bell of Freedom,
It's the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

=======

We'll never know all the how's and why's
But we know that we're here
And if we believe God gave us gifts
He'd want us to use them now
Today, this year.

To build a world where all can share
The big and small, the low and high
We'll never know if we will succeed
But I believe that we must try.

=========

If you want higher wages, let me tell you what to do;
You got to talk to the workers in the shop with you;
You got to build you a union, got to make it strong,
But if you all stick together, now, ‘twont he long.
You'll get shorter hours,
Better working conditions.
Vacations with pay,
Take your kids to the seashore.

It ain’t quite this simple, so I better explain
Just why you got to ride on the union train;
‘Cause if you wait for the boss to raise your pay,
We’ll all be waiting till Judgment Day;
We’ll all he buried - gone to Heaven -
Saint Peter’ll be the straw boss then.

======

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose under heaven.

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep.

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together.

A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing.

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of peace. . .I swear it's not too late.

=====


And many many more

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. You're not missing much.

He was a very good person and had lots of wonderful things to sayy and do.

But he didn't have the same natural talent as MJ.

[Bjorn Against]

36. If you miss the guy who wrote "We Shall Overcome" you are missing a lot

I don't think you can compare Pete Seeger to Michael Jackson, they don't have anything in common and their accomplishments are far different. Pete Seeger may not dance like Michael Jackson does, but he was certainly a much better songwriter and had a much bigger impact on our nation's history.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. Pete Seeger did not write "We Shall Overcome"

Like most of his work, he just sang it.

[Bjorn Against]

47. He changed the lyrics and introduced it to the civil rights movement

There was an older version of the song, but Seeger modified it and introduced it to the civil rights movement. He did cover songs from a lot of others as is common in folk music, but a good number of songs that have made a historic impact were written by him. "If I had a Hammer", "Where have all the Flowers Gone", "Bring 'em Home", "Turn, Turn, Turn", "Little Boxes", these are all songs that made a historical impact far beyond anything Michael Jackson ever did.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

48. "these are all songs far beyond anything MJ ever did."

Disagree.

There all rather bad songs, were only popular because other groups sang them, and their historical significance, which is minor, has nothing really to do with Seeger.

[Bjorn Against]

50. How much do you know about Seeger?

I am willing to bet you have taken very little time to study what he has done, because you are really looking ridiculous by asserting that Michael Jackson had more of a historical impact than Pete Seeger. Watch "The Power of Song" and you will see that Pete Seeger has done a hell of a lot more than Michael Jackson has ever done, and certainly a hell of a lot more than you will ever accomplish.

[fishwax]

51. we are the world was kind of a big deal

:shrug:

Also, "Little Boxes" is another that Seeger made famous, but did not write. I'm a huge fan of Pete Seeger, though ...

[Bjorn Against]

35. I am sure you know Pete Seeger better than you think you do

He wrote "If I had a Hammer", "We Shall Overcome", "Where Have all the Flowers Gone", "Turn, Turn, Turn", "Bring 'em Home", the list goes on. Because of his blacklisting by Congress during the McCarthy era most people never really got to know who Pete Seeger was, but almost everyone knew his songs. The guy is a true hero, and that is not celebrity worship to say that he actually made a major impact on American history not just through music but through activism. I would suggest everybody read up on who Pete Seeger is because he has one of the most amazing life stories of any musician in this country.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. He also helped revive many older popular songs from the Civil War as well

such as "John Brown"

Listening to we shall overcome, the J. Baez version right now

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. Since he isn't that well known, no

[cagesoulman]

40. That would be the loss of an American icon

His stepmom, Ruth Crawford Seeger, was a Berkeley-trained classical composer who, for political reasons, left the elitism of academic music and starting collecting American folk songs, focusing more on ethnomusicology. Her son owes a debt to her and we owe a debt to him.

"While in Washington D.C. Crawford Seeger worked closely with John and Alan Lomax at the Archive of American Folk Song at the Library of Congress to preserve and teach American folk music. Her arrangements and interpretations of American Traditional folk songs are among the most respected including transcriptions for: American Folk Songs for Children, Animal Folksongs for Children (1950) and American Folk Songs for Christmas (1953) Our Singing Country and Folk Song USA by John and Alan Lomax. However she is most well known for Our Singing Country (1941.) She also composed Rissolty Rossolty, an ‘American Fantasia for Orchestra’ based on folk tunes, for the CBS radio series American School of the Air."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=389&topic_id=5941656&mesg_id=5941656

[timtom]

42. But I,

I will feel a tremendous loss.

[Joe the Revelator]

46. Dying of old age is a lot different then dying suddenly at 50

[XemaSab]

49. My mom sure will

:hide: