a few years ago I visited Dakar, a friend of my parents took me to a
club, we listened to a Senegalese jazz band (jamming non stop). They
covered "Let It Be" with the lyrics sung in Wolof. That was a once in
a lifetime experience. Kept the middle-aged Americans happy with
their maudlin memories.
I wish the myth that the Beatles were superstar songwriters would be
laid to rest. They were good, the marketing was exceptional. What a
shame that West African bands cover Beatles songs but I've yet to hear
an American band cover a song from, let's say, Soweto, as if the
Beatle's songs were any better. Yeah, yeah, yeah they were
influential, that's to be expected when the same band plays forever on
the radio. Beavis and Butthead are influencing a genration of
comedians, maybe I'll revere them as geniuses.
Last weekend a friend said "you like acid jazz don't you?" and he put
an Average White Band album from the 70's on the turntable, played a
song and ... man that's not how I remember them. It was funky and
cool withn whacka-whacka guitar and happy, groovy rhythms. Hmmm, I'll
look into that album.
Hang tough,
Mark