Popular Music

[Gintaras]

Probably not worth delving into it that far.  But, now you've got me remembering Jukebox Hero, goddamit!

[barton]

Sorry.  You've entered the realm of serious earworms.  Chekov in "ST: The Wrath of Khan" earworms.

[Gintaras]

This got the earworms out,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui4c0PKvVMU

Look for Mama Cass in the audience, jaw dropped, soaking Janis all in.  For many this was the first time they heard Joplin outside San Francisco.

[Gintaras]

Another great clip from Monterey,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUJiNCO6Qr0&feature=related

Check out Jimi Hendrix and Mike Bloomfield jamming to Ravi at the 6:30 mark of this video.  No more earworms.

[Gintaras]

You just can't beat music from Mali.  If I didn't know better, I would say this is the roots of rhythm and blues,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4uJP6atMP8

[barton]

Man, I love that Monterey Pop stuff -- the first LP I ever bought, around age 10, was Shankar live at Monterey, and I would play "Dhun" and "Bhimpalasi" on the stereo until my parents thought my previous life must have been in India.

I was generally attracted to songs with mantra-like refrain -- e.g. Eric Burdon and War, "Spill the Wine." 
(spill the wine, take that pearl)

Later, "Yes" would embed itself in my gray matter with "owner of a lonely heart, much better than...."

[Gintaras]

The atmosphere at Monterey was so good, and the performances heartfelt and genuine.  I found myself choking up on Janis Joplin's performance.  Bought the Criterion set since my son was anxious to see and hear more after watching the movie.  A lot of extra material, along with full shows by Hendrix and Otis Redding, which had been released separately.  

[madupont]

You just can't beat music from Mali.  If I didn't know better, I would say this is the roots of rhythm and blues,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4uJP6atMP8

Ah,my, Boubacar has grown so much older now.  It is indeed the roots of rhythm and blues. We discussed this about two years ago but in which of the four sections of  this forum can't be sure. Cincy-man (from Cincinnati) brought in some youtube of Kar-kar juke-ing and I pointed out to Cincy,"Look at him and you can see that he rocks the melody physically".

The thing about Mali to me is that my son had a girlfriend named "Mali"; at least, I figured as much, after they had driven through a blizzard from Maryland to New Jersey at Christmas time when I was at Lawrenceville. But as it turned out, it was really spelled "Molly" because she was Molly Utz, from the Potato Chip family, Grandma's Kettle-fried Utz Potato Chips. If you tell me you can get those in Lithuania, I'd just about die.

[Gintaras]

Talk about a low blow.  Few persons have have made a commitment to Haiti as has Wyclef Jean, and yet,

LOS ANGELES – Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean spoke out Saturday in defense of his foundation after charity screening groups raised concerns about its accounting practices.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_haiti_wyclef_jean

[harrie]

Talk about a low blow.  Few persons have have made a commitment to Haiti as has Wyclef Jean, and yet,

LOS ANGELES – Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean spoke out Saturday in defense of his foundation after charity screening groups raised concerns about its accounting practices.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_haiti_wyclef_jean

I have no doubt his heart is in the right place, but there are some serious financial and operational questions that have yet to be answered in any concrete kind of way.  If I send my money to a cause, I want to know that a good chunk of it is going towards actual help, not towards overhead, fees, and questionable transactions.  The jury is still out  on this - who knows when it will be in -- but the Haitian relief effort needs help now (and later, and much, much later), so my money went elsewhere.   

[Gintaras]

I think we should all be careful where we send our money, harrie, but apparently the major "irregularity" is that Wyclef Jean has this charity fund set up as an extension of his own business interests.  Anyway, I just thought it was a bit brazen to call him out at a time like this, when he has been so active in Haiti, and is its most recognizable face abroad.

In regard to Haitian music, you should check out Boukman Eksperyans.  I saw them years ago and they put on a great show.

[harrie]

Maybe I'm super straightedge or something, but that's a huge irregularity (in my book) for someone who's claiming charity.  It's kind of like fraud, because you're soliciting funds, ostensibly to benefit the people of Haiti -- who before the earthquake weren't doing so well to start with -- and then paying yourself appearance fees for benefit concerts, claiming office expenses of $31K per year when apparently the office is one guy is working out of his apartment and getting paid $2,600 per year, along with other irregularities.  

So I completely understand why charity screeners bring this to the public's attention, particularly now when people are donating specifically to Haitian earthquake relief (ie, immediate shipment of food, water, medical supplies vs. funding for soccer leagues); if you donate to WJ's Yele Haiti, your money may be going nowhere but a board member's pocket. If Yele Haiti is being truthful about what they've raised so far -- plus they stand to get 20% of the donations from Friday night's multi-network telethon -- that's millions of dollars that could go to help the Haitian people, but might never reach them.

Laugh at me - and I know you will --  but Gawker has actual news content on their site, and they've done some real (and fair) digging on this story. If you're interested,
Most Recent Yele Haiti Story

Again, I totally believe that Wyclef Jean loves his country and his people, and that his tears are real; as a figurehead, he's awesome, but as far as his charity's practices (which may or may not be entirely his fault, but that's his name on the letterhead and he has a responsibility to himself to keep his good name and reputation).....not so much.

[Gintaras]

While the article does sound pretty damning, Tedman raises some legitimate questions in the comments that followed.  Of course, Cook defends his article.  To be honest, I know very little about the situation so I'm not in a position to say whether Wyclef Jean is funneling money for himself out of Yele Haiti, or if it is simply accounting irregularities.  Thanks for pointing me to the article, harrie.

Check out Boukman Eksperyans.

[kidcarter8]

Of course as Yele Haiti is bing investigated BARACK has named it as one of the 5 specifc groups to recieve donations.  How's that a great plan?

[barton]

It's kind of like fraud, because you're soliciting funds, ostensibly to benefit the people of Haiti -- who before the earthquake weren't doing so well to start with -- and then paying yourself appearance fees for benefit concerts, claiming office expenses of $31K per year when apparently the office is one guy is working out of his apartment and getting paid $2,600 per year, along with other irregularities. 


Very like fraud.