Ska and Two-Tone were the musical mouthpieces of racial integration. Their anti-racist stance was one of the things that originally attracted me to Ska. Terry Hall and The Specials did their utmost to promote a type of natural invisible acceptance of one another. He was a pioneer.
Hall invented the idea of 'Political Pop', and those with a heart supported him; if not his style of music. Sadly there are plenty of exceptions out there who didn't; including those who use 'racism' for nefarious reasons; and we all know of some California based moaners who specialise in this.
"We're wondering now, what to do, now we know this is the end". You did your best Terry, but many still didn't listen. Now rest in peace. You were one of my real musical heroes.
Note how he didn't turn a hair when his stage became invaded. His fans were his life.
It's all very well to say "Rest in peace". The dead can't hear you. Of far more interest to me how one (that's me) rests in peace whilst alive and clocking up the years. My hair stands on end when someone younger than me dies. Friend of mine, age 50, laughing one moment - the next he dropped dead.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, currently it seems the season for musicians to fall off the perch prematurely. You mentioned Paul McCartney the other day. Leaving aside that he is only five years younger than my father, I live in fear for the nation, nay the world, when he snuffs it. It'll be worse than Diana kissing concrete in an underpass in Paris or the Queen dying at 96. We'll never hear the end of it, and the earworms. "Back in the USSR" springs to mind.
Barefoot greetings,
U
I don't suppose the poor boy had much peace in his life. He had a 'difficult' childhood, then was never left alone after he became a 'star'. No, I'll stick to my RIP thank you.
DeleteDo people still love Paul McCartney? I went off him when he married that mad vegetarian woman who still died young in spite of her food preaching. She killed a meat factory here and all the people lost their jobs. The food didn't sell. And then he wanted to release wild boar into the English countryside. Mad.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether people still "love" McCartney, Rachel, People become icons, the legend bigger than the sum of its parts. Cue mass hysteria.
DeleteLinda McCartney? As the saying goes "Love is where it falls". Little rhyme or reason. Well, maybe rhyme. Reason?
As to Linda and her fake "sausages": I do point out to people that humans are omnivores. That's why, for instance, a cow's stomach and their teeth are designed differently to that of a lion or indeed man. Mentioning what is fact is a good way of aggro coming your way. Still, in all fairness, if I had to catch my own rabbit, shoot a deer, slaughter a lamb or wring a chicken's neck I am more than likely to stick to leaves too.
U
I speak only as I find here in Norfolk where she is not well loved or remembered for what she did to a town and its meat factory. I believe the inhabitants of the New Forest were not too enamoured with the idea of wild boar bring introduced either.
DeleteIf you deprive your body of its natural requirements, it doesn't bode well for longevity. I did once eat some veggie sausages; they were ghastly. I have also eaten veggie burgers, that were delicious. Neither had Linda McCartney's name attached.
DeletePaul and John made some great music together and I was a massive Beatles fan .... saw them live twice, but when they broke up, I don't think Paul was as good. They seemed to need each other. Wings never impressed me and, it can be quite embarrassing to watch Paul when he sings on his own. I think some of the old popstars need to hang their microphones up now !!!! XXXX
DeleteCliff needs to do the same!
DeleteCliff ought never to have been given a microphone.
DeleteIt's dreadful when you see some band like 'Freddie and The Dreamers' making a come-back tour. Pipe and slippers come to mind!
DeleteIsn't that the theme tune to " Death in Paradise" ?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea, I've never seen the programme. But I imagine they used Ska music, as it was based in the Caribbean.
DeleteYes it is, I love that show! Mostly for the scenery and beaches.
DeleteYou should watch Death in Paradise Cro.
DeleteWell that was something I'd never heard before. Is that the style they call Ska? it has an island sound.
ReplyDeleteThe video was a bit 'raw', recorded live, but yes that's Ska for you.
DeleteI read that Terry Hall was kidnapped when he was a child and became a victim of sexual abuse over several days. This was a terrible weight to carry through his life and he was very courageous to prevent that pain from ruling his life and defining him.
ReplyDeleteYes, he had a nasty start in life, I think it scarred (Ska-ed?) him for ever.
Delete'Ghost Town' was about Thatcherism and mass unemployment particularly in the North of England
ReplyDeleteI think it was specifically about Coventry, which went through some rough times and everything was closing down.
DeleteNot my type of music
ReplyDelete63 is far too young
Some form of Cancer I think. As you say; far too young.
DeleteVery island sounding.
ReplyDeleteDirect from Jamaica, via South London.
DeleteI don't know anything about Terry Hall, but I do have a slight appreciation of ska because my son was the trombonist in a ska band. I loved their music, and of course, love my son. So rest in peace, Terry Hall.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Very English Ska, but I'm sure your son would know his name.
Delete