Friday, July 10, 2015

Civil War Songs;Scottish Open Golf

Tonight are featured some songs with a Civil War theme:"Dixie" and a cover version of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
"Dixie" is of uncertain authorship,but dates from the 1850s,before the Civil War,and became one of the most popular American songs of the nineteenth century.Indeed,it was a favourite of Abraham Lincoln,who used it for his campaign rallies.During the Civil War,it became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy.A new set of lyrics with a military theme were written in the war period,but the sung version given here,by the 2nd South Carolina String Band,uses the original minstrel show lyrics of the prewar period.An instrumental version by the The Canadian Brass and Nexus is also offered.
The cover version of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" is by American folk singer Joan Baez.Her high quality voice and perfect diction makes listening to it worthwhile.Last time was featured the original version by The Band.Given the current atmosphere in the United States,you have to wonder whether a radio station would dare to play such a song written from the Confederate perspective.Have no fear,dear readers:you can listen to the song on this blog.For that matter,"Dixie" has also been criticised for being racist,even though Lincoln himself loved it.Would a radio station dare to play that song today?This blog will so that you can decide for yourselves.
Will such songs as "Dixie" still be sung in the public schools where we sang them years ago?For that matter,we had Christmas parties at public schools.*
At the Scottish Open at the Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian,Scotland,Englishman Daniel Brooks topped the leader board with his excellent second round eleven under par 65.Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland,American Ryan Palmer and four others shared second place at eight under par.Phil Mickelson,who won the tournament in 2013,was well down the leader board in 48th place with his three under par 68,but will still get to play the weekend and have an outside chance to win.

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