SOUNDTRACK: THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA-Tiny Desk Concert #139 (July 5, 2011).
I have of course heard of The Blind Boys of Alabama, but they only came on my radar maybe a decade or two ago. And I never knew these things about them:
- They formed under a different name in 1939.
- The band has understandably experienced many lineup changes in the 72 years since.
- Singer Jimmy Carter is the only participant in this lineup billed as a founding member, and even that term is up for debate.
- They have released 60-plus albums and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- And that wherein these Blind Boys are young and old, blind and sighted.
There are six players for this Tiny Desk–a guitarist, a bassist and a barely visible drummer as well as three singers.
It makes me laugh that the guy on the far left sings much less than the others and seems to be less happy about being there.
They play four songs and, no surprise, they sound fantastic. Their harmonies are outstanding and the music is quiet and subtle–a mellow accompaniment for this soulful music.
But their rendition of “Amazing Grace” is indeed amazing–they do it to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun” and it must be heard to be believed. I happen to really like the original of “Amazing Grace” and I hate when it is done poorly. But I love this interpretation–it’s original and still moving.
- “Take The High Road”
- “I Know A Place”
- “Jesus Built A Bridge To Heaven”
- “Amazing Grace”
[READ: January 23, 2015] Moomin Volume 4
Moomin Book 4 changes things pretty dramatically. Because starting with this book, the stories were written by Tove’s brother Lars!
The colophon explains “[Chapters 14-17 were written by Lars [Jansson] and drawn by Tove. Chapter 18 was to be run before Chapter 14 and be Tove’s farewell strip but she stayed on to draw 7 more chapters].”
So that means that the first four chapters in this book were written by Tove’s brother but she drew the art. How fascinating.
This book contains the stories: “Moomin Goes Wild West,” “Snorkmaiden Goes Rococo,” “The Conscientious Moomins,” “Moomin and the Comet,” and “Moomin and the Golden Tail.” As with the others these stories originally ran in the Evening News, London 1953-1959.
“Moomin Goes Wild West” seems very different from the others–as if Lars was trying out something entirely different with these characters. The general tone is the same, but it’s all about time travel! Moominpappa starts fixing all of Moominmammas things but he just messes everything up. When he finally reassembles the pieces and turns the crank of the sewing machine, there are suddenly two Moomin families!
It turns out that they are from a just a few minutes earlier. In just a few panels they realize they can travel anywhere in time (and by attaching a globe, they can go anywhere). So they decide to go to the old west.
Moominpappa is looking for adventure but no one will take him up on it, even when he tries to cause a ruckus at a saloon. I enjoyed the joke that when Moominpappa takes out his water pistol the sheriff says “Where do you think you are, Chicago?”
Something is askew in this Wild West (hilariously so). They wind up going to Sioux territory but the “Indians’ don’t seem to be “real.” Like the maiden who runs up to Moomin and hugs him and pleads for his life.
The whole story turns on its head. It’s really fun.
“Snorkmaiden Goes Rococo” allows Snorkmaiden to choose the time-travel destination–18th century France! Snorkmaiden puts on her finery, swings on romantic swings and basically has a miserable time because everyone is so snobby.
Things seem to be better when a handsome man rescues her from snotty women, but his “gifts” prove to be less than wonderful. His ticket to the King’s dinner proves to be only a ticket to watch the king eat. After leaving the king (with a prize in tow) she meets a revolutionary who is quite a jerk: “I know women are often confused” and “Women will be equals too. I mean not to the men, of course.” The problem in the first edition of the book is that the final strip is missing. However, if you write to D&Q and with the subject line “Moomin Errata” they’ll send you an email of the final strips or even a sticker to add to your copy of the book!
“The Conscientious Moomins” This story reintroduces Snufkin (the guy (or lady?) with the hat and pipe) who is the voice of a kind of common sense. The premise of this story comes when a member of the League of Conscience and Duty says, “We feel that in our state of progressive welfare Moomin-Valley is lagging behind. Also in responsibility. For instance have any great men been born here?” To which little My says, “No, only very small children.”
As with many of the stories like this, the Moomins take an idea and run with it. They must now be conscientious and moral. And so they all decide to get jobs. Moominpappa tries to become an editor and then a tour guide. Snorkmaiden says she’ll be a secretary. And she gives Moomin a book called How to be a Magnetic Personality. Snufkin asks him, “Why improve your personality? Don’t you like the one you have?”
Moominpappa’s reality gets the better of him when he turns his business into a place to play cards with his friends And even when Moomin gets a job he likes–collecting seashells–it doesn’t pan out. He asks which shells he should choose, but when the answer is “you can’t choose… when it’s a job you have to pick them all.” Moomin sighs, but that isn’t collecting.”
“Moomin and the Comet” addresses the end of the world. Everyone is fleeing Moominvalley. There is a star in the sky getting close and closer.
When the creatures realize that they can’t flee the comet, Moominvalley has a dance “dancing when the earth may be doomed!” “But darling that isn’t until Sunday.”
All signs of Armageddon hit Moominvalley. The lake dries up and a tornado looms. There’s even a tidal wave coming.
I loved the way this one was resolved.
“Moomin and the Golden Tail” If this was supposed to be Tove’s final strip, I have to wonder how pointed it is. It’s all about fame. Moomin’s tail is going bald. So Moominmamma gives him an old elixir that turns his tail golden. And fame ensues.
Snuflin is resistant to his fame from the get go. She says it can’t be good for him, and calls the whole family “poor fools.”
But nevertheless the newspapers come (and misquote Moomin). Moomin gets exhausted from the fan letters and autograph seekers.
They get invited to the fanciest parties (where Snorkmaiden gets to show off her new hairstyle–that sadly looks just like Mrs Fillyjonk).
Of course, Moominpappa has no class, so he invites one of his drinking buddies to the big party and it all gets written about in the paper.
That’s when a the manager comes to look after Moomin’s affairs.
The final panel is missing in this chapter is well (they’ll send you that one too, if you ask nicely), but the penultimate one shows the fickle finger of fandom as everyone crowds off to see the woman with green hair.
At least the replaced final strip has a sweet ending.
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