How Seeger moved U.S. culture left

Chicago Sun Times ^ | 1/29/2014 | Howard Husock

[allendale]

Pete Seeger in the final analysis was an enemy of the people.

[gattaca]

Interesting.

[Ancesthntr]

The only good Communist is a dead Communist - and now Seeger is good.

That he had talent is quite beside the point - he made the wrong decision at every point in his life on the big issues, having joint the CPUSA in 1941, at the height of Stalin’s powers (and purges). Until Hitler invaded the USSR, he was against U.S. involvement in the war - thus aiding Hitler indirectly. He was a huge force for the Left and, unlike Joan Bayez, NEVER APOLOGIZED for being on the dark side and the consequences of having taken part in its activities.

I’m glad the SOB is dead - he can’t pollute any more minds now, and he’ll be answering for his actions.

[dfwgator]

It marked the beginning of the introduction of political themes and overt social causes into American pop music — a process that would be continued by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and countless others to the point that now we take it for granted.

It also meant then to score with chicks you had to mention "Modern Art, Civil Rights or Folk Music."

[yldstrk]

commie unionist

[sauropod]

Quite true.

‘Pod.

[b4its2late]

I never heard of him till yesterday.

[Borges]

You’ve heard of his songs I’m sure.

[b4its2late]

Probably. But it never registered.

[oldbrowser]

I wonder how it is that these people who are clearly capitalists in their endeavors choose to champion anti-capitalism?

[nhwingut]

Sadly, this is true. If Pete Seeger died in say 1975 every obituary would mention word the “communist” in the first sentence. Today, it’s barely noted. He was a “folk” singer whose politics are essentially in line with American icons like Springsteen and Dylan.

[ThomasMore]

Pete Seeger was a commie bastard. He’s a dead one now. Let’s see if the commie POTUS we have lowers the flag in his honor or makes some sort of honor speech for the enemy of the state.

[dfwgator]

All this talk about folk music, has me thinking out this song....

Teen Angst - Cracker

I don’t know what the world may need,
But I’m sure as hell that is starts with me.
And that’s a wisdom,
I’ve laughed at.

I don’t know what the world may want,
But a good stiff drink it surely don’t.
So I think I’ll go and fix myself a tall one.

Cause, what the world needs now
Is a new kind of tension.
Cause the old one just bores me to death.
Cause, what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head.

I don’t know what the world may need,
But a v8 engine is a good start for me.
Think I’ll drive to find a place,
To be surly.
I don’t know what the world may want,
But some words of wisdom could comfort us.
Think I’ll leave that up to someone wiser.

Cause, what the world needs now
Are some true words of wisdom
Like la la la la la
Cause, what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head.

I don’t know what the world may need,
And I never grasped your complexities.
I’d be happy just to get your attention.
And, I don’t know what the world may want,
But your long, sweet body lying next
To mine could certainly raise my spirits.

Cause what the world needs now
Is a new frank sinatra
So I can get you in bed.
Cause what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head.

[dfwgator]

Probably cuddling up now to his hero Stalin as we speak.

[grania]

Pete Seeger preserved and made popular a lot of traditional US folk music. He championed using music as a means to express oneself. That he was a communist does not stop "This Land is Your Land" and many of his other songs from being excellent expressions of joy and patriotism.

I don't agree with his politics. That does not prevent me from appreciating his contribution to a great era in music, which is now over.

[DJ MacWoW]

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[Borges]

Bob Dylan is not a Leftist.

[Borges]

Woody Guthrie wrote ‘This Land is Your Land’

[nhwingut]

It also shows you how far to the left the Democrat party has moved. For all the talk about Republicans moving to the right think about a Democrat party that in 2014 is basically aligned with the politics of Americas most famous communist. I mean Seeger is one of them.