A song from the sixties calling for loving and understanding each other at a time when our differences have never been greater. Sadly, it's become far too fashionable to punch a hippie; it may have been an imperfect time but it sure fought a lot harder for a perfect world than is done today, often with songs just like this week's featured tune....
Sly and the Family Stone were formed in my birth home of San Francisco in 1966 by Sly Stone (birth name, Sylvester Stewart) and actually did feature his family, what with his brother and sister being in the band as well as other musicians. The band is famed for being the first American music group to feature not only white and black musicians, but also men and women musicians, as well. Sly and the Family Stone is considered one of the most influential bands in American music history, playing a large role in the funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic styles. Three of their albums made Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all-time, and the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. As has been known to happen, rampant drug use and sometimes violent confrontations between band members hastened the demise of the band, and by 1987 they were done. For their career, the band released eleven studio albums (with one #1), and 22 singles, of which three hit the top of the charts. The band has "reunited" twice--once at their induction ceremony (long enough for Sly to say a few words and then disappear) and at a Grammy tribute (long enough for Sly to sing a verse and then disappear). Sadly, Sly Stone at last glance was living in a van getting by with the help of neighbors and had completely turned his back on the music industry.
"Everyday People" was originally released as a single in 1968, and later added to their seminal 1969 album, Stand! The single was the first of Sly and the Family Stone's to hit #1 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album was their first to become a hit, eventually reaching #13 on the Billboard 200.
Fun Fact: This week's tune is credited with popularizing the phrase "Different strokes for different folks." And another addition to the extremely long list of things I never would have guessed....
"Everyday People" opens with some jaunty piano joined by a pulsating bass and a little snappy drumming, and only gets better from there. Sly Stone sings some peace and love lyrics with a joyful certainty, and sister Rose breaks in with sing song stanzas that give the song a gritty innocence. You can literally imagine grade school children singing this one at an assembly (it'd be one cool ass assembly). Rolling Stone ranked it #145 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all-time, and it's easy to see why: it's two minutes and forty-seven seconds of some of the funkiest hope and dreams you'll ever hear.
Lyric Sheet: "And so on and so on/And scooby dooby dooby/Oh sha sha/We got to live together..."
Enjoy:
Republican = Racist
Peace,
emaycee
No comments:
Post a Comment