I just watched a video of Domenico Modugno singing Volare on the Ed Sullivan show, and I didn't understand it either, so I guess I'm not much good with foreign languages.
I just watched a video of Domenico Modugno singing Volare on the Ed Sullivan show, and I didn't understand it either, so I guess I'm not much good with foreign languages
thats why the video i posted is the bobby rydell version
Don't listen to the disaffected Buzz. Nothing short of total capitulation to their ways will make them happy. However they are still the minority, albeit a very loud minority. That said, this is more like many of us feel, James Brown:
I could see giving This Is America a special award for contemporary social commentary in music or something like that, but I don't think this sort of thing should be "the song of the year". In the first place, it's acclaim came much more for the video than for the song. In the second place, such news is depressing. The arts need to uplift us more.
There's a reason awards shows like this ratings are going down precipitously. People are starting to care less and less about these popularity contests. Its not about whats best but rather what forwards an agenda or whats the most provocative. I guess thats one way to look at it.
One would think song of the year might be one of the most popular songs rather than being only a musically ordinary, socially provocative hit job.
I'll be honest, as a white man realize I'm not going to understand all the symbolism or the stories being told in this video, at least certainly not those that come solely from a black man's perspective. I find the images sad and extremely frightening quite honestly, and perhaps that is his point as he runs away in complete horror at the end of the video. I don't like it, and I don't think we're supposed to. Certainly not a view of America that we think about daily from our sofa in the suburbs, or in line at Starbucks. But maybe it should be, and maybe ALL of us (white, black, brown or purple) could think about what we might do to help change it.
And I find it amusing that so many "experts" or critics line up to explain it to us. Why don't they just ask the artist Donald Glover himself? I'd be far more interested in his explanation, as I have found him to be tremendously talented in both his music and his TV show Atlanta. He is one of my son's very favorite artists going back even to his time on the comedy show Community. Just a multi-talented fascinating guy with whom I think it would be cool to share a beer and talk about his art and his views.
The very first grammy winning song of the year, in 1959
VOLARE - songwriters Franco Migliacci and Domenico Modugno
It's hard to escape the perception that those were happier times
For me and anyone else who is unable to open YouTube:
THIS IS AMERICA
[Intro: Choir]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
[Bridge: Childish Gambino & Young Thug ]
We just wanna party
Party just for you
We just want the money
Money just for you ( Yeah )
I know you wanna party
Party just for free
Girl, you got me dancin' (Girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame ( Yeah )
We just wanna party ( Yeah )
Party just for you ( Yeah )
We just want the money ( Yeah )
Money just for you ( You )
I know you wanna party ( Yeah )
Party just for free ( Yeah )
Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin', Yeah )
Dance and shake the frame ( Ooh )
[Chorus: Childish Gambino]
This is America
Don't catch you slippin' now
Don't catch you slippin' now
Look what I'm whippin' now
This is America ( Woo )
Don't catch you slippin' now
Don't catch you slippin' now
Look what I'm whippin' now
[Verse 1: Childish Gambino, Young Thug , Blocboy JB & 21 Savage ]
This is America ( Skrrt, skrrt, woo )
Don't catch you slippin' now ( Ayy )
Look how I'm livin' now
Police be trippin' now ( Woo )
Yeah, this is America ( Woo, ayy )
Guns in my area ( Word , my area )
I got the strap (Ayy, ayy)
I gotta carry 'em
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this ( Ugh )
Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (Woo)
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag
Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad
Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like, yeah ( Yeah )
I'm so dope like, yeah (Woo)
We gon' blow like, yeah ( Straight up , uh)
[Refrain: Choir & Childish Gambino ]
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me
Get your money, Black man ( get your— Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( get your—Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( get your—Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( get your—Black man )
Black man
[Chorus: Childish Gambino, Young Thug , Slim Jxmmi & Quavo ]
This is America ( Woo, ayy )
Don't catch you slippin' now ( Woo, woo, don't catch you slippin' now )
Don't catch you slippin' now ( Ayy, woah )
Look what I'm whippin' now ( Slime! )
This is America ( Yeah, yeah )
Don't catch you slippin' now ( Woah , ayy )
Don't catch you slippin' now ( Ayy , woo )
Look what I'm whippin' now ( Ayy )
[Verse 2: Childish Gambino, Quavo , Young Thug , 21 Savage & Blocboy JB ]
Look how I'm geekin' out ( Hey )
I'm so fitted ( I'm so fitted, woo )
I'm on Gucci ( I'm on Gucci )
I'm so pretty ( Yeah, yeah , woo )
I'm gon' get it ( Ayy, I'm gon' get it )
Watch me move ( Blaow )
This a celly ( Ha )
That's a tool ( Yeah )
On my Kodak (Woo) Black
Ooh, know that ( Yeah, know that , hold on )
Get it ( Woo , get it, get it )
Ooh, work it ( 21 )
Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands ( Hunnid bands )
Contraband, contraband, contraband ( Contraband )
I got the plug in Oaxaca ( Woah )
They gonna find you like "blocka" ( Blaow )
[Refrain: Choir, Childish Gambino , & Young Thug ]
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
America, I just checked my following list, and
You go tell somebody
You mothafuckas owe me
Grandma told me
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Black man
( 1, 2, 3—get down )
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me, "Get your money"
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Get your money, Black man ( Black man )
Black man
[Outro: Young Thug]
You just a black man in this world
You just a barcode, ayy
You just a black man in this world
Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy
You just a big dawg, yeah
I kenneled him in the backyard
No, probably ain't life to a dog
For a big dog
You want my opinion, John?
I do understand English, in fact I even taught it, but I guess I just don't understand American.
I just watched a video of Domenico Modugno singing Volare on the Ed Sullivan show, and I didn't understand it either, so I guess I'm not much good with foreign languages.
Well, okay, I saw This is America - don't know if you can open Tudou Music, but here it is: Welcome to America.
Nice, lots of killing (a whole gospel choir?). Can I watch Yellow Submarine now?
thats why the video i posted is the bobby rydell version
Don't listen to the disaffected Buzz. Nothing short of total capitulation to their ways will make them happy. However they are still the minority, albeit a very loud minority. That said, this is more like many of us feel, James Brown:
Living in America
We ain't perfect but warts and all we are pretty darn good. No matter what the haters are pushing these days.
I could see giving This Is America a special award for contemporary social commentary in music or something like that, but I don't think this sort of thing should be "the song of the year". In the first place, it's acclaim came much more for the video than for the song. In the second place, such news is depressing. The arts need to uplift us more.
Agree John.
There's a reason awards shows like this ratings are going down precipitously. People are starting to care less and less about these popularity contests. Its not about whats best but rather what forwards an agenda or whats the most provocative. I guess thats one way to look at it.
One would think song of the year might be one of the most popular songs rather than being only a musically ordinary, socially provocative hit job.
Isn't this Danny Glover's son?
No. They are not related.
I'll be honest, as a white man realize I'm not going to understand all the symbolism or the stories being told in this video, at least certainly not those that come solely from a black man's perspective. I find the images sad and extremely frightening quite honestly, and perhaps that is his point as he runs away in complete horror at the end of the video. I don't like it, and I don't think we're supposed to. Certainly not a view of America that we think about daily from our sofa in the suburbs, or in line at Starbucks. But maybe it should be, and maybe ALL of us (white, black, brown or purple) could think about what we might do to help change it.
And I find it amusing that so many "experts" or critics line up to explain it to us. Why don't they just ask the artist Donald Glover himself? I'd be far more interested in his explanation, as I have found him to be tremendously talented in both his music and his TV show Atlanta. He is one of my son's very favorite artists going back even to his time on the comedy show Community. Just a multi-talented fascinating guy with whom I think it would be cool to share a beer and talk about his art and his views.
Ok, not a fan of modern music and not a fan of award shows. But, after reading what you wrote, I had to actually watch the vid.