Post by eloneen on Apr 21, 2017 3:45:32 GMT
I just finished watching the first installment of the CNN documentary series Soundtracks: Songs that Defined History. Did anyone else see it?
The series is organized thematically rather than chronologically. This first episode focused on key moments in African American history since the middle of the 20th century, touching on the music associated with the mid-century Civil Rights Movement; MLK's assassination and its aftermath; the Black Power Movement; the rise of hip-hop; the movement for the MLK national holiday in the mid 1980s; the election of Barack Obama; and the Black Lives Matter Movement. They covered a lot of ground in 60 minutes, and still had to be selective about what to include, obviously, so it was thought-provoking and sweeping rather than a deep dive into historical detail. Still, it was enjoyable and interesting. I learned a few things tonight. Incidentally, RRHOF Class of 2017 Joan Baez was featured, as were numerous other music legends -Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and even George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic fame. (I was just wondering the other day if he was still around. If you don't know who he is, check him out; if you like Roy Wood's creative wildness, costumes, etc., you might like George Clinton, too.)
It was a good way to spend an hour on a Thursday evening, being reminded how powerful music is, and the important role it can play in major social movements. The next episode airs next Thursday at 10:00 PM ET/PT. I'm not sure what the theme will be next week, but the whole series seems focused on American history, if that interests you. CNN usually reruns previously aired episodes when they do series like this, so you can probably catch the first episode at a later date if you can watch CNN. I haven't looked into online access.
The series is organized thematically rather than chronologically. This first episode focused on key moments in African American history since the middle of the 20th century, touching on the music associated with the mid-century Civil Rights Movement; MLK's assassination and its aftermath; the Black Power Movement; the rise of hip-hop; the movement for the MLK national holiday in the mid 1980s; the election of Barack Obama; and the Black Lives Matter Movement. They covered a lot of ground in 60 minutes, and still had to be selective about what to include, obviously, so it was thought-provoking and sweeping rather than a deep dive into historical detail. Still, it was enjoyable and interesting. I learned a few things tonight. Incidentally, RRHOF Class of 2017 Joan Baez was featured, as were numerous other music legends -Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and even George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic fame. (I was just wondering the other day if he was still around. If you don't know who he is, check him out; if you like Roy Wood's creative wildness, costumes, etc., you might like George Clinton, too.)
It was a good way to spend an hour on a Thursday evening, being reminded how powerful music is, and the important role it can play in major social movements. The next episode airs next Thursday at 10:00 PM ET/PT. I'm not sure what the theme will be next week, but the whole series seems focused on American history, if that interests you. CNN usually reruns previously aired episodes when they do series like this, so you can probably catch the first episode at a later date if you can watch CNN. I haven't looked into online access.
, but we're OK. 
Apparently it's quite hard to see them with the naked eye, you need to be looking through a camera or other type of lens?