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Monthly Archives: Apr 2016

“Sometimes It Snows In April” (1986) by Prince and The Revolution

24 Sun Apr 2016

Posted by ztnh in Fiction, History of Jazz (Black Classical), History of Rock and Roll, History of Soul, Music

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Tags

Lisa Coleman, Parade, Prince, Prince and the Revolution, Sometimes It Snows In April, Wendy Melvoin

ParadeLPLUMPENPROLETARIAT  Sometimes it snows in April.  Sometimes I feel so bad.
Sometimes, sometimes I wish that life was never ending.  And all good things, they say, never last…

Messina

“Sometimes It Snows In April” (1986) [1] by Prince and The Revolution

Tracy died soon after a long fought civil war
Just after I’d wiped away his last tear
I guess he’s better off than he was before
A whole lot better off than the fools he left here
I used to cry for Tracy because he was my only friend
Those kinds of cars don’t pass you every day
I used to cry for Tracy ‘cos I wanted to see him again
But sometimes, sometimes life ain’t always the way

Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending
And all good things, they say, never last

Springtime was always my favourite time of year
A time for lovers holding hands in the rain
Now, springtime only reminds me of Tracy’s tears
Always cry for love; never cry for pain
He used to say, so strong, unafraid to die
Unafraid of the death, that left me hypnotised
Though, staring at his picture, I realised
No one could cry the way my Tracy cried

Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad
Sometimes, sometimes I wish that life was never ending
And all good things, they say, never last

I often dream of heaven; and I know that Tracy’s there
I know that he has found another friend
Maybe he’s found the answer to all the April snow
Maybe one day I’ll see my Tracy again

Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending
But all good things, they say, never last

All good things, they say, never last
And, love, it isn’t love until it’s passed

Songwriters:  COLEMAN, LISA / MELVOIN, WENDY / ROGERS NELSON, PRINCE

“Sometimes It Snows In April” lyrics © Warner Chappell, Inc.; Universal Music Publishing Group

***

[1]  “Sometimes It Snows In April” is taken from Parade, the eighth studio album by American recording artist Prince, the third (and final) to feature his backing band The Revolution, and is the soundtrack album to the 1986 film Under the Cherry Moon.  It was released on March 31, 1986 by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records.

After the critical disappointment of Prince’s 1985 album Around the World in a Day, Parade was released to acclaim from music critics and was named one of the best albums of 1986 by The Village Voice and NME magazine, who named it their album of the year.  It also sold two million copies both in the United States and abroad.

***

[The cover art for Parade by the artist Prince and The Revolution is associated with a cover art copyright, which is believed to belong to the label, Warner Bros., or the graphic artist(s).  The entire cover is used in this article because the entire image of the cover art is needed to identify the product, properly convey the meaning and branding intended, and avoid tarnishing or misrepresenting the image.  The copy is of sufficient resolution for commentary and identification, but lower resolution than the original cover.  Use of the cover art in this article complies with Wikipedia non-free content policy and fair use under United States copyright law as described above.] 

[The cover art image is used for identification in the context of critical commentary of the work, for which it serves as cover art.  It makes a significant contribution to the user’s understanding of the article, which could not practically be conveyed by words alone.  The image is placed in the infobox at the top of the article discussing the work, to show the primary visual image associated with the work, and to help the user quickly identify the work and know they have found what they are looking for.  Use for this purpose does not compete with the purposes of the original artwork, namely the artist’s providing graphic design services to music concerns and, in turn, marketing music to the public.]

[PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION lyrics are property and copyright of their owners.  “Sometimes It Snows In April” lyrics are provided here for educational and personal use only.]

[30 APR 2016]

[Last modified  22:48 PDT  30 APR 2016]

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“The Beautiful Ones” (1984) by Prince and The Revolution

23 Sat Apr 2016

Posted by ztnh in Fiction, History of Electronic, History of Rhythm & Blues, History of Rock and Roll, Music

≈ Leave a comment

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"The Beautiful Ones" (1984), Apollonia, Apollonia Kotero, Prince and the Revolution, Purple Rain, Susannah Melvoin

PrincepurplerainLUMPENPROLETARIAT—Don’t make me waste my time; don’t make me lose my mind, baby…

Messina

“The Beautiful Ones” (1984) by Prince and The Revolution  [1]

Baby, baby, baby
What’s it gonna be?
Baby, baby, baby
Is it him or is it me?
Don’t make me waste my time
Don’t make me lose my mind, baby

Baby, baby, baby
Can’t you stay with me tonight?
Oh, baby, baby, baby
Don’t my kisses please you right?
You were so hard to find
The beautiful ones, they hurt you every time

Paint a perfect picture
Bring to life a vision in one’s mind
The beautiful ones
Always smash the picture
Always, every time

If I told you baby
That I was in love with you
Oh, baby, baby, baby
If we got married
Would that be cool?

You make me so confused
The beautiful ones
You always seem to lose

Baby, baby
Baby
What’s it gonna be, baby?

Do you want him?
Or do you want me?
‘Cos I want you
Said I want you
Tell me, babe
Do you want me?
I gotta know, I gotta know
Do you want me?
Baby, baby, baby
Listen to me
I may not know where I’m goin’, babe
I said I may not know what I need
One thing, one thing’s for certain, baby
I know what I want, yeah
And if it pleases you, baby
Pleases you, baby
I’m beggin’ down on my knees
I want you
Yeah, I want you
Baby, baby, baby, baby
I want you!

Yes, I do!

Songwriters:  ROGERS NELSON, PRINCE

“The Beautiful Ones” lyrics © Warner/Chappell Inc.; Universal Music Publishing Group

***

[1]  “The Beautiful Ones” is the third track on Prince and The Revolution‘s soundtrack album Purple Rain, which was featured prominently in the 1984 film of the same name.  Produced, arranged, composed, and performed by Prince, the song was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles by Peggy Mac and David Leonard in early September 1983.

“The Beautiful Ones” is a haunting musical tale of emotional longing and unrequited love.  Starting out as a slow falsetto ballad, with Prince’s piano and organ-sounding synthesizers providing a lush backdrop, it gradually builds in volume and intensity, and by the end of the song, Prince is screaming out, “Do you want him, or do you want me? ‘Cos I want you.”  The song comes to a quiet close, with Prince’s keyboards and drum solo serving as the closing instrumentation.

The song replaced “Electric Intercourse” on the Purple Rain album.  It was originally written for Susannah Melvoin (Revolution band member Wendy‘s twin sister) to woo her away from her then-boyfriend.

In the film, Prince sings the song directly from the stage to his on-screen flame Apollonia, who is sitting with his rival Morris Day.  The song is a direct and urgent appeal to Apollonia to choose Prince as her lover—and it is a direct challenge to Day.  Ultimately, as the song ends and Prince lies, apparently spent, on the floor of the stage, Apollonia leaves in tears.  (Later, she surprises him when he is unlocking his motorcycle to leave the 1st Avenue club in Minneapolis.)

The version on the Purple Rain album is slightly cut; a longer version of the song exists.

“The Beautiful Ones” features notable qualities of Prince’s musicianship and stage presence.  Many artists take to the stage and focus on their ability to perform a musical work, so that it sounds the best it can.  Many artists, which sound amazing, scarcely move their bodies during their performances.  But, then, there are some artists, who manage to, not only, sound amazing, but embody a certain physicality, which is capable of harnessing what some call the lower chakra, and in so doing commune with the audience in such a way, which is cathartic for the artist and the audience.  An artist capable of that, such as Prince or Jim Morrison or Jimi Hendrix is quite unique.  Some would understand this as functioning communally in a shamanic capacity.

***

[The cover art for Purple Rain by the artist Prince and the Revolution is associated with a cover art copyright, which is believed to belong to the label, Warner Bros., or the graphic artist(s).  The entire cover is used in this article because the entire cover art image is needed to identify the product, properly convey the meaning and branding intended, and avoid tarnishing or misrepresenting the image.  The copy is of sufficient resolution for commentary and identification, but lower resolution than the original cover.  Use of the cover art in this article complies with Wikipedia non-free content policy and fair use under United States copyright law as described above.] 

[The cover art image is used for identification in the context of critical commentary of the work, for which it serves as cover art.  It makes a significant contribution to the user’s understanding of the article, which could not practically be conveyed by words alone.  The image is placed in the infobox at the top of the article discussing the work, to show the primary visual image associated with the work, and to help the user quickly identify the work and know they have found what they are looking for.  Use for this purpose does not compete with the purposes of the original artwork, namely the artist’s providing graphic design services to music concerns and, in turn, marketing music to the public.]

[PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION lyrics are property and copyright of their owners.  “The Beautiful Ones” lyrics are provided here for educational and personal use only.]

[28 APR 2016]

[Last modified 10:04 PDT  1 JUN 2016]

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Sundiata Tate On Slain Political Prisoner Hugo “Yogi Bear” Pinell

22 Fri Apr 2016

Posted by ztnh in Anti-Fascism, Political Prisoners, Prison Abolition

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Tags

Davey D, Hard Knock Radio, KPFA, Pacifica Radio Network, Sundiata Tate, The San Quentin Six

hard-knock-radioLUMPENPROLETARIAT—On today’s episode of Hard Knock Radio, Davey D gave us an news update from the political prisoner beat.  Sundiata Tate and colleague speak out about an upcoming event to honour slain political prisoner Hugo Pinell.  Listen here. [1]

Messina

***

HARD KNOCK RADIO—[22 APR 2016]  [intro by Anita Johnson]  “What’s up fam.  You are tuned to Hard Knock, here on the Pacifica [Radio] Network.  Up next:  the life and legacy of political prisoner, Hugo “Yogi Bear” Pinell.  All this, and more, ahead.  But first these news headlines.”

[News Headlines (read by Aileen Alfandary) omitted by scribe, including Prince Autopsy]

  • Climate Talks at United Nations; Paris Agreement; Oxfam says provisions are not enough to avert three degree celsius of warming
  • Prince:
    • AILEEN ALFANDARY:  “Minnesota authorities say police found no signs of suicide or obvious trauma in the death of music superstar, Prince.  But it could take weeks before autopsy results reveal how the groundbreaking performer died.  Carver County Sheriff Jim Olsen’s office is investigating the circumstances of his death.  Olsen said his office was among those responding to Prince’s residents [and] compound yesterday when the call came that he’d been found unresponsive.”
    • JIM OLSEN(?):  “There were no obvious signs of trauma on the body.  The body was transported to Dr. Strobel’s(sp?) office for an active autopsy.  Results from that autopsy may take

[Hard Knock Radio intro audio collage]  (c. 7:05)

[music break:  R&B/gospel/soul]

DAVEY D:  (c. 13:45)  “Davey D, hangin’ out wit’ you this afternoon.  One of the things, that we like to do on the show—we think it’s critically important—is to always bring attention to our freedom fighters, who wound up being what we now know as political prisoners.  It’s a term, that the United States refuses to acknowledge.  They refuse to acknowledge that they have political prisoners in this country.  But many of us, who are students of movements, and understand the sacrifices, that many of those who have stood on the front lines, they are really just that.

“We wanted to talk to Sundiata Tate, one of the San Quentin Six.  And I wanted to talk about the upcoming celebration and acknowledgement of the life of Hugo Pinell. [2]  And, so, how are you doing?”

SUNDIATA TATE:  “Well, I’m alive.  And  thankful ‘cos I’m doin’ okay.”

DAVEY D:  “I wanna just build on the concept, so that people can kind of understand the significance about political prisoners.  So, those who are fighting for freedom behind the lines, those who are making sacrifices; your thoughts; and what do you think people need to really hold close to their heart?”

SUNDIATA TATE:  “The sacrifices, that people make. [car honks in the background]  There are numerous brothers and sisters still incarcerated for actions, that they took back in the ’60s and’ 70s, some even in the ’80s, tryin’ to make a difference in this country, standin’ up and resistin’ the oppressor resisting police violence, resisting, and resisting.  And many of them, now, are old people.  They are elderly.  They are in their 70s.  Some are even close to 80.

“And many of them are dying inside.  They need to come home.  And I think that it’s important people realise that whatever rights they have today, people fought for black people to be free.

“Well, for brown people to have some rights in this country, to be able to stand up and be recognised fully as human beings—I think a lot of times young people don’t realise the sacrifices, that people made for them to have the life that they have now, which is not a perfect life by no means.”

DAVEY D:  “One of the things, that I think [..]  [SNIP]  ”  (c. 16:36)

[SNIP]  ”

[SNIP]  (c. 59:59) ”

Learn more at HARD KNOCK RADIO.

***

“Two of The San Quentin Six – Occupy San Quentin 2/20/2012” by Alex Darocy

***

“Conrad George Jackson Documentary“, details of the murder of George Jackson At San Quentin Prison in 1971

***

Also see:

  • “Occupy San Quentin – Voices from Inside the Prison Industrial Complex (including Sundiata Tate & Bato Talamante from the San Quentin 6)” by Listener, San Francisco Independent Media Center, Saturday, 17 MAR 2012 14:26 PDT

***

[1]  Terrestrial radio transmission, 94.1 FM (KPFA, Berkeley, CA) with online simulcast and digital archiving:  Hard Knock Radio, this episode hosted by Davey D, Friday, 22 APR 2016, 16:00 PDT.  [N.B.:  For some unfortunate reason, Hard Knock Radio removes all of its broadcasts from the archives two weeks after the broadcast date.]

The second segment of this episode of Hard Knock Radio is entitled “Young People Surviving Depression”.

[2] Also known as Hugo Lyon Antonio ” Yogi Bear” Pinell.

***

[22 APR 2016]

 

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