Photo by Thomas Deschamps for @Paris2024
I always learn something new when I watch the Olympics. For five minutes, perhaps, I become a little bit of an expert on shot put, and suddenly I know the names of swimmers from countries I’ve never visited. But I learned something new about the Olympics themselves from Pharrell Williams recently: The Games used to have an arts component, with medals awarded in literature, architecture, painting, sculpture, and — yes! — music. These competitions were first introduced in 1912, but were discontinued by the International Olympic Committee by the 1948 Games. Williams, a musician (you surely have heard his song “Happy”), producer, and now fashion designer, is proposing that the arts competitions return for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Read more in this coverage from The Associated Press.
Life happens, even to rock stars. The elders among our beloved rock bands almost invariably are touring nowadays without at least one of their original members due to health problems, death, retirement from the road, or being super mad at each other. Some bands with big names, however, are performing with not a single original member. Rolling Stone has made a list of such “zombie bands,” explaining what happened, how credible the musicians currently touring under the band name are, and the potential for the real band getting back together in some way. Long story short, your vintage concert T-shirts are probably the closest you’ll ever get again to the real Foreigner, Lynynd Skynyrd, or Blood, Sweat & Tears.
If you’re the type of person who gets upset just reading the name “Taylor Swift,” avert your eyes and take a deep breath (probably several). Fan of her music or not, there should be unity in condemning the terror attacks said to be planned for the singer’s Vienna concerts this week, and relief in hearing that the plot was thwarted before it could be carried out. Fans who’d planned to attend the shows were understandably disappointed that the concerts were canceled, but, in true Swiftie form, they were … fearless. According to this story in Variety, they gathered in the streets of Vienna to be together and sing their favorite songs, with some writing relevant lyrics in chalk on the pavement (“Fuck the patriarchy (and terrorists),” “This is why we can’t have nice things”). Churches beckoned people inside to simply to gather and “sing your sadness away.” Sure, a canceled concert isn’t a tragedy. But that’s not the point. The point is music’s power to bring people together, and to drive out sadness and fear in favor of joy and strength. Taylor Swift fans get it, and a lot of roots music fans do, too. Hopefully any would-be terrorists likewise receive the message that whatever it is they’re trying to destroy is well beyond their reach.
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
Here’s a sampling of the songs, albums, bands, and sounds No Depression staffers have been into this week:
Adrianne Lenker – “Once a Bunch”
Joseph – “Starting Over at the End”
Loose Cattle – “Further On,” from their new album, Someone’s Monster, coming in November
The Dip – Love Direction
Chuck Prophet and ¿Qiensave? – “Wake the Dead,” the title track from their new album, coming in October
Etran de L’Aïr – “Imouha,” from their new album, 100% Sahara Guitar, coming in September
Smokey Brights – “Save Us Sarah”
The Hanseroth Twins – Vera
Meshell Ndegeocello – “Trouble”
Alexa Rose – “Human”
Peter, Paul and Mary – “500 Miles”
Joy Clark – “Lesson,” from her new album, Tell It to the Wind, coming in October
