Re: Kinky Jewish Music

[Elliott <enr01...>]

FYI- Aronoff, Simon, Gideon, others--   look at  url below
http://members.aol.com/jieux
We ,in New Orleans, are taking the Kinky approach. Our parade was tonight 1/30,
and was received in the spirit that was intended. If anyone wants more info let 
me
know.
            Elliott  ellllllll

GAronoff (at) aol(dot)com wrote:

> What I take from Simon's response is that antisemitism is so horrible that we
> have to shut our eyes and ears at the mere mention of any antisemitic phrase.
>
> What Kinky Friedman does is well within the realm of self-mocking Jewish
> humor.  He also writes songs about characters who may or may not have the
> finest values.  Question:  Does anyone really think that Randy Newman thinks
> people of short stature really have no reason to live?
>
> I don't know if you are familiar with Kinky's songs, but I honestly believe
> someone walks away from hearing them with improved views of Jews, not excuses
> to hate.  Jews in Kinky's world are strong enough to poke fun at themselves -
> we don't have to be perfect or holy to deserve to live.
>
> Also, we deserve to be the subject of "popular" songs in America's language
> and in a classically American musical style.  Kinky writes about Jews in
> English without sounding like another lame Judeo-pop(folk) singer who simply
> waits to say "Moshiach" every third line.  I guess if we want to be sexist we
> should just sing in Yiddish so most people will be unable to understand the
> lyrics.  And anyway, its a "folk" song so the singer today isn't responsible
> for the views expressed.  This has allowed British/Celtic singers to get away
> with anti-PC songs about murdering kitchen boys for years.
>
> And for the record, "They Don't Make Jews like Jesus Anymore" has nothing to
> do with phony cop-out terms like "Chanukah is a Jewish Christmas."  It is a
> strong song AGAINST antisemitism and racism.  While I don't have a direct
> personal connection to the Holocaust, I believe that "Ride Em Jewboy" is one
> of the best and most sensitive songs I have heard in English dealing with the
> tragedy.  If you can't get beyond Kinky's use of the word "Jewboy" or hate
> country music then you will not appreciate the song.  But I suspect others may
> disagree, not on the basis of Jewish defense politics, but on the basis of
> songwriting.
>
> Gideon
>

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