RE: Bacharach (was: What Is Jewish Music?)

[Seth Rogovoy <rogovoy...>]

> Is the litmus test of "American Jewish popular music" "a cultural
> critique of pop styles, and one could make the case that this critique
> is from the point of view of the outsider/Jew" (Seth)?  If so, how
> does the work of other Jewish composers of the genre (e.g., Arlen,
> Berlin, the Gershwin brothers, Sondheim, and on and on) fare?

I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately. I would argue that,
while it doesn't serve as a definition of ALL "Jewish music," there is,
however, SOME music which could ONLY have been made by a Jew (for various
reasons, some musical, some more in terms of sociology or
"ethnomusicological" reasons), and therefore THAT music at the very least is
by definition Jewish music.

For example, I would argue (although not here, at least not now, it would
take a lengthy essay)that the music that Bob Dylan has made over the course
of the last 40 years could ONLY have been made by an American Jew, and that
therefore there is something quintessentially Jewish about Bob Dylan's
music.

Same for Lou Reed, the Ramones, the Beastie Boys, Beck, Steely Dan, Carole
King, and Burt Bacharach.

One thing you can say about ALL these artists: their music or sound is
extremely distinctive -- can never be confused with any others. While that
in itself doesn't mean it's Jewish (Willie Nelson, after all, could never be
mistaken for anyone else, but to my knowledge he isn't Jewish, nor is his
music), it does suggest something unique about it. Again, I'd suggest it has
something to do with a particular perspective of an outsider looking in,
commenting on AND becoming in some way the ultimate stylist within a
particular genre. I think there is something inherently Jewish about such a
dynamic.

Go ahead, flame away....

p.s. There is a wonderful moment in the documentary "A Jumpin' Night in the
Garden of Eden" where Hankus Netsky sort of hums what is supposed to be the
essential Jewish or Yiddish/klezmer "sound" (forgive me if I am
misrepresenting just what it is he is supposed to be demonstrating). I swear
you could not have asked Hankus for a better imitation of Bob Dylan! check
it out for yourselves.


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