In the Pines
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 11:24 AM It seems amazing that a song which was made popular in 1944 and was originally recorded before then could be re-recoded so many times and remain popular and prevalent. Nirvana’s version definitely seems to be the most powerful, while also being the most dramatic. Kurt Cobain’s use of power chords along with his angsty tone makes the song seem much more heartfelt. Although I have not heard any of Leadbelly or Bill Monroe’s other works, I feel safe in assuming that, like Cobain, each of their versions of “In the Pines” were done in the same style as the majority of their music. For example, Bill Monroe has the classic old-style folk sound with many “woo hoo’s” and more of a southern accent. Leadbelly’s version also has a folk sound, but is sung with a deeper voice and played with less instruments. Cobain stuck to Nirvana’s usual tone and style throughout his version as well. Although the song’s lyrics changed over time (such as Cobain changing “black girl” to “my girl”) it still kept the same tone of melancholy and sadness. This song truly proves that music is the common link between all decades and even shows that a song can be sung in any style, yet still come across with the same meaning each time.
Reader Comments (1)
In your posts, many of you considered the effect Lead Belly’s spoken interjections had on the authenticity or lack thereof in his version of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” Christopher Yoshonis made an interesting point when he noted the Jazz influence in Lead Belly’s interjections, implying that they detracted authenticity. Check out Christopher’s post here: (http://benleedscarson.com/by-banks-in-pines/2009/10/10/lead-bellys-in-the-pines.html). Hannah Sherman, on the other hand, felt that these interjections increased authenticity as they reflected what Lead Belly “felt and experienced.” Take a look at Hannah’s post here: (http://benleedscarson.com/by-banks-in-pines/2009/10/9/where-did-you-sleep-last-night-by-leadbelly.html). Using these examples as a springboard, what effect do you think Lead Belly’s spoken interjections have on the song’s authenticity and on the song in general? Why do you think Lead Belly chose to speak the specific lines that he did, as opposed to any other lines? And looking at the topic in broader terms, what effect do you think spoken interjections have on songs today? Feel free to post youtube links to examples of present-day songs featuring spoken interjections and to discuss these examples with your classmates!