[Dixielandjazz] Re: Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 9, Issue 52 Re: Black, B...

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/30/03 11:40:54 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
s3856lpa at webtv.net writes:

> 
> As far as your comment on Louis fooling the world in the name of
> showmanship vs.
> the intent of the song, I ask you to listen to Louis singing "Now, I am
> white deep down inside, but that don't help my case/"
> And, later, "I can' t hide  what is on my face."
> 
> If Louis was just a clever entertainer, he sure could have fooled the
> hell out of me.
> 
> Regards, Harold Smith
> 

I would venture to say that Louis was all of the above, and clever enough to 
express his inner feelings in a manner in music to make his statements about 
his situations and conditions of the day.   He found a way to do this without 
antagonizing his record label and his vast popularity in the White 
entertainment market, saying what he wanted, without shooting himself in the foot or 
biting the hand that was feeding him.

Many Black songwriters had to do the same thing, being very careful what they 
said and where and to whom they said it, hence many of the double entendre 
songs from them, leaving it to the listener to interpret it they way they wanted 
it to be.  Some songs meant one thing to Black audience and something totally 
different to a White one, often White audiences were listening to Black music 
and missed the message in the songs altogether, being preoccupied with just 
dancing and shakin' their booties and having a good time.

Many of my Black musicians and friends swear that (I am Black way down deep 
inside too).

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins