[Dixielandjazz] Lyrics

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

I liked getting the info on blue side effects of treatment for  
syphilis--renders the song much more profound.
 
I wish I had more experience with how current African-American audiences  
generally feel about these lyrics, and of course, it is going to depend on the  
individual's knowledge and perceptual frame.  But  I do have some  limited 
experience with black audiences already knowing much of the history  of their 
songwriters and appreciative that it is being presented also to whites  to help 
set context.
 
I have also observed a difference with African-American responses to jazz  
banjo and/or Tin Pan Alley banjo bands; flat affect at even the mention of the  
word "banjo" still in the 1980's, sometimes part of smiling, toe-tapping  
audiences in the mid-2000's.
 
To me, jazz is a great opportunity.  Resulted from merging  the Afrocentric 
and Eurocentric.  Lays a table before us for some partaking  of both.
 
Re: the comments on Rap.  You can find stuff via web searches, etc.  musing 
about Rap being the current version of blacks in black face during  the era of 
"coon" songs.
Ginny 
 
 
In a message dated 7/25/2006 2:49:18 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:

When I  first played the tune some 10 years later one of my black band mates
told  me that BMNSGTM was about Syphilis.

Whether you believe it or not about  Darktown and Naughty Sweetie is
unimportant.  However if it makes the  music relevant to the kids, (and in my
experience it does) then to me and  them, it is very important. :-) VBG.

IMO, this happy, toe tappin music  we call Dixieland derives from sex, drugs,
alcoholics, poverty, social  diseases, bigotry, humor etc. And much of it,
especially that written  and/or played by blacks has a message that is
completely missed by many of  us, for one reason or another.