Down in the front. I'll start by saying the Sift has transformed me. I came in as a staunch capitalist, fiscal conservative, bearing a self identity as a defender of the slightly right of center contingent. However, the politics and philosophy espoused on the Sift have transformed me. Some of the things I now believe;
Ann Coulter and Nancy Grace broom-pool together to work. They don't wear their spiky hats anymore because they blow off in the wind.
There are more physicists out there than I realized, or at least they don't fit the mold of retiring, quiet types. They are all too eager to tell us about elementary particles like neutrons, morons, and fig-newtons.
Americans still hold the constitution in high esteem and want to protect it.
George Bush is living proof of the Peter principle.

Long story short, I am now a staunch capitalist, fiscal conservative, bearing the self identify of a defender of the CENTER political contingent. So you can see I have been moved considerably. I wouldn't have guessed such dramatic change possible.

Oh, and I'm still the Site doctor. But, I still won't write erectile-dysfunction prescriptions, and I don't perform breast augmentation, although I will evaluate the quality of it if you so desire.

Speaking from the perspective of someone who came of age in the pre-computer era, otherwise known as the go-outside-and-play epoch, interaction on an international and world-wide level is something that could not have been imagined back then. How the world has changed. Could this be how the new generation finally finds commonality of interest and the ability to live together in harmony? I'm going home to write a song about it.

I'll take any suggestions on the style and genre it should be presented in. Bluegrass, jazz, blues, speed metal, electronica, or traditional Russian folk?
Nevermind, I've decided to write the New World symphony over. Classical it is. I need some volunteers for libretto.

I'm deeply indebted to you all, and the check is in the mail. Thanks.

That's awesome. I just sent this vid to my bluegrass-hating radiohead-loving son and his bluegrass-loving, modern music-hating father.

none taken. you should sift that bluegrass stuff

In reply to this comment by Soupskin:
Apparently I can't downvote this shit since I'm not bronze.

No offense. Residue.

theres a country/bluegrass band from here called the Zac Brown band and they do an awesome cover of this song. (they've also been known to cover "Killing in the name of" by RATM

....up-vote for my inspired rendition, sung to he tune of the Ballad of Jed Clampett (written by Paul Henning and originally performed by bluegrass musicians Flatt and Scruggs.)

By the way, has this Hawaiian say anything about immigration?? About U.S. borders and preservation of our culture and language? Most Americans could really give a damn about the borders, anyhow, huh???

Sweet. I love to watch the old hands at bluegrass, but it's even nicer to know that there's young'ns to keep the sound alive.

I'd heard of Etta Baker before finding your other vids of her, but didn't really know her music. She really was amazing. I've downvoted posts just for being a slideshow instead of actual video, but this one is definitely worth an exception (I've added it to my Buried Treasure playlist).

And speaking of finger picking - check out these two incredible kids.

In reply to this comment by swampgirl:
Isn't it though? I knew when I sifted this, it wouldn't publish because it's just audio. Not many people know of this woman unfortunately. There's so little video of her around, I just had to post it long enough to get into my fingerpicking playlist.

She's one-of-a-kind. I could listen to her all day
In reply to this comment by jonny:
aahhhggg! so conflicted - must not resurrect non-video. oh god that's good though.

Good for 16 year old, don't get me wrong. This is not and example of excellent bluegrass picking. I think she thinks so, too, at 1:36. It was a pretty sloppy in the middle.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'music, live music, acoustic, bluegrass, sierra hull, virtuoso' to 'music, live music, acoustic, bluegrass, sierra hull, virtuoso, salt creek' - edited by jonny

I love watching great bluegrass flatpickers, they make it look so effortless.

I look like I have constipation just playing a B-flat.

Disliking hip-hop doesn't mean you are racist, that's why I included the word 'irrational'. It's far more complex than the simplistic argument a presented above. I'm going to come back later and answer that question in more depth, but for now I've gotta go to work.



In reply to this comment by swampgirl:
Oh my aching ass... Ok, I'm going to come back to this and fully read this thread when I have time. This is a great thread, but I have to get working damnit

Racism is not equal to having prejudices. Oh, and it's so funny to call someone irrational if they dislike something that's somehow tied to a particular culture..like hiphop is to rap culture.

I don't like rap music. At all. I also dislike modern country/western music. My reasons are not irrational either, I simply have a cultural bias.

I compare today's C&W music to my preference for traditional country/bluegrass/mountain folk music and see that the C&W come up short..WAY short. My reason is rational. Country and Western today does not have the same level of musicianship as as bluegrass.

Also compare Jazz to Hip/Hop and Rap. Both genres are rooted in African American culture. I prefer Jazz to Rap for the same reasons as above. Jazz requires a higher level of musicianship in my opinion. Also (IMO) Jazz portrays a much more positive message than Rap music.

Are those reasons irrational? No. Prejudice? Yes.. Racist? Clearly NO

See? Can't the PC champions here tell the difference?
Disliking hip-hop doesn't mean you are racist, that's why I included the word 'irrational'. It's far more complex than the simplistic argument a presented above. I'm going to come back later and answer that question in more depth, but for now I've gotta go to work.

Oh my aching ass... Ok, I'm going to come back to this and fully read this thread when I have time. This is a great thread, but I have to get working damnit

Racism is not equal to having prejudices. Oh, and it's so funny to call someone irrational if they dislike something that's somehow tied to a particular culture..like hiphop is to rap culture.

I don't like rap music. At all. I also dislike modern country/western music. My reasons are not irrational either, I simply have a cultural bias.

I compare today's C&W music to my preference for traditional country/bluegrass/mountain folk music and see that the C&W come up short..WAY short. My reason is rational. Country and Western today does not have the same level of musicianship as as bluegrass.

Also compare Jazz to Hip/Hop and Rap. Both genres are rooted in African American culture. I prefer Jazz to Rap for the same reasons as above. Jazz requires a higher level of musicianship in my opinion. Also (IMO) Jazz portrays a much more positive message than Rap music.

Are those reasons irrational? No. Prejudice? Yes.. Racist? Clearly NO

See? Can't the PC champions here tell the difference?

Tags for this video have been changed from 'music, live music, roots music, doc watson, alison krauss, cinema' to 'cinema, o brother, old timey, bluegrass, mountain music, folk, country, gospel' - edited by swampgirl

My ex-husband sometimes plays at bluegrass festivals, and I have been to them for short times, and at least around here, there are more people dressed like deadheads than not. It's a very relaxed crowd.

Though, I havne't seen anyone dancing quite like that...

Tags for this video have been changed from 'young, folks, bjorn, bluegrass, country, cover' to 'young, folks, bjorn, bluegrass, country, cover, dawn landes' - edited by twiddles