http://www.post-rockist.com/2007/03/24/girly-music-part-1-the-1940s/ can you believe we're still posting? Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:46:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.post-rockist.com/2007/03/24/girly-music-part-1-the-1940s/comment-page-1/#comment-15900 David Benson Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:04:04 +0000 http://www.post-rockist.com/2007/03/24/girly-music-part-1-the-1940s/#comment-15900 Lovely appreciation of one of my favourite singers. I just stumbled upon it by chance whilst googling The Andrews Sisters! The only thing that trips me up is your perception of racism in the work of these artistes. To me this is entirely missing the point. I think racism would be an appropriate accusation if it were clear that the songs in question (here, Manana and The Sisters' Rum and Coca Cola) were deliberately intending to undermine or denigrate the cultures or Peoples their songs pastiche. I hear them as inviting an affectionate and entirely sympathetic response from the listener, albeit with an old-fashioned, even quaint lack of awareness of of possible offense. I say, don't let all that stuff get in the way of enjoying performers, particularly Miss Lee, whose spirit is good. You can put a Peggy Lee record on anywhere and people will know she's the real thing. Lovely appreciation of one of my favourite singers. I just stumbled upon it by chance whilst googling The Andrews Sisters! The only thing that trips me up is your perception of racism in the work of these artistes. To me this is entirely missing the point. I think racism would be an appropriate accusation if it were clear that the songs in question (here, Manana and The Sisters’ Rum and Coca Cola) were deliberately intending to undermine or denigrate the cultures or Peoples their songs pastiche. I hear them as inviting an affectionate and entirely sympathetic response from the listener, albeit with an old-fashioned, even quaint lack of awareness of of possible offense. I say, don’t let all that stuff get in the way of enjoying performers, particularly Miss Lee, whose spirit is good. You can put a Peggy Lee record on anywhere and people will know she’s the real thing.

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