American Idol versus Appalachian Idol

The American Idol circus has concluded yet another season. I have forgotten which season this season or who won the latest edition. Rather I should say, I did not bother to remember any details about this season or any of the preceding seasons. I am always puzzled that America- that land which gave to the world, Blues, Jazz, Rock n Roll and Country music needs somehow the glitz and glamour of popular music to vindicate itself, or perhaps it justs needs the millions that American Idol sponsorships and votes bring in. It is not too belittle the thousands of contestants who audition and take part every season, a great majority of them are wonderfully talented. But music, I felt, always has to have a little bit more.

Some years ago I came across this website. Every single video there is a treasure, a wonderful representation of people and their culture. But, some among them are real gems such as the one by folklorist Alan Lomax, Appalachian Journey. Appalachian music or Old-Time music as it may be called predates country music. As the New World was settled by the European settlers, they brought with them their English ballads, polkas and waltzes and when exposed with the poly-rhythms of Africa produced a fantastic strain of music preserved in the mountains of Appalachia that stretched from Quebec in Canada down to the Texan panhandle. As Lomax wonderfully puts it,

"People came bearing strains of the Norse adventurer, the Celtic fantasy, and of the Protestant Revolution that helped to free mankind from the old tyrannies of kings and emperors. And in this grand setting all were influenced by the civilized Cherokee town dwellers who taught them how to grow tobacco and corn and squash. And how to play the mouth bow."

Spend an hour or so to watch it. And listen. Listen to Sheila Adams as she sings that old Scottish tune,

"Black is the colour of my true love's hair. Her cheeks are like the rosy fair.
The prettiest eyes and the daintiest hands. I love the ground whereon she stands."

And listen when Frank Profitt and his banjo tell you when they hanged Tom Dula

"Hang your head Tom Dooley, Its hang your head and cry
Killed Laura Foster, poor boy you're bound to die"

The depth of the music, no matter how many times I watch it sends a warmth through my heart. And it taught me a lot about music. It taught me to listen and listen again. To the music, of the darkened Indian farmer, as he and his buffalo ploughed the rice paddies. To the thin melodies of the Chinese bowed strings as the resonate from Tibetan Himalayas to the Gorges of the Yangtze. To the piercings vocals of Mongolian throat music. To the cante jondo of the Gypsy's Flamenco. Each music, distinctive and unique but all sharing in life's tragedies, triumphs and ironies. And with such wonderful music, what little charm do we see and derive from the music of American Idol and the like (Rockstar Supernova, etc).

American Idol or Appalachian Idol.

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