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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Don't Stop Believing

Fat Cats is a dueling piano bar in Cincinnati. We went last night (great fun, highly recommend).
One of the (four) pianist played what he called "the white people's national anthem": Don't Stop Believing.

Huh? Am I missing a racial subtext to this song? Or is it just classic stereotypic white pop music? Or was the guy just trying to be funny--and failing?


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3 comments:

  1. Katelin,

    I'd say: No. Yes. Yes.

    I suppose Journey could be categorized as "stereotypic white pop music," but, as I mentioned in my post about the subject, a lot of black folks love Journey, including yours truly. The band doesn't necessarily have the usual qualities of crossover rock acts--no heavy bass or soulful sound (though Steve Perry lists Sam Cooke as an influence). Regardless, in my experience, Journey is just the sort of group everyone, regardless of race, kinda appreciates.

    I figure the guy was just making a dumb joke, but when I turn his statement over in my head it rankles, because of all the assumptions and biases packed into the four words "white people's national anthem."

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hear you! Thanks for the input!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Katelin,

    I'd say: No. Yes. Yes.

    I suppose Journey could be categorized as "stereotypic white pop music," but, as I mentioned in my post about the subject, a lot of black folks love Journey, including yours truly. The band doesn't necessarily have the usual qualities of crossover rock acts--no heavy bass or soulful sound (though Steve Perry lists Sam Cooke as an influence). Regardless, in my experience, Journey is just the sort of group everyone, regardless of race, kinda appreciates.

    I figure the guy was just making a dumb joke, but when I turn his statement over in my head it rankles, because of all the assumptions and biases packed into the four words "white people's national anthem."

    ReplyDelete

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