It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News.
A reminder that next Tuesday is when Veterans Day falls this year. Whether you’re pro-military or not, take a moment or two to think about those who have chosen to serve their country and those who lost their lives doing so. And here are a few songs written about those who have fought for their country. Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler - The Ballad of the Green Berets
For most of us, the music that we are familiar with from the Vietnam era is anti-war. But in 1966, the biggest Billboard hit of the year was the “The Ballad of the Green Berets”. The song was not necessarily pro-war, it did reflect great patriotism and pride in the lifestyle chosen by those in the elite special force of the U.S. Army- The Green Berets. Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler wrote the lyrics to “The Ballad of the Green Berets” during an extended hospital stay, as a result of injuries suffered while fighting in the Vietnam War. The song was initially only distributed to those in the military, but made it’s way into the ears of civilians when RCA released the song as a single. It sat at #1 in the charts for five straight weeks. Here is Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler performing the song for the first time on television during an episode of The Ed Sullivan Show, on January 30, 1966.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5WJJVSE_BE
Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon
Our next song is “Goodnight Saigon”, from Billy Joel’s 1982 album, The Nylon Curtain. “Goodnight Saigon” was not intended to be a vehicle for Joel’s views for or against war, but a means of shedding light on the human aspect of those who served and were lost. so much as expressing how those who do choose to serve are indeed human and people. When Joel performs “Goodnight Saigon” in concert, he invites Vietnam Veterans on stage during the song. Here is one of those performances from 1983:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjzjhl-QztE
Alice In Chains - Rooster
From the 1992 album, Dirt, our next choice is “Rooster” by Alice In Chains. “Rooster” was written by Alice In Chains’ guitarist, Jerry Cantrell , whose Father was the inspiration for the song. The official music video was originally banned by MTV due to the war violence dramatized within the video. The realistic look of the video was probably due to the fact that the video director used the same military technical advisor used by Oliver Stone for Platoon. The video also clocks in at seven minutes, which is equal to a million years in music video land. Check out the full video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAE6Il6OTcs
Honorable Mentions
Billy Bragg, Corey Harris, & Wilco-When the Roses Bloom Again (live in studio video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QclnHbH6PMA
Arlo Guthrie - When a Soldier Makes It Home (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpxUozEqKUA
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It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News.
