Music Banter - Joan Baez

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy jack (Post 426845)

For some reason I've always ignored her because I don't really know why. But tonight I was coming down with my best friend and watching No Direction Home trying to relax and Joan Baez came on and she did some old hymn about jesus being our savior or some crap like that I can't really remember but what struck me was how beautiful it was, her voice and just her and the guitar it was so honest and pure and even though I didn't agree at all with the words I was really struck by it. She did a bunch of Bob Dylan covers too, I don't know if I'd say they were better or not they were just different and it was beautiful.

Here's some songs;
YouTube - Joan Baez - With God on Our Side (Live 1966)

Hi, sleepy jack,
I actually didn't know of Joan Baez until this year. I like the fact that she was a social activist and critic, such as in her song "With God on Our Side," which far from endorsing the view that people have a god on their side points out that again and again people claiming to have "God on their Side" commit attrocities (which isn't to say that those without any god can't commit atrocities). For example, if you look at the quotes of early U.S. presidents, their utter disdain for and desire to slaughter off American Indians (and their use of a god as justification) is quite shocking when compared to what I was taught in the MidWest in public schools at least 30 years ago...which was that the U.S. Presidents were admirable and noble individuals. I like it that Joan Baez criticizes people who justify their self-serving actions by claiming righteousness. --Erica

I have often said;there is Joan Baez; and there are other female singers.
I first saw her in 1967 at a free concert she gave on the grounds of the Washington Monument after the DAR would not let her perform in Consitution Hall because of her politics. Great then, great now, love her covers of Steve Earle songs.
For those wanting an introduction to her I recommend the DVD How Sweet the Sound which portrays her life story. Some great old footage of her when she was a child with her sisters, and of her performing at the Club 47 coffeehouse in Cambridge Mass. when she was 18. If you liked No Direction Home about Dylan you should definitely watch this.

^ Yes, Woodstock!
Her big 1965 single still sounds haunting today:-

Joan Baez has a great voice, delivering her lyrics with a soft clarity. She has a strong political conscience, and with her looks she must've broken a million hearts.

But Dylan's, as it turns out, was not one of them. Although there was a time when they were often in each other's company, they chose to go their separate ways. Ten years later JB, was to write this touching memoir about Bob:-

On both tracks there is an unadorned honesty of expression that justifies using the word "timeless" imo.

Bump.

I love her cover of 'River In The Pines', her voice is beautiful.