Wednesday, March 17, 2010
"Strange Fruit" will be the song of my choice. While listening to this song several different reactions came out, but the most disappointing one was just the gruesome vision that was use to discribe reality. Finding out why the author used an alias when this song was published and why he choosed Billie Holiday to sing the song
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It would be interesting to think about the graphic nature and shock value you mention - what impact is likely to have on listeners and what's the thinking behind making this choice?
ReplyDeleteHi Prof. below is my eassy this is what i have wriiten so far. could u please take a lokk at it and give me a feedback on it thanks. also is it possible u can tell me how to incorporate the refence in it.
ReplyDeleteA song is used for many different reasons, to get a message across or to express one’s feeling. Music can be interpret differently it all depends on who is the listener. The author may also use ironic language to bring the message across and to be discreet to the opposing party. In the “Strange Fruit” by Abel Meeropol (“Lewis Allen”) the song gave a brief description of the activities that took place during the 20th century. One of the most gruesome crimes was the lynching of African Americans. By reading the words of the song it will bring sadness to one to hear what really took place. The performer Billie Holliday sings the song in such manner that you can really relate and understand all that was being experienced by these individuals. Holliday was also known to defend African American through the songs that she sings, that what made this song such a big hit.
The lyric of the song starts by stating “southern trees bear strange fruit” The word “strange” stand out the most because how a fruit would be considered as strange. But what was actually strange was the treatment of African Americans especially lynching. During this period the southern states way of living was unlike other states or country. Lynching was not normal in northern states and would not take place in a normal society. But in the southern states this was a very common thing that was being conducted not to mention Mississippi. Mississippi was a majority black states and whites refused to let blacks have power or to have the same rights as them so to alleviate the problem blacks was lynched for the simplest of things. Lynching was an average thing that took place so this song was to make American aware of what was taking place in the south and to hear the cries of a black man and the unjust of being lynched.
The song then continues by saying “Blood on the leaves and blood at the root” What Mr. Meerpool probably trying to get across was the situation may seem like one thing but when you get to the root of it it’s a total different perspective. If one not knowing about lynching and come to the south and see blood on the trees one will not think that it’s actually human blood. One first reaction to this would be one of an animal. Being unaware of the activities one will ignore a situation or try to understand it but it’s usually deeper than what it appears to be. And in order for you to get a better meaning and understanding you will have to get to the root of the situation. If someone who was curious and try to understand what was taking place and wanted to get to the root of it all it would probably cause them their life. And in order to get rid of the problem one will have to get to the root of it. But many was afraid to take that chance to get to the root of what was going on.
So by using a singer like Billie Holiday who was loved by colored people the author feels that the message will not go unnoticed. Also the pain probably could be experienced through her voice. With her strong tone of voice Billie Holliday continues by singing “Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze”. By this line the author probably wanted to point out that African Americans was being lynched and that was a normal thing that took place in the south. That as soon as you come to the south don’t expect to see trees that bear fruit, or trees with flowers just expect to see a body being hung from one of the trees. Billie Holliday strong tone combined with the lyrics of the song was a good combination it gave a scary feeling and put in the state of mind to just imagine what really took place.
Hi Kady - Sorry I missed your comment before - now I understand better what you were asking me in class. For a long post like this do as a post rather than a comment so I'm sure to see it. I'll comment on the essay more as you turn it in, and as we work on revisions - in the meantime think about what you mean by normal here - in whats is lynching 'typical' and not in the society that's described in the song. Remember to think about connections to your secondary text.
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