The Thoughts of Chairman Anyhow : The Swing

In Today's Issue

The Swing by Marjorie Lacy
Did you Know ...... Swing
Random Joke of the Day
That's Amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing
Finish with a Song

The Swing.

High in the sky

flying higher and higher

air rushing over bare feet

Wind blown hair - without a care!

Holding the chains

pulling legs back, driving motion

feet high now, head back

power there - breathless excitement

High in the sky

flying higher and higher

air rushing over bare feet

Wind blown hair - without a care!

Never wanting it to end.

Did You Know...............Swing

JAZZ SWING HELPED EASE THE PAIN OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

The Great Depression wreaked havoc across the United States from 1929-1939. Money was limited, tensions ran high and few people were exempt from the pain and strife of living in true poverty. Throughout much of the Depression, sad music was a staple. It helped people cope and make sense of each other’s struggles. But eventually sufferers became fed up with the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness, specifically the already oppressed African-American society.

Thus, one of the earliest forms of swing music was born. The happy, upbeat tunes were a hit amongst people of all races and backgrounds. People were suddenly feeling happy again.

SWING MUSIC WAS INTENDED TO PROMOTE RACIAL EQUALITY.

The African-American society used swing music as an outlet to express their desires of racial equality and hatred towards the harsh oppression they had faced for many years. And although true racial equality was a far way off, people from all walks of life couldn’t resist the catchy, lively swing tunes they heard. In many ways, this seeming acceptance of the genre is arguably one of the first glimpses of eased black and white tension. Blacks were making the music, and whites were loving it. There seemed to be a vanishing hatred where the music was involved – at least to some degree.

HITLER’S NAZI REGIME USED SWING MUSIC IN THEIR PROPAGANDA TACTICS.

Although Hitler himself wasn’t shy about his dislike for swing music, member of his Nazi regime used the genre in their World War II propaganda tactics to persuade neutral states to join the fight.

THE SAXOPHONE WAS NOT ORIGINALLY A JAZZ SWING INSTRUMENT.

Most people would assume the saxophone has always been a player in the swing music game. But the popular instrument didn’t find a true place in the genre until 1920 when the Six Brown Brothers earned fame and brought the saxophone some much deserved national attention.

MANY OF AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS DANCE MOVES CAME FROM THE JAZZ ERA.

The Charleston. The Tango. The Trot. The Shimmy. These dance moves are as a much a cultural statement as they are fun way to boogie the night away. And guess where they all originated. That’s right! The swing music era.