Cooke was a groundbreaking figure in R&B music, and "Change", more than anything else he recorded, successfully merges the secular suffering of his race with the fervor of the gospel music he began his career singing.
It makes me think too of Martin Luther King Jr's famous quote "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." A belief I hold on to in dark times.
Have you seen One Night In Miami..? It ends with this song, with Leslie Odom Jr recreating Cooke's performance on The Tonight Show. Hugely powerful.
I struggle with that quote more and more with age, but I do that with almost everything that filled me with hope when I was younger - like this song!
As for ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, I have! I'm hopeful I'll get the playwright behind it -- and the screenplay -- to join me for one of my artist-on-artist conversations.
This song was also used rather powerfully by Spike Lee in MALCOLM X. It's a brilliant use of juxtaposition because it plays as Malcolm is driving to his death.
Yes, I can see how MLK's quote is harder to believe as times seem to get darker and darker, and time and again we see the bad guys triumph (and gaslight us - making us feel even more impotent, and it even less likely that we will see the end of the arc that MLK speaks of). I'm also now thinking of Einstein's question to ask of ourselves: "Is the universe a friendly place?" Ultimately, I do believe it is. But I can understand why others don't - or can't - believe that.
Thanks for the tune cootie Cole. This essay definitely connects with my personal beliefs about the concept of hope. Until my forties, I would have exhibited disdain for the idea, at best naive, and worst case, delusional. Then, more recently a child, thanks Greta!, reminded me that there’s no hope without action.
Hope is action, or it's just pointless as far as I'm concerned. I feel that more and more the older I get. I'm glad to hear the piece resonated with you, John.
What’s interesting is I just reread Frankenstein. Victor is the classic “risk-avoidance” protagonist. The monster has a legit gripe. It’s a great dynamic.
I know I’ve read similar interpretations. I believe Robert Anton Wilson compared the Monster to Prometheus in his book, Prometheus Rising. My copy is in storage at the moment, so I can’t confirm.
Cooke was a groundbreaking figure in R&B music, and "Change", more than anything else he recorded, successfully merges the secular suffering of his race with the fervor of the gospel music he began his career singing.
It's a lovely observation, focusing on the collision of secular and gospel in his work.
Beautiful piece, Cole.
It makes me think too of Martin Luther King Jr's famous quote "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." A belief I hold on to in dark times.
Have you seen One Night In Miami..? It ends with this song, with Leslie Odom Jr recreating Cooke's performance on The Tonight Show. Hugely powerful.
Thank you!
I struggle with that quote more and more with age, but I do that with almost everything that filled me with hope when I was younger - like this song!
As for ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, I have! I'm hopeful I'll get the playwright behind it -- and the screenplay -- to join me for one of my artist-on-artist conversations.
This song was also used rather powerfully by Spike Lee in MALCOLM X. It's a brilliant use of juxtaposition because it plays as Malcolm is driving to his death.
Yes, I can see how MLK's quote is harder to believe as times seem to get darker and darker, and time and again we see the bad guys triumph (and gaslight us - making us feel even more impotent, and it even less likely that we will see the end of the arc that MLK speaks of). I'm also now thinking of Einstein's question to ask of ourselves: "Is the universe a friendly place?" Ultimately, I do believe it is. But I can understand why others don't - or can't - believe that.
That would be super re. Kemp Powers! He's great.
Another incredible piece.
Thanks, Harvey!
Thanks for the tune cootie Cole. This essay definitely connects with my personal beliefs about the concept of hope. Until my forties, I would have exhibited disdain for the idea, at best naive, and worst case, delusional. Then, more recently a child, thanks Greta!, reminded me that there’s no hope without action.
Hope is action, or it's just pointless as far as I'm concerned. I feel that more and more the older I get. I'm glad to hear the piece resonated with you, John.
What’s interesting is I just reread Frankenstein. Victor is the classic “risk-avoidance” protagonist. The monster has a legit gripe. It’s a great dynamic.
The Monster is the hero of that novel, as far as I'm concerned.
I know I’ve read similar interpretations. I believe Robert Anton Wilson compared the Monster to Prometheus in his book, Prometheus Rising. My copy is in storage at the moment, so I can’t confirm.