So we're upon 1932 and the Great Depression is in full swing. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? tells the tale of men of different professions who have now fallen on hard times - farmer, railroad worker, soldier. Written for the musical 'Americana' by Yip Harburg (who also wrote the mammoth hit 'Over the Rainbow') it apparently overshadowed the rest of the show.
Bing Crosby is kind of a big deal. Even though he died in 1977, Harry Crosby Jr. is still, to this day, one of the biggest selling artists of all time. Part of the reason he was so popular is because he helped usher in a new style of singing - crooning. Before Bing, singers performed in more of a 'belting' style but with advancements in microphone technology, Bing was able to take advantage of the intimacy the amplification provided. Bing sang 4 Academy Award winning songs ('Sweet Leilani', 'White Christmas', 'Swinging on a Star', and 'In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening) and won a Best Actor Oscar for his depiction of a Catholic priest and teacher in the 1944 film 'Going My Way'. 1941's recording of the song 'White Christmas' is still the best selling single of all time. Unfortunately, it seems that Bing was a major d-bag in real life, with accounts of horrendous physical and psychological abuse from his children and two of them ended up dying from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
FUN NERD FACT - Bing Crosby's granddaughter Denise Crosby played Tasha Yar on the hit TV series Star Trek - The Next Generation. Awesome!
Thoughts by us:
Kelly:
This song hit me right in the feels. I've really liked Bing's singing for a long time, but this is a relatively early Bing recording and he really lets it rip. I'm used to Bing's fluid, pretty Irish lilting-style of singing, but at this end of this tune when he opens up with 'I'm your pal!' - goosebumps. I didn't realize he had that much power behind his voice! Also, I think this song still stands up today. Aren't we still talking about benefits for veterans and how poorly they've been treated? 'Half a million boots sloggin' through hell' and then 'why don't you remember? I'm your pal!' - heartbreaking. I listened to the Tom Jones version (love me some Tom Jones) but it just isn't as good. Bing is king. 5/5
Holly:
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (Bing Crosby): 4/5 We’re on a roll of great songs right now! This might not be my favourite example of Bing Crosby, but man, he’s a great example of what a crooner can sound like! The orchestra in the background is just that, background; Bing steals the show in this one. He does a great job at slowly increasing the simmering anger as the song moves along. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime is apparently from a musical (Americana), and blew away the audience. It's a pleasant sounding song with angry, disenchanted lyrics. That formula seems to have stuck around pretty well!
Der Binger:
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
This anthem of the Great Depression clearly demonstrates that a songs with a social conscience is nothing new.
ReplyDeleteSung from the view point of the beggar questioning why after his valuable contributions , the system failed him. This highlighted the plight of millions in the 30's, no wonder the Republicans tried to have it canned.
I enjoy it when an artist steps out of their comfortable groove and goes for something deeper and edgier and nails it (a slightly more contemporary example is Bobby Darin's Long Line Rider https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8b8uMZiliQ) Bing can't quite shake all his crooner warble but does manage to infuse both the resignation at the start and the anger at the end. 4/4
RD
I loved the way the song opens like a black and white movie and what a timely song it is too. However, I guess as long as there is war, there are soldiers, so this song will probably never grow old. Thanks for pointing me to Tom Jones. I like his version better but then, I LOVE Tom Jones.
ReplyDelete