If you need something to remind you that “we’re representing Memphis,” there’s nothing better than this one: “Don’t talk about my city.” A new song by local legend Booker T. Jones takes us on a musical stroll through some of our favorite places and best of all, shows little patience for complainers.
Our friend Jeff Nesin sends from New York City a post in the Pitchfork about Booker T. Jones’ new album, “The Road From Memphis.
From Pitchfork:
Soul legend Booker T. Jones recruited Matt Berninger, singer for the National, and Sharon Jones, of …and the Dap-Kings fame, to duet on this old-school Southern R&B tune about the city of Memphis, Tennessee. The track appears on Booker T.’s new album The Road From Memphis, due May 10 from Anti-.
Jones recorded the album with the Roots backing him up, and Roots bandleader ?uestlove and Beck collaborator Rob Schnapf teamed up to produce it. Lou Reed and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James also make appearances on it. Below, you can watch the video for another track from the album: Booker T. and the Roots’ instrumental cover of Lauryn Hill‘s “Everything Is Everything”, which Rolling Stone debuted earlier this month.
To hear “Representing Memphis,” click here and select play on the album cover.
Then, give yourself a bonus by listening to “Everything Is Everything.”
Booker T is a hasbeen, and you know a city is in trouble when music gets “defensive”.
Want good reading ? in yesterday’s WSJ editorial page talking about cities like Memphis, namely DETROIT, and how the city is lossing population day after day, year after year, and even blacks have left the city for the suburbs.
Sound familiar ? well, Memphis has been on the similar downward glidepath.
The WSJ article even mentioned that the new commercial featuring Eminem, the musical rap star, in his HYPE of Detroit, was not likely to save Detroit or make some huge difference of populations returning to the City of Detroit.
The only ones that are buying that in Detroit are a few smug wannebe hip whites.
Sound familiar ? ditto Memphis, TN in my opinion. Same pattern
I don’t think old guard “Booker T” and his musical “representin”” about Memphis, TN is likely to have any meaningful, tangible impact on Memphis’ plight for the future….ZERO
That’s “whislltin’ DIXIE”..attempting to “defend” Memphis in some convoluted musical context, is just as bad as hearing a white rapper Eminem “represent” Detroit.
That’s all weak and bogus..solving nothing,other than selling a few records, albums, which shall be here today and in the trash heap tomorrow.
Shekel, my man! Has the Marine Corps tracked down your service record yet?
Blah, blah, blah…
Well I happened to like it. The lyrics and the piece reflect that the musicians seemed to be having some genuine fun with the song and it shows.
So he don’t seem to care enough about ‘his city’ to pump a little cash into its economy by recording there and using its musicians….. Nice move.
Thank you Booker T. You are a Memphis treasure.
Everything is Everything video was gorgeous. The music was dynamite, Booker T’s organ singing better than any person ever could for his groove. Thanks for turning me on to it – I’ll look for a copy in May.