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James Taylor to "Stand & Fight" for Barack Obama in North Carolina
"When are people going to see that nothin' ain't never gonna change unless somebody finally makes up his mind to stand up and fight!"
Exactly. Singer-songwriter James Taylor spoke these words over two decades ago in the intro of the song "Stand & Fight," an inspired wake-up call featured on his album, Dad Loves His Work. Though that message was originally linked to his late '70s political endeavors, it especially resonates now during these final three weeks of the nation's most important election ever. Helping to spread the message of "change" that especially relates to creating jobs and helping the economy recover, Taylor will be lending his voice to Barack Obama's campaign by performing a series of free concerts on behalf of the democratic presidential nominee in North Carolina, the artist's home for much of his youth. "I've always been proud of my North Carolina roots," says Taylor.
"As this crucial election approaches I am honored to join the efforts of the Obama Campaign here in my beloved Tar Heel home. It thrills me that North Carolina has become a 'battleground state' and that we might lead the nation toward the change we so urgently need. With a victory here in November, we will embody the awakening of a new American spirit of engagement and responsibility. In North Carolina, we can own that change. To me, it comes as no surprise, because I hail from the state that chose to move boldly into the future with its commitment to education and modern technology. That forward-looking spirit has paid off for us in a big way. North Carolina for Obama. It's a good fit."
Taylor is scheduled to perform on Sunday, October 19th in Charlotte and Asheville, Monday, October 20th in Chapel Hill, and Tuesday, October 21st in Raleigh and Wilmington. Additional concert dates will be announced soon. (Check online, local newspapers, and TV and radio news outlets for times and details.)
Born in Boston, Massachusetts but raised in North Carolina's Chapel Hill and Morgan Creek, James Taylor--son of Gertude and UNC-Chapel Hill medical school dean, Isaac Taylor--has become one of the latter state's favorite sons. With an ongoing exhibit in Chapel Hill's museum based on his achievements (i.e. the Hourglass Grammy™ for Album of the Year, his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame trophy, photographs, childhood mementos and a video documentary), JT has romanticized his southern upbringing and surroundings in various original songs. Siblings Livingston, Alex, Kate and Hugh also have contributed to North Carolina lore (such as in one of Livingston's greatest recordings, "Carolina Day"), but the state was celebrated most famously and lovingly in "Carolina In My Mind" from James' Apple Records debut, and in "Copperline" from his album, New Moon Shine. In this song, Taylor's quick screen grabs of "copper kettles sittin' side by each, copper coil, cup o' Georgia peach" and "branch water and tomato wine, creosote and turpentine" capture a Southern lifestyle that he's better than most at detailing. And in a 2000 interview, before he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, James told local newspaper, The Charlotte Observer, "What I remember most about Chapel Hill is the landscape. I tell my kids that we were pre-TV and there was a lot of empty time there, slow weekends when you just walked into the woods and found whatever you could to kill time. There was this long, uninterrupted time to let your imagination grow. I believe that was an important part of whatever creative life I've had."
But beyond trophies, Grammys™, or Taylor Family bragging rights, North Carolina's most prized gift from James might be this legendary artist's influence on the presidential race's outcome. No stranger to socially-conscious topics (evidenced in his brilliant "Millworker" and the pro-union "Brother Trucker") or profound thinking (check out "The Secret Of Life" and "That Lonesome Road"), this politically-energized Taylor actually may contribute to tipping one of the reddest states, currently flirting with shades of blue, into Obama's electoral column. It is especially inspiring that JT has committed himself to this mission considering that other, more activist singer-songwriters from the era--Bruce Springsteen always being the exception--largely have been silent. Well, those artists still have time to take a cue from James Taylor's patriotism and get their act on the road while they still can make a difference. Then again, maybe all of us can. Borrowing another line from "Stand & Fight," "You ain't doing nobody no kind of favors, lying around like a rug on their floor. Sooner or later you've got to stand up and say you won't take anymore."
Follow Mike Ragogna on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ragz2008
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Hey Ragz,
I loved FLAG with brother Trucker and Millwork ( if that's the title). Listening and singing along with those songs they were in my mind inevitable... like folk ballads form past eras...about the story and so easy to sing. If he can accomplish anything it's bringing people together. Yeah he'll be singing for Obama's cause - right now getting elected - and in a state that's a good reflection of traditional values of hard work, recognizing it's rural and farming roots - it's natural soul - moving with a wave, even a tsunami of technological change - but one thing Taylor's music has always done for me is get me to slow down and appreciate the moment -what's right in front of me. I keep hearing that from Obama. In the counter punching character jabs and below the belt hooks of the debates Obama kept saying - now wait a minute... and put the argument in context. Obama doesn't have all the answers, but like a good James Taylor song, his responses makes you think what's it's like to be in someone elses shoes or in Barak's case, what would I do if I were president..... giving my self time to understand the situation, set a direction and listen. The politics of bringing different people together can be a mob if it's based on fear or that thing called democracy if it's based on listening. JT makes me listen a little bit more.
Hey Inglewoodone, I LOVED those last couple of lines! That reminds me, it's amazing that the mainstream media can in any way portray both campaigns as using the same tactics when clearly, "terrorist" and worse is not being evoked at Obama rallies, and that "mob" mentality is being employed by Palin and the like.
He is a citizen and entitled to express his choice just as all of us are. Every Repub I speak with has a mind set in stone so I don't think it's possible to change minds. They hold great confidence in another election theft anyway.
Hopefully not, though the Acorn tempest-in-a-teacup nonsense seems to be a smokescreen for whatever ballot-counting mischief is being devised. Everyone needs to stay frosty this time out and watch what's going on. And if we end up with a call for Obama that gets reversed because some state's vote tallies are radically different than the exit polls, Obama hopefully won't throw in the towel immediately like Kerry.
We, by our fascination with them, give celebrities a microphone.
The same people who say they don't care what a celebrity says are the same people who keep the National Enquirer in business.
Excellent point Billorights1776! Our culture is SO fascinated with celebrity and we empower these stars. We really shouldn't be so surprised when they actually use the power we give them!
Voicing who you are going to vote for is great power over the masses? uh, okay
I can't figure out the dems and the repubs fascination with the celebrity endorsement. Is james taylor or springsteen, jon voight or james woods any better than the rest of us? do they possess some mystic insight into the electoral process? They are simply actors and musicians who have one vote just like the rest of us and candidates should be ashamed of themselves for whoring themselves out. I love it when the celebs try to play the "i know what it's like "card. No you really dont. You may have 20 or 30 years ago but you possess money the likes of which 99% of us will never know. so shut up and sing, or shut up and act or dance or whatever, but please don't pretend that you know more than anybody else, because in most cases you don't
Hi Vandelay, I disagree strongly when it comes to articulate artists, especially those who have been around a while and whose crafts are more thought-provoking than not. We admire some artists because of their life insights, and artists such as James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Mark Erelli, Joni Mitchell and even Billy Joel offer wise commentary on what they see. We don't have to blindly believe everything they say, but their insights might make one think where they otherwise might be lazy about understanding issues, so I think we're all better for their NOT shutting up. To me, it's like listening to a friend's opinion with these artists. We may not agree with them, but I especially want to know what they're thinking and respect their perspectives.
Celebrities are no better than the rest of us... but neither are they any *less* than the rest of us.
Like us, they have a single vote. Like us, they have opinions about how this country should work, how it can best express the American character. Like us, they pay taxes, they have families, they get sick. Like us, they do what they can to get their candidate elected. It just so happens that what James Taylor has to offer to the cause is something different than most of us. Not better; just different.
Just a few days before the election of 2000, I waited hours in the freezing cold to hear Al Gore speak in Pittsburgh, PA. The candidate was VERY late, but we were thrilled to have James Taylor, Al Franken, and that ardent Democrat Patsy Ann McClenny (aka Morgan Fairchild, who is a GREAT speaker and long-time feminist) to entertain us.
I'd never vote for someone just because a celebrity told me to, but I'm always delighted to see talented and enthusiastic entertainers take the stage to pump up a crowd waiting for a candidate.
I'm with ya, jukesgrrl! But I think with some entertainers--not all, but some--there is an intelligence and a grasp of the issues that they can sometimes articulate better than most. They educate on a level that the politician sometimes doesn't have access to, an artist's communication skills being somewhat more enhanced in some cases. I totally respect James, Bruce, Joni Mitchell when she's objective and many of the folkier artists such as Mark Erelli who say more in a phrase and can inspire more than a lot of even our most respected representatives. Okay, I'll stop now... ;)
I am so jealous! I LOVE JT so very very much.
I hope they make a DVD of this event. This concert is going to be AWESOME!
Stand and FIGHT, Sweet Baby James! I love it!
Yeah, James steppin' up to the plate, gotta love it!!!
Dates, time and ticket info on my blog as well as lots of NC papers
Thanks katbur2!!!!!
Welcome home, Sweet Baby James!
...and if you can get to one of his concerts, leave some details here for the rest of us poor out-of -towners ;)
We always welcome one of our favorite sons back home -
can't wait to see & hear ya James.
Welcome back!
North Carolina, here he comes!!!
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