Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 19:18:31 -0400
From: David Garcia <garcia10303@gmail.com>
Subject: LEGENDS OF RAP: BARRY GIBB
With regard to Bill's comments:
> Fine Line is annoying as all hell to me. Fine line.... fihine line ...
> fihine line ... ok ok ENOUGH!! You crossed it! Especially when you're an
> almost 40 year old white man trying to rap.
>
> Bill
>
LEGENDS OF RAP: BARRY GIBB
Good evening. This is Lloyd Graham Buttermilk, and you are listening to
LEGENDS OF RAP on BBC World Service. Today, on LEGENDS OF RAP, we discuss
the intriguing career of rap artist Barry Gibb.
Best known for his work in the Bee Gees, Barry began exploring new
territory in rap as a solo performer. In his album =E2=80=9CNow Voyager,=E2=80=9D he
explored the field of rap with the song =E2=80=9CFine Line.=E2=80=9D
(audio clip)
*It=E2=80=99s wild, it=E2=80=99s weird,*
*It=E2=80=99s what you think about*
*This ain=E2=80=99t no strip club, *
*Shame on you=E2=80=A6*
(audio clip fade out)
This was not the first adventure for Mr. Gibb in reaching outside his
comfort zone. As the co-writer of such songs as =E2=80=9CMy World=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CHow Can You
Men a Broken Heart,=E2=80=9D he was best known for mellow pop tunes of light and
pensive themes. But with =E2=80=9CJive Talkin=E2=80=99=E2=80=9D he and his brothers explored Blue
Eyed Soul, and eventually falsetto harmonies that made them world famous.
(audio clip, =E2=80=9CStayin=E2=80=99 Alive=E2=80=9D).
And so it comes as no surprise that, as rap music increased in popularity,
Barry Gibb would explore the possibilities. Once reunited with his brothers
two years later, he took on rap music again in =E2=80=9CThis Is Your Life,=E2=80=9D an
album track from the album =E2=80=9CE-S-P=E2=80=9D
(audio clip)
*More rap, *
*less crap*
*When times are bad,*
*And money is tight*
*Ain=E2=80=99t too much heaven*
*On a Saturday night*
(end audio clip)
And yet commercial success as a rap artist proved elusive. Two years later,
with the song =E2=80=9COrdinary Lives,=E2=80=9D he tried a more subdued approach
(audio clip)
*The clock on the wall keeps turning*
*Time stands still*
*No matter how the dice may fall*
*Someone else always gets to call the number*
(end audio clip)
Those who had grown fond of Barry=E2=80=99s rap style were dismayed to see that, in
this attempt, he didn=E2=80=99t even make any effort to rhyme. It seemed as if
Barry=E2=80=99s rap career was over.
But never say never, when it comes to the Bee Gees. They persisted in the
face of adversity, and with =E2=80=9CHaunted House,=E2=80=9D brought the rhymes back in
full force:
(audio clip)
*Nothing stands the test of time*
*You live forever, never mine*
*I cling to dreams that turn to sand*
*Our life is now, a distant land*
(end audio clip)
But it was the year 1993, and Barry Gibb was rapidly approaching the age of
50. The music industry is not kind to aspiring rap artists once they reach
that age, and sadly, Barry Gibb had performed his last rap on record.
Even so, it can be said that, through his efforts, in some small way, Barry
Gibb contributed to popular culture through his rap music. The phrase =E2=80=9Clike
Barry Gibb trying to rap=E2=80=9D came to mean stepping outside your comfort level
in a way that raises doubts about one=E2=80=99s actual sincerity. When certain
presidential contenders, years later, tried to portray themselves variously
as intellectually informed, maternal and compassionate, or deeply
empathetic to the underprivileged, time and time again people would say,
=E2=80=9CWho are they kidding with this? Honestly, it=E2=80=99s like Barry Gibb trying to
rap=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D
For LEGENDS OF RAP, this is Lloyd Graham Buttermilk. Good night.
David Garcia, who can honestly say that Barry Gibb taught him that it
really is okay not to like rap music in NYC
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 21:13:47 -0400
From: Joseph Brennan <brennan@columbia.edu>
Subject: Re: ??: Calm Down & Cheer Up
"Cheer Down" as George Harrison sang-- great song, from the Wilburys
period-- see youtube-- inspired by his wife Olivia's comment when he got
overly excited about something.
"Calm Up" has not yet been written.
Oh yeah. I like "Fine Line".
Joe Brennan
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 22:06:46 -0400
From: "Chris Mathis" <cmathis@brothersgibb.com>
Subject: RE: ??: Calm Down & Cheer Up
----Original Message-----
NV .... Fine Line is annoying as all hell to me. Fine line.... fihine line ... fihine line ... ok ok ENOUGH!! You crossed it! Especially when you're an almost 40 year old white man trying to rap.
..
I like Fine Line. I actually remember 99% of the Rap to this day. ( though I totally hate RAP (crap)) music!=20
Hate it, hate it, hate it! =20
I do not like Barry try'in to rap, do NOT like "Back'ta Funk"
Barry, Really???
"Back'ta the drawing board....
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 22:10:07 -0400
From: "Chris Mathis" <cmathis@brothersgibb.com>
Subject: RE: LEGENDS OF RAP: BARRY GIBB
-----Original Message-----
And so it comes as no surprise that, as rap music increased in popularity,
Barry Gibb would explore the possibilities. Once reunited with his brothers
two years later, he took on rap music again in =E2=80=9CThis Is Your Life,=E2=80=9D an
album track from the album =E2=80=9CE-S-P=E2=80=9D
(audio clip)
*More rap, *
*less crap*
----
Funny stuff David. I prefer "Less Rap =3D Less Crap"
>>>
Those who had grown fond of Barry=E2=80=99s rap style were dismayed to see that, in
this attempt, he didn=E2=80=99t even make any effort to rhyme. It seemed as if
Barry=E2=80=99s rap career was over.
----
Yes, and those FOUR people will get over it... :)
End words@brothersgibb.com message digest 04/25/2014 00:01 (#2014-5119)