I don’t play “Chattanooga Choo Choo” either, despite my love of songs about trains. Black musicians knew what racism was so I think they were not being mean but wanted to be funny. The Chattanooga Choo Choo song traveled fast throughout the circles of Europe during World War II, and today it is an international favorite. I had NO IDEA Chattanooga Choo Choo was considered racist, I’m not sure I agree either. Thank you for your well-thought, articulated comment and for taking the time to come over here and post it! )*, 1950s Paper Ornaments for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, How Ching Chong Became the Go-to Slur for Mocking Asians, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-27360884, Talking About Paid Author Services with Nicole Thorne, Budget Idea for Book Lover Gifts for Book Clubs. In this case the sound of chinese way of speeking english is being used to make rhythm and rhymes that paint the certain acoustic picture. Speak Softly Love #11. The way of condescending to African Americans in that age – especially young ones and especially in the south – was insidious and so ingrained and natural that it didn’t even need to be overtly mentioned. Why do you DJ dances? It will be fun to think on that and explore it. One of the songs uses the “N-word” twice. I get to cover all sorts of truly terrible aspects of history–so much of it dealing with racism/ethnocentrism, and oh, joy, ethnic cleansing and genocide (and yes, I have nightmares). I know for a fact that Ella would be shocked by this ridiculous accusation as she always supported any anti racial cause..I Chattanooga Choo Choo #3. The Chattanooga Choo Choo Songfacts explains that the inspiration for this song was a wood-burning steam locomotive owned by the Cincinnati Southern Railway, but it was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren while they were aboard Southern Railway's Birmingham Special. There Is Always One More Time #10. More info Blackface minstrel songs Minstrel show Taking Racist Songs Out of Music Education Find different songs . Thanks for your insight and perspective. All of them depict the thinking of the day about other ethnic groups and socio-economic groups. Soundtracks: "Girl In The Jitterbug Dress" novel. The original Chattanooga Choo Choo train that inspired this song was a wood-burning steam locomotive owned by the Cincinnati Southern Railway that traveled from Cincinnati to Chattanooga - it was a newspaper reporter who dubbed it the "Chattanooga Choo Choo." A fella on google+ and I were talking and he brought up some good points as well: “My two cents: while I might still play this song on a radio show, where I could give a disclaimer and/or some context, I probably would not play it at a dance. At the same time, this must be discussed. amzn_assoc_asins = "B000VJDQ56,B00N42F4D4,B003E33KVQ,B000FEBVZE"; As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We have a rich history in this country – good and bad – and writing out whole portions of it because some little snowflake is offended by it is ridiculous. Book Group Discussion Questions *(spoiler alert! After posting a link to reddit (scary over there–talk about an odd form of censorship or bullying), it was brought to my attention that a song I had chosen for one of my chapter titles and listed on my Soundtrack page contained very offensive, racist lyrics. Another interesting viewpoint. // ]]>, The Girl in the Jitterbug Dress Hops The Atlantic Volume 2, Ghostoria: Vintage Romantic Tales of Fright, The Flapper Affair: A 1920s Time Travel Murder Mystery Paranormal Romance. Moonlight In Vermont. At the same time, the art can’t be quarantined either. How or Where are You Music Listening? I was talking one day about the pre-Civil War pro-slavery arguments, and how antebellum slaveholders had convinced themselves that slavery was a “positive good” — going over their arguments, “evidence,” etc. How about “My Antonia”, or “Little House on the Prairie”, or “A Christmas Carol”? I think that’s what upset me, too. There is a problem, however. People gather ’round and they clap their hands of Chattanooga Choo Choo. I can afford to board the Chattanooga Choo Choo, I've got my fare, and just a trifle to spare. On a specific level I agree, but it still makes me nervous on a more conceptual level of censorship. Yes, yes, it is and can be as damaging as a negative one, in its own way. I don’t play “Chattanooga Choo Choo” either, despite my love of songs about trains. I have a scene in The Girl in the Jitterbug Dress where he talks about it. Chattanooga Choo Choo.
The song Chattanooga Choo Choo was written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon and was first recorded and released by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra - Vocal Refrain by Tex Beneke and The Four Modernaires in 1941. It is so familiar to so many people that it doesn’t raise an eyebrow. Choppity chop chop, chop chopsticks Choppity chop chop, chop till six Choppity chop chop, chops the thing When Charlie Chingee make his sing song swing Charlie Ching Make his sing song swing With a tingaling On the ding dong ding With a tingaling on the ding dong ding Makee plenty sing song swing Choppity chop chop, chop chopsticks Choppity chop chop, chop till six Choppity chop chop, chops the thing When Charlie Chingee make his sing song swing Foo Yung Foo Makee doodle-doo With a toot or two On the flute bamboo And the doodle-doo and the tingaling Makee plenty sing song swing Choppity chop chop, chop chopsticks Choppity chop chop, chop till six Choppity chop chop, chops the thing When Charlie Chingee make his sing song swing And a tingaling on the ding dong ding Makee plenty sing song swing Chop chop choppity, chop chopsticks Chop chop choppity, chop till six Choppity chop chop, chops the thing When Charlie Chingee make his sing song swing Choppa choppa choppity, chop chopsticks Choppity choppity, chop till six Choppity chop chop, chops the thing When Charlie Chingee make his swing, I was graciously informed, “Sing Song Swing is an extremely offensive song making fun of Asians. The most disturbing thing about all of this banning and shaming, is that the ones doing it listen to rap – the most racist and hateful type of “entertainment” there is, and adulate the purveyors of it. It was the first song to receive a gold record, presented by RCA Victor in 1942, for sales of 1.2 million copies. I don’t need to go to a safe space to listen to soft music and play with Play-Doh with my pajamas on and a vegan soy mocha latte. Racism is when you say that someone of different race is as a consequence less worthy as a human being. Seriously, thanks for helping me hash this out :)”, Tam, I think the naysayers carried it too far – especially for a song that was written back in 1938, and I am guessing many of the words were chosen because they rhyme and are just plain fun to say/sing! Terminal Station Chattanooga Choo Choo Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel Today, trains have a pride of place in Chattanooga's former Terminal Station. A little bit like the great PR campaign which made Americans want to be “Irish for a Day,” after decades of “No Irish Need Apply…”). Coincidentally, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was declared the No. Hank Williams Jr. was there and wrote a song about the event. Click here or on the image. I had been listening to the song for years. But there it is in all its racist glory. From 1955 to 1960, Foley hosted “Ozark Jubilee,” the profile says was the first country music television program to become popular. The song is Ella Fitzgerald’s Sing Song Swing. His 1951 song, “Peace in the Valley” was one of the first gospel songs to sell a million records. It includes an interesting and poignant description of the night that he died. Oh it’s a minefield .. [CDATA[
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