Sabbath Songs: Tracy Chapman Sings 'Stand by Me'

Spectrum Website
#1

The Seventh-day Adventist metanarrative anticipates events depicted in symbolic passages of Scripture in which celestial lights go dark, heavenly bodies fall from their places, and the very foundations of the earth are shaken. Singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman appeared on the David Letterman show, providing a pared down performance of a song that cuts to the very human heart of our eschatological anxieties.

If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble and fall

Or the mountains

Should crumble to the sea

I won't cry, I won't cry

No I won't shed a tear

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at http://spectrummagazine.org/node/6763
#2

tracy’s music is definitely well-crafted and well thought out…“stand by me” is certainly a wonderful song…my favorite tracy chapman song is "fast car"which i’ve always thought of as a metaphor for conversion to christ:

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#3

After reading one of your recent stories…I believe you :wink:

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#4

Hahahaha. Nice one Tony!

@vandieman interesting creative interpretation!
Really really good song…

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#5

Following celebrities (idols?) is still rife, whether in the church or outside the church. People, broaden your musical horizons. Tracy Chapman is not exactly the pinnacle of musical composition or performance.

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#7

pago, i don’t think anyone compares her to samuel barber or maurice ravel, but she captures a certain naturalness that’s authentic for many americans…the complex quality of her voice is actually quite rare…and her personal life is well-directed…she’s a decent person, and a credit to the lgbt community…

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#8

Songwriting, authenticity.You do better…

Go on. You write a song with as much heart, spirituality and emotional resonance as T Chapman.

I promise i’ll listen!

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#9

It’s not the authenticity I’m concerned about but the musicality. We used to have one of Tracy Chapman’s cds playing at work occasionally. If I didn’t already know it was her CD I would have thought it was a bleating sheep in places.

#11

Let’s stop for a moment and consider the origins of “A Mighty Fortress.” Then, let’s consider the derivative drivel that passes for inspiration in many church services today. Then, let’s not forget that the greatest spiritual compositions in the Western world were barred from conservative Protestant services—Mozart, Verdi, Duruflé, Bruckner, Beethoven, and others. The gap between “Christ in Song” and the a Missa Solemnis is huge, and we should not make musical arguments ad hominem when we rank or include traditional or new music—assessment must be made on the basis of the final product (even the Tel Aviv Symphony Orchestra performs Wagner, these days0. Chapman’s performance changed the nature of that piece significantly from what the original songwriter might have had in mind at the time, but it works. Like those great beer-hall songs Luther appropriated.

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#12

Jeremy, is it you in that car at the end of the video? Your latest acquisition??? :slight_smile:

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#13

george, as far as i can tell, that car in the video is a beat up ford thunderbird from the '60’s…there’s no chance i’d be caught driving anything resembling it - sorry…

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#14

:+1:

(Out of likes for the day. Not enough characters for a post…)

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#15

I wouldn’t hold my breath or note that long, Rohan! lol…lol

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#16

Yes, I don’t know if anyone has noticed how certain hymns have a decided “dance” beat to them in the hymnal :slight_smile:

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#17

Certainly, they are rhythmic—they would be difficult to learn, either as a singer or musician, otherwise. One should also note the underlying bellicose nature of lyrics that often have military symbolism and the nationalistic tone of many, as well. Not all, of course. We have some beautiful, worshipful hymns to take credit for, many of which have been re-written to be gender-inclusive (note Ottilie Stafford’s edits of at least one of our hymns). Music in worship is a very, very complicated subject, although it shouldn’t be.

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#18

Very polite observation and one with which many will agree.

#19

In the context of San Antonio, for some SDA’s, to the tune of STAND BY ME, I offer the following revision of this beautiful song by Ms. Chapman.

STAND BY ME

If the vote doesn’t go your way,
and your views don’t prevail
Or if you fail
And you are not heard
I wont cry, I won’t cry
No :disappointed_relieved: I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me

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