Rhiannon Giddens on African American Contributions to Music | Amanpour and Company
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- Rhiannon Giddens is a folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who also happens to be a classically trained opera singer. Having grown up in North Carolina, she’s now on a mission to re-frame the history of African Americans and their contributions to the musical landscape. Giddens sits down with Walter to discuss her latest album, “There Is No Other,” and play a little banjo.
Originally aired on October 18, 2019
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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“The conflict of the south, from the very beginning, is keeping all the working class people at each other’s throats through the invention of race.” Wow, powerful statement of how we must stay united and not divided. I have so much respect for Rhiannon Giddens. Her immensely deep knowledge of music history is truly a pleasure to hear her speak about, it’s her life’s passion.
The only people that are surprised by this knowledge is white people black people always knew I truly believe black people need to stick together and unite as one because we were never invited to the picnic and thank God
Life long North Carolinian here. I grew up listening to old time string band music. Filled the rooms in our house. We are very proud to Rhiannon one of ours.
She's a national treasure! She's great!
A truly American treasure. What a gift to have Rhiannon bringing musicology to life and keeping traditions deep and soulful...really glad I discovered her music...
Thank you Rhiannon. I'm 59, from Ga. and I love to learn. Thanks for educating me on more music history. You are a great teacher.
she is right; her musically studies should be studied nationally. What a wonderful scholar and artist. Thank you so much.
Rhiannon's high cheek bones appeal to her Native American blood. She's a Warrior Goddess, equiped with a plethora of musical history and experience. Rhiannon is a courageous purpose driven and energetic historian. Compassion, transparency, integrity and accountability for all!
Ms Giddens is a truly beautiful, talented woman whose music has given me so much pleasure since I first discovered her a few years ago. I too have a “Civil War” banjo just like the one she played on this video. I found some plans online and scaled them up to full size & built my own. It has that cello like warm, deep sound. Nothing remotely like a modern Bluegrass banjo. I also made some from gourds, just like those early African instruments. I wish her every success on her journey through life, she’s truly inspirational 👏👏👏.
Just learned of Miss Giddens today. I think everything I've heard from her is wonderful - not just music but ideas. Miss Giddens takes on racism in a very non-racist way. I applaud her wisdom. I think Miss Giddens will be an instrument of peace.
Amazing person and one of the best musicians ever.
I really do appreciate the respectful way of sharing the history she has learned. I find it excruciatingly painful that people can be subjected to such manipulation that it causes generation after generation devastation, death and the loss of history and contributions.
AGREE
Her talents are beyond amazing. Her voice is so strong, and I've been researching which banjo to get because of her. Absolutely love the music she makes.
Build yourself a gourd banjo, or buy one. Noah Cline has a good video on the subject.
Thank you UA-cam algorithm. I discovered another wonderful person today.
She’s amazing 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽
Blessed are the Peacemakers .....
Rhiannon has Forgiving Loving Heart....
Through Art Music Theater=Creativity
a Way Forward= Healing Trauma
ReCover the Narrative History Banjo =
Everybody wanna go to heaven, but
don’t nobody wanna die.”
Go Through the Eye of the Needle ...
Change of Heart...Change of Manners
Drinking Green Tea the War Stops ...
.
Rhiannon you are an instrument for transformation with your theology of peace .
I am fascinated from this woman
When I listen to Rhiannon Giddens sing and play I feel strongly that the music was not meant for me to hear. It is from a certain place, time and was created for the souls of a certain few. I have heard and enjoyed hearing at least some of this music played by others and never felt that way. Her respect has set her apart from how and why others play the same tunes. At the same time I feel she is so proud and invites me to listen to her being so real with this music. Thank you for sharing.
I am in love with this amazing woman and her music!
Get in the endless line, Pete
I absolutely love this lady ❤
I’ve learned so much about the roots of the banjo as well as black history
Just in this interview alone but what strikes me most about her is her calm demeanor.
A truly enlightened, loving, service to others soul ❤
Much love 💗
From Alaska
I admire this amazing lady so much. What an intelligent, enlightened, talented, beautiful soul. When my algorithm recommended her it was the song “Sugaree” and I was hooked. I love that she educated us on the history of American music and this should really be something that brings us together.
Great definition of minstrelsy! And her description of her mixed race. Love her!
Love this woman and everything she stands for. So interesting to finally learn her story!
She is so articulate . Love the history lesson!!
It's unnecessary to say she's articulate. People never say that when white people speak. It's always like this is news when a black person is not speaking slang.
Rhiannon Giddens is amazing: brilliant, scholarly, talented and just a great human.
She is AMAZING!!!!
I am a fan! So great.
I KNEW IT! Classically trained opera singer! I heard a different recording and was amazed by the control, the range and how she avoids throaty/guttural beginnings of passages. Great voice and I’m glad she knows how to use it properly!
What a special lady. While it's a given she is a beautiful lady, her inner beauty shines like a light! Gifted musician on top of all that!!
An American treasure!
Beautiful talent.
Great interview, thank you!
Wow she is so eloquent and down to earth.
Fantastic interview and a fantastic talent!
What a master class, thank you, Madam. From Southern Brasil. I ' ll ask my students to get more information about black American artists.
What a remarkable young woman and I'm just finding out about her now. The journey begins exploring her discoveries and me at 77!
Rhiannon Giddens leaves me gob-smacked!
Preach sis! Love you!!
BEAUTIFUL ARTIST !!❤❤
Her knowledge is so awesome and putting that guy in his place for the term hillbillies lol
Everyone in America is a mix. That’s what makes this country so awesome above all others.
Great Interview.
Never heard of The Wilmington Massacre. Unbelievable.
And a couple of decades later, there was another one in Tulsa.
She's so wanderful 5 🌟☮️ to all.
This is awesome info.
Marvelous
In Haiti they do the Contredanse and it is a native dance played with native instruments
Thats why country and Rock was born in the south and no where else on earth
And now, add "Pulitzer-prize winner"
This chic is an amazing musician and absolutely bloody gorgeous imo
🎉❤ Quintessential musician!
"I Have a dream"
Someday we will realize the damage and wasted energy and human potential from divisions
Be divided Be conquered 😢
Peace and prosperity Through personal Responsibility
HIGHLY INTELLIGENT
Ocaneechi or Cheraw Sioux Rhiananon. Can't wait to write with you.
Beautiful lady, lovely artist - sorry for a little bit of chauvinism but you have enriched us in Ireland and great COVID concerts your time there.
She's awesome. Her work on rdr2 brought me here
Shes so smart and do beautiful.
Man, we are who we are. All cultures affect other cultures. It is the ebb and flow of humanity - it is a beautiful thing. And I apologise, we are not this comes from this nationality or that comes from that nationality - we're all human beings, we all travelled in our directions. And now, that we are coming back together, we are making some wonderful, beautiful things. And yes, there are those who will hold tight to their roots... And I think that's fair enough. But oh man, together? We make such wonderful, wonderful 'stuff'. It is the movement of the human race. That's what's important. That we appreciate the here and now. What we have here and now. That we look forward. That we move forward. Because if all we do is look into the past, live in the past... Sorry, but I'm just not sure how that's going to move us forward. Because if all we say already happened in the past? Then it's all been said before and we are going nowhere. And that is why we have to move forward - and time just keeps on ticking - so we're going forwards anyways... Kinda predestined really, when you think about it...
attributing African banjos to what predominated in the 20th century is like saying a log drum was similar to Buddy Rich. Or an ox cart is similar to an automobile because they both have four wheels and an external power source. The 20th century banjo had steel strings, metal hoops and frets. To my knowledge Africa didn't have too many metal foundries. This makes a difference because the primitive materials didn't allow the tension to reach optimum levels. Thus, African tone was always tubby and muddy - American instruments were crisp and ringy.
E pluribus unum🤓👏🏼🇺🇸
"... the actual truth is way more interesting." ❣ 9:00
Important how she worked the story of the Wilmington Massacre into the interview. That was an American version of Kristal Nacht.
Yes we need to teach about race, not sweep it under the rug
Without African American musical influence, America would be soulless .music has the power to bring people together. It’s true for Punjab, unfortunately divided by politicians . It’s true for Greece and Turkey who share beautiful songs.
Great history of southern music. But don’t forget about Jazz!
Never heard a banjo with nylon strings
I wish they would make a minstrels movie, complete with Lou Christie, Stephen Foster, and blackface with real racist jokes at the interludes- "Mr. Bones and Mr. Interlocator". Perhaps with a revolt of sorts against the racist elements, or mingling with common black music.
Gee manetti
First 5 mins Music of America - African Americans
Alot of Irish culture, music and dance was taken up by african americans. I recommend the documentary bringing it all back home. It far more messy than u would think.
No…..
"the only coup on american soil"
Discuss African American contribution to music??? They contributed to every blasted aspect of American music. Blues, black, rock black, jazz black, country black, bluegrass...black Hip hop/rap black....Believe that!! Yet they worship Elvis 🤣🤣
Elvis loved and worshipped black music. Everybody loves black music. It's just that Elvis was the only white person brave enough to sing like blacks. Way back in the 50s
without irish music, black string music wouldn't exist.
She's amazing but Billy is the King.
Billy who?
There was "White" and the mixed descendants of African slaves were called by many names.. That's why this new apartheid of "people of color" is racist and revisionist. Btw: Know the history of Country music. (Not to be confused with Country Western music). Straight out of the popular music of Blacks from Tide Water Virginia. As we joined the militias under the threat of being reins laved... Opening up the new territories and depositing our deep roots... Buried by layers of successive waves of immigrants.
Let's make the banjo about race. SMH.
I have not listened yet. I may have to put you to the music ban if you cheated on your husband and have not repented publicly. You are of mixed race, yet black with the blessings many sell their soul for, given to you before you were born, a beautiful mind and kind heart...and the ability to unite a very divided world, especially the United States where racism is at a shocking level on both ends, black and white people and the Mexicans being the greatest racist (reverse racism). Super divided to the point of riots and potentially civil war, which would mean millions of dead black children. You have the gifts to unite, and allow people to see beauty, art and talent and even momentarily close their eyes to color because of your beautiful expression. You are to Beyonce as Dean Martin to Rosie O'Donnell. Only one other person had this ability and he is now dead... yet his music lives on and grows and spreads worldwide, along with the praises of his heavenly Father ( halleluYAH). You are more talented then he is and have the ability, I know and believe, to jump into any genre of music...make concessions like he did for mankind. The majority of his music before it was refined for the western ear, and European heart is still not listened too. Make concessions, not with your body or morally... you sang for the President...You can be repackaged, maintain the essence and with the Bob Marley type producers...a unique and popular sound. The world needs real music, music written by the artist, and a longing for musical talent that sings about ? Again use Bob Marley as your guide. He is listened too and respected in the entire world. They translate the lyrics and then sing along. Say something, yesterday is gone, and the slaves have long since died. Move past slavery to emancipation, from "All my tears" to "don't worry be happy".... from "Imagine" to " One Love"... from " me too, you too, me first at any cost to Me Last I've already won.
You went from Opera music to the poor and wealthy white American and European music. Surely, you adjust the rhythm and tempo, as your voice..once you have caught on with the young, and old that can be played on ALL stations. Once your sound and style modifed like Bob catch on, you will enrich the world and close the barriers as the rancher, the southerner, the New Yorker, hear, sing and move thier heads IN UNISON.
BCT
Dude, whatever it is you're saying, she already enriches the world. I can't believe you write all that first and haven't yet heard a note. Think about the absurdity of that, man. I'm sure she will be highly offended if you put her on your fearsome music ban.
Bruh are you on crack
What the fuck did I just read
@@cacamilis8477 Absolutely NOTHING. It's straight nonsense.
@@Auntkekebaby Yeah. Kinda telling the original commenter is too scared to even reply.
No one denies that the banjo came from slaves from Africa. The reason that the banjo is credited as the first American musical instrument is that slavery is a part of our country's history and they are members and citizens of this country. Trying to say that black history isn't recognized in that form of music is disingenuous and just further divides. The next thing to come from the black community will be that country music and the banjo is cultural appropriation instead of inclusion of black history and culture INTO the rest of the country. Country music has a rich heritage that started way before the introduction of the banjo, but the banjo was a perfect marriage to the fiddle and guitar. It changed country music; it didn't invent it. Any educated person that LOVES the banjo and the sound of the banjo knows it's history and is thankful it is available today. What I find funny and insulting is that the history and love of the banjo are kept alive by mostly white people in country music but are given no credit for that. If anything, it will be said, white people stole it instead of including it into the culture of America because our history is to take the BEST of any culture and add it to the common culture known as American values. Not all of our values came from a great start, but like airplane crashes, it's what you do with the knowledge you gain from those bad moments that either make you better and prevent the same problems from occurring, or you keep repeating the past. Regardless, it's super cool she uses an original-type banjo in current music and is introducing today's youth to an instrument they might not be familiar with or it's history.
Very informative comment tbh mate, thank you! I'm glad I learnt all this about the banjo today,
Informative comment, I agree. I had to read it 2x because initially it came across as the typical rejection of the influences contributed by non-white people. It seems she did an eloquent job of outlining the various contributions to what we hear as country music today. She also expressed what her specific interests are and that she is an arm chair historian and simply sharing what she has learned thus far. Honestly, I appreciate the anecdotal that reveals yet another contribution of the African diaspora since many of their positive contributions were whitewashed or suppressed along with the horrors they faced attempting to survive in this country. To be honest, most of my life, and I am 56, all that I have learned is mainly contributions of White people, specifically white men. Everything from music to sciences to medicine and more. So maybe the reason they didn't invest time speaking on the contributions of White artists, of course it exists, is that we already have learned it. What she shared, many of us are learning it for the first time.
Oh come on with the Revisionist Critical Race Theory. My fragility can't take it.
The banjo is from Ireland. That's how it ended up in Appalachia where the people are of Irish ancestry. Black people even refer to it as an Irish guitar. This woman is racist. It's horrible.
She was married to an irishman and have two kids together. She lives in Ireland. The banjo may have come to america from ireland but its not a native instrument.
Bullshit. They were playing the banjo in Africa long before the Irish even knew what it was.. Get over it
@@Africa1000 Racism is bad.
"The modern banjo derives from instruments that have been recorded to be in use in North America and the Caribbean since the 17th century by enslaved people taken from West and Central Africa." per Wikipedia. "banjo, stringed musical instrument of African origin, popularized in the United States by slaves in the 19th century, then exported to Europe." per Britannica.
@@Hermes_Agoraeus Thank you. I just couldn't be bothered to go into that detail. Some people just won't believe the clearest evidence because their prejudice and racism prevents them from rational analysis.
Vaccine ambassador unfortunately
White people? In the context of the Banjo, Black People and Country Music What does she mean by that? Music see's no skin color. She's making me feel uncomfortable.
Sounds like you needed to feel uncomfortable, buddy. People who are not white, like Ms Giddens, who is Black, white, and Native, don't have the luxury of ignoring race, and how they are treated because of the way they are racialized based on others perceptions. You dont need to think about the way your race is perceived, because the system, the *construct* of race, benefits you, as an individual at the crux of societal gender and racial hierarchies.
Discomfort is a first step!
Why are you uncomfortable?
Z-C thank you for your explanation . Uncomfortable is a place we whites don’t want to go. Yet we never hesitate to make others uncomfortable .
She has beautiful hands.