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30 March 2007

Florida Wants a New State Song →[More:]

Florida's state song, "Old Folks at Home" (Way Down Upon the Suwannee River) is controversial because of its racist lyrics. The song refers to "darkeys" longing for the plantation.

Florida's governor, Charlie Crist didn't play the song at his inauguration, and said he would sign legislation creating a new state song.

In the seventies Ray Charles was asked to sing a song about Florida. Charles attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and is said to have developed much of his musical talent while at the school. He said he would happily sing a song about Florida if someone would write it. It never happened.

Today Florida is sponsoring a contest to find a new state song.

The song is famous, and some Floridians argue that it's part of our heritage. Poo to that. The composer, Stephen Foster, has never been to Florida.

post by: LoriFLA at: 17:14 | 11 comments

And didn't he just pick out 'Swanee' because it fit the meter or something? Maybe.

In any case, I just hope they don't pick a Jimmy Buffett song.

posted by box 30 March | 17:22

Yes box, that's it exactly.

The second suggestion was "the Pee Dee" of the Carolinas, to which Foster said, "Oh pshaw! I won't have that." His brother then consulted an atlas and called out "Suwannee!". Foster immediately wrote it in (misspelling it "Swannee"), saying "That's it exactly!".

In any case, I just hope they don't pick a Jimmy Buffett song.
Ha! Me too!

posted by LoriFLA 30 March | 17:28

"Let's Get Drunk and Screw" is already the unofficial Florida state anthem, from the end of February to May Day, every year. So what's the problem with giving it some props for all it's done for tourism here?

posted by paulsc 30 March | 18:00

Or give some love to Jacksonville's own, and do what's right: "Free Bird!"

Boy, would that piss the eggheads at the music school in Tallahassee off, sumpin' fierce!

posted by paulsc 30 March | 18:07

Free Bird! Perfect.

posted by LoriFLA 30 March | 18:19

But actually, this whole thing may just be what's needed to heat up fellow Floridian Gloria Estefan's career, as she's got some experience with big event tunes.

posted by paulsc 30 March | 18:21

Well, duh, something from O Town.

Kidding aside, I'm anti-Buffett as well. The single thing I loathe the most about going to visit my sister (she lives in Panama City -- I'll be buying tickets to go see her for our annual May family reunion-ish kinda thing in Cape San Blas this weekend) is how many freaking times I'll hear Margaritaville. That damn song is number three on my list of all time hated songs*.

Aside from a lot of punk bands from Florida, I can't think of many musicians from there (Gloria Estefan puede agradame oralmente). Turns out Tom Petty's was born and raised in Gainesville. Why not American Girl? I think that would work perfectly.

*Hotel California and The Day the Music Died, for the record

posted by ufez 30 March | 18:25

Aw, this is gonna be as crappy a public discussion as the state flag was in Georgia in 2003. And in the end, even in a state as politically placid as Nebraska, these efforts are never anything but political footballs. I really thought Charlie Crist was smarter than to get Ray Barnes stink on himself, right at the start of his term.

posted by paulsc 30 March | 18:36

Or maybe Matchbox 20, or the Allman Brothers, or Mandy Moore. Ha.

I think Charles Atkins is going to win it. He has written several songs about Florida.

I like Cheeseburger in Paradise by Buffet. I have a kid's CD that sings Suwannee River. Instead of the word "darkie", he sings "Lordy"

*Hotel California and The Day the Music Died, for the record

Spooky ufez. I can't stand The Day the Music Died. That, bye bye Miss American Pie chorus makes me want to take a flying leap. And mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice? PUKE. GAG.

posted by LoriFLA 30 March | 18:52

Not spooky, just good taste.

Lecherous foul songs they be, may they play while *insert bad people here* burn in Hell. The loathing is very strong.

But again, American Girl. Rockin' song, well written, and done from a native. I fail to see an issue here.

posted by ufez 30 March | 19:51

Boom Boom, ain't it great to be crazy?

posted by trondant 30 March | 21:20

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