Free To Be You And Me
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Artist:Sisters & Brothers
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Album:Free To Be You And Me
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Track:Sisters and Brothers
I've wanted to do this post for a while now. A couple of years in fact. There were times I wanted to do it for Funky Friday and other times when I was feeling extra nostalgic. When Barack Obama was elected I wanted to do this post. Free To Be You And Me is sort of celebrating it's 35th anniversary. You can read a bit about it on this BoingBoing post. I was too young when this album came out. For my wife and many like her this album came to them at the right time. There was a television special that they made a video of that I saw as a kid, but it really doesn't compare to the album. I only heard this album as an adult but thanks to my wife I've heard it hundreds of times. We've even worked out our own reenactments of the album. I hate to make this political but the album was political. It encourage kids to be kids in any way that they could and told them that whoever they were they would be appreciated and respected. That was a serious stance in the 70's. People think in some pockets of the US that racisicm is dead. Where I live I can tell you it's still alive. That scares me. Some people are oblivious to the hatred that is around them. If your curious you can check out the Hate Groups Map. Even in my area it's shocking how backwards some people are. Looking to the 19th century and not giving a thought to the sacrifices people have made and what brought us to this point. During the last 8 years I sometimes wondered "Did the 70's happen?". Did all of that moralistic tv's kid shows from the 70's and 80's have any impact? Did it only teach us to be consumers? I said recently that I enjoyed ranting. I think I'm doing it now but I really more than anything wanted to finally post these tracks. On the eve of our first black President I thought they would be appropriate. It makes me feel like a new generation is finally coming into power and we don't have to feel like we have to cow tow to the fears of the previous one.
Comments (20)
Diana Ross – When We Grow Up 2:11
and for all the haters this one is for you. I love you.
Rosey Grier – It’s All Right To Cry 2:24
It's funny, because I don't think you could grow up or be born in the 70's with out having heard some of this album. I was born in 76, and I think they injected some of the songs into Sesame Street or The Electric Company, because I don't remember having the album, but I remember certain songs from it, and vaguely the special.
Reminds me of The Bloodhound Gang:
Dude, the Bloodhound Gang scared the shit out of me when I was little. I could never watch the end of 3-2-1 Contact! because of it.
Hahaha... Why?
C'mon, "The Case of The Thing In The Trunk, Part 1", the vagueness just gives me chills (along with the creepy synth)! I have no idea, why, but it scared me. I think there might have been an episode with a ghost in it. I was little, there's not much reason behind your fear. I also hated like every ride at Disney World.
I used to scream and cry when Mr. Roger's Neighborhood would come on and I STILL believe that Bob Barker is Satan, I don't know why either. But he is.
I still can't listen to Alan Alda's voice without hearing the story of Atalanta...
Hmmm... I need more, the story of Atlanta?
free to be you and me - the story of Atalanta about a princess who will only marry if a suitor can run faster than her in a race. The hero finishes with her hand and hand and then they decide they're both not ready to get married. Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas narrated it, so every time i hear Alan Alda speak i think of the story...it made watching West Wing a little difficult!
Yeah, I missed the boat on this "Free To Be..." funnery. I'll see if it's posted on the webs and gives it a right listen.
I would have no idea what you're talking about (keep in mind my age and country of origin) if it wasn't for Sex & The City (they sort of discussed this album at an episode). I'll save you a lecture on popular culture as a mean of accidental general education, and say that I can only imagine the significance of this album in someone's childhood. I can imagine :) I love how you connected it to your brand new president.
Have a good day!
I loved Free To Be You and Me! One of my teachers showed it to us in school. I used to rent the video. I loved it.
I saw a special about the Electric Company the other day. Looking back at that show was fun. It was so awesome.
Contra - I somehow missed Free To Be You And Me in the 70's. I didn't even know the "It's All Right To Cry" song which was a hit on it's own. I did love me some Sesame Street, 3-2-1 Contact, and Electric Company.
Dach - I as well couldn't get behind Mr. Rogers but to my wife and brother he was a holy saint that you couldn't help but love. I love the Bloodhound Gang theme. I'm not big on the band though. Bob Barker could be Satan. I mean who cares that much about animal genitalia?
Mistee - I love Alan Alda on the story of Atalanta. That's one of the highlights of the album. I could really do without the Grandma and Girl Land tracks after it.
Anna - I do remember that episode of Sex and The City. Thanks to my lovely wife I've seen just about every episode 9 times. The album had a great impact on my wife. There's a lot on it about tearing down gender stereo types which was pretty radical for the time for a kids album. I'm glad you liked how I tied it. I really had been meaning to post this for a while.
Andrea - My parents had it in our video store when I was little. I didn't like it as much because it wasn't chock full of cartoons. I rewatched it about 7 years ago and was surprised that I liked it. I wanna see a special on Electric Company! Holy cow they've got a way cool website. http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tec/
They're actually making a new Hip Hopified version of the EC. I saw the whole series on DVD at the library, and a "Best of the Best of" one as well. Sadly, my son is a little too young for it yet. Oh well, we'll stick to Yo Gabba Gabba!.
Yo Gabba Gabba is seizure inducing. And wicked awesome. I'm thinking about purchasing that first best of EC. I did see somewhere that they're doing a new one. Won't compare to the old one. Did you see this DJ Food mix of all of the number segments from Sesame Street?
I watched the complete set of EC after I got it at the library a while back, made me think everyone in it had to be high on something. Same to be said about Yo Gabba Gabba and I love them both
I'm thinking I need to see if my library has th EC vids. They're all on drugs! What sensible people make this stuff up?!
not sure, but it was the soundtrack to my growing up.........I think I turned out allright!