Thats Not my Business on Youtube

Thats Not my Business on Soundcloud

Well today we are holding our 5th national elections since becoming a full democracy in 1994. I composed this song a while back but thought it was appropriate to record it today in honour of all those folk who didn't just sit back and say "That's not my business" and got off their butts and voted. The footage is taken at the voting stations at Parkhurst Primary school (the suburb where I live) and Craighall Primary school (where my kids go to school)
Realtracks are:
RealTracks in style: 1415:Bass, Electric, PopSw16RootFive Sw16 075
RealTracks in style: 625:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Rascal Sw 075
RealTracks in style: 1599:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Pop16thsA-B Ev16 065
RealDrums in style: NashCrossovrSw16^01-a:SideStick, Closed HiHat , b:Snare, Closed Hat
I played the rhythm guitar. The harmonies are the BIABettes.


He was born in Alexandra
1985
Skipped school and sold sweet mango
Just to stay alive
Spent a night in Brixton Jail
Prison ain't no shame
He can read the Sowetan Daily
He can write his name

He knows he knows
The country is crying
He knows he knows
The country is dying
That's not my business
He says that's not my business

Married a girl as pretty as lipstick
And Pretty is her name
Sometimes they argue
She has a blue eye
He never feels the shame

Don't mix with politics
That's not my business
Heard of Zuma of Malema
That's not my business

Comments are most welcome as usual.

Cool song. You have a good eye to pick out the ordinary things in life that make up a good song and the talent to put it all together.

It's good to see long lines of people in line to vote..... we had primary elections here yesterday and I was the only voter in the whole place.... one other came in as I was leaving.... such apathy


Good song... I stand by my previous comments saying you sound like Joan Baez a bit..... she was a protest singer from the 60's over here.

Hi Josie,

I like the way you are committed with your songs.
You have grown a real protest singer. That's why Herb
compares you with Joan Baez. I would be proud.
Nice voice and harmonies.

Guenter

Hey Josie:

Enjoyed your song, your voice (more Judy Collins to me) and your activism.

In light of the elections, I worked this little ditty up a couple of years ago for FAWM... You might enjoy it. It's not Paul Simon, but...

My Name is Jacob Zuma

Hey Jo !

This must be one of your absolute best !
I liked everything about this tune and
your vocals most of all !:))


Cheers
Dani

Josie, Nice vocal and harmonies. The mix sounds good. You are tackling some important subjects and doing a very nice job of raising awareness on these issues. I must say they ought to take away voting rights for a man who beats his wife. Good job. Tom

Enjoyed this one. Beautifully done. Fairly strong stuff. Listened twice and found I enjoyed the soundcloud better. Could focus on the song more. I like 'the country is dying' and notice you changed that line in your vocal. Was it a bit too dramatic? Cheers.

Joanne,

Your productions and mixes get better with each song. You've really raised your own bar with this one. The instrumentation is perfect for the message presentation. Your best vocal recording-wise, too. All perfectly balanced. Nice harmonies, too.

I like it. And as others have said, great that you are raising your voice - and using your talents for the cause...

floyd

Absolutely top notch! The vocals, the important lyric, the arrangement and the mix all work together to yield an outstanding production. Bravo!

Hi Herb – Thank you once again for your most thoughtful comments (and your association of me with Joan Baez is always much appreciated). Your anecdote about the voting in the US made me smile. I think it is still a novelty for many in South Africa. Plus people are starting to see the importance of voting. If you don’t vote, you can’t whine…not so?

Hi Guenter – Thank for your kind comments. I would love to be seen as something of a protest singer and am very proud to be likened to Joan Baez. Long before I even knew what “folk” music was I was inspired by her. I read her biography a while back. What a woman! I also found, amongst my pile of music, a songbook of hers with sheet music for about 150 traditional folk songs. Not sure where on earth it came from but it has definitely inspired me to take on a few of those tunes.

Hi Brallan – Loved your ditty on Jacob Zuma. Especially the shower bit. I am sure you have heard about a cartoonist called Shapiro who always depicts Zuma with a shower head hanging around. Also an honour to be likened to Judy Collins.

Hi Dani – Always such a pleasure to read your enthusiastic comments.

Tommy – Thanks for that. I was wondering what to do with this song and then woke up on election day and thought I must record it. Agree what you say about a man who beats his wife. All too prevalent in our society though

Hi RichMac – Thanks for you nice comments. I included the soundcloud link because I know some folk here prefer to listen to the songs without the distraction of the video…For Facebook the video always works better!

Hi Floyd, Janice and Bud – Praise from you guys, especially on vocals and on instrumentation is always so appreciated because I aspire to record and produce the type of music you guys do. I am starting to use that “double tracking” technique on the guitar parts. Also getting brave enough to record my own acoustic guitar which is always challenging.

Yep. Outstanding song and performance!




'Also getting brave enough to record my own acoustic guitar which is always challenging.'

Go for it!

Joanne,

It was great seeing all those people lined up to vote. Hats off to you for singing about your beliefs in the tradition of all the great women of folk music.

Looks good and you're getting a great sound.

Josie

Hi Scott - Ha...You picked up on me saying I am now brave enough to record my guitar!! Getting very brave in my old age!! Glad you enjoyed it.

Josie - Thanks so much. Nice to be likened to the great woman of folk music. I really appreciate it. I do find these type of songs easier to write because I am passionate about these issues.

Joanne,

You have a real gift for this type of music. Great song and delivery - very much enjoyed it.

Bob

Hi Joanne:

You're writing and producing from the heart. Good for you.

I really like the line "Married a girl pretty as lipstick" -- nice one

I'm assuming you shot the video as well? Cool.

Keep up the good work.

John

Josie,

They keep getting better . . . Unlike others I did not hear a song of "protest" here, what I heard was a song of a call to awareness to remind people that voting is indeed very important.

Good on ya Josie!

later,

Hi Bob. I never get bored of your compliments. Thanks so much!

John - Glad you enjoyed it. And yes, I shot the video at two local polling stations on election day.

Danny - Thanks so much. I suppose it is really a call to awareness for all those who don;t think that their vote makes a difference.

Beautiful vocal, well written and the production is excellent thanks for sharing!

Very cool and thoughtful song!! Apathy is truly a tragic thing. Take care. Greg

Hi Robert
Thanks so much for listening and commenting.

Hi Greg. Thanks for this and I agree. Apathy. People are very quick to jump on facebook etc and complain but cant be bothered to go out and vote.