Pete deserves to have his own movie. This wasn’t it, and that’s OK.
I didn’t know Pete personally, but I always admired him for his courage, and for his ability to be so compelling when he was doing so little from a technical point of view. When I watched the movie, it made me admire him even more. So I don’t agree with your criticism of the movie, but I do appreciate hearing your personal stories of knowing him and playing with him. Every bit of information about him is precious.
I agree pretty much about the movie, although I'm not sure I'd use the word "weak" to describe the way it portrayed Pete, but it certainly did not capture the whole Pete I had listen to for decades, met and talked to on a couple of occasions. It didn't show the fight in him that contributed to his Congressional testimony or to the creation of the Clearwater, it didn't speak loudly about race in America, or labor unions, or his path in and out of the Communist Party, or what I think was the main point of his break with Bob Dylan and the other folk music celebrities who turned into singer-songwriters: Pete was literally a leader, a leader on thoughts and issues, but especially a leader of groups of people singing familiar songs and teaching them new ones. I would love to see a wonderful biographical picture about Pete that inspired more people to do that today, to have folk music clubs and sing-around clubs that were not about ideas of becoming songwriters or celebrities, but about sharing within your community and between communities, and ultimately being part of something. We have lost group membership as a force, whether it is a local folk music club or a trade union active in the major industry in our community, or some kind of social action organizations to supplement or replace churches in bringing people together if they are not interested in what is currently being preached by the established ones in your community. I believe that whatever kinds of groups can save America from this radical polarization will be groups that have songs.
Anybody know any good bowling league songs? Or songs to sing while picking up trash along your river? Are there songs for bicycle clubs? Does Habitat for Humanity have any good songs? Pardon my stream of Consciousness which tends to divide off into a lot of attention deficit Brooks and creeks.
Bob. I appreciate this comment - especially the sentiment. If it goes off into "every little byway," that might be because the idea of us living as a community has been fragmented into so many disjointed pieces, each with its own complex of problems. Keep the Flame Alive!
If you haven't, take a look at Dave Van Ronk's comments on Pete Seeger in his memoir, "The Mayor of MacDougal Street," written with Elijah Wald and published after Dave's death. There is an index in the back, so you can skip to the references to Pete, or just read the whole excellent book about the late 1950s folk scene evolving into the decades that followed.
Thanks. I do not understand the reason for films like this. There is an amazing documentary by Scorcese on Dylan that is 10000 x better than this movie. Half the movie was fictional anyway, so why anybody who knows Pete likes it is beyond me. Watch the Power of Song to see the real Pete.
Thank you for reminding us of who Pete Seeger really was, not just another folk singer but truly someone who really lived for the good of all humanity. He is absolutely my favorite folk singer of all time.
Deeply grateful to know you, and learn about pete. I have been to Graystone and looked at the former building where woody was cared for. Would love to have you on my podcast someday
My recollections of Pete’s generosity and Toshi’s toughness echo yours. One Clearwater festival they invited me, a total stranger, to sleep on their bed while they patrolled the grounds! Heroes and models to be sure.
A bunch of Pete friends saw the film together: Sarah Underhill, Betty Boomer, Melissa Ortquist and several others. We all thought similarly to what our shared as insights. Excellent film even with quiches.
Pete deserves to have his own movie. This wasn’t it, and that’s OK.
I didn’t know Pete personally, but I always admired him for his courage, and for his ability to be so compelling when he was doing so little from a technical point of view. When I watched the movie, it made me admire him even more. So I don’t agree with your criticism of the movie, but I do appreciate hearing your personal stories of knowing him and playing with him. Every bit of information about him is precious.
I agree pretty much about the movie, although I'm not sure I'd use the word "weak" to describe the way it portrayed Pete, but it certainly did not capture the whole Pete I had listen to for decades, met and talked to on a couple of occasions. It didn't show the fight in him that contributed to his Congressional testimony or to the creation of the Clearwater, it didn't speak loudly about race in America, or labor unions, or his path in and out of the Communist Party, or what I think was the main point of his break with Bob Dylan and the other folk music celebrities who turned into singer-songwriters: Pete was literally a leader, a leader on thoughts and issues, but especially a leader of groups of people singing familiar songs and teaching them new ones. I would love to see a wonderful biographical picture about Pete that inspired more people to do that today, to have folk music clubs and sing-around clubs that were not about ideas of becoming songwriters or celebrities, but about sharing within your community and between communities, and ultimately being part of something. We have lost group membership as a force, whether it is a local folk music club or a trade union active in the major industry in our community, or some kind of social action organizations to supplement or replace churches in bringing people together if they are not interested in what is currently being preached by the established ones in your community. I believe that whatever kinds of groups can save America from this radical polarization will be groups that have songs.
Anybody know any good bowling league songs? Or songs to sing while picking up trash along your river? Are there songs for bicycle clubs? Does Habitat for Humanity have any good songs? Pardon my stream of Consciousness which tends to divide off into a lot of attention deficit Brooks and creeks.
Bob. I appreciate this comment - especially the sentiment. If it goes off into "every little byway," that might be because the idea of us living as a community has been fragmented into so many disjointed pieces, each with its own complex of problems. Keep the Flame Alive!
If you haven't, take a look at Dave Van Ronk's comments on Pete Seeger in his memoir, "The Mayor of MacDougal Street," written with Elijah Wald and published after Dave's death. There is an index in the back, so you can skip to the references to Pete, or just read the whole excellent book about the late 1950s folk scene evolving into the decades that followed.
Thanks. I do not understand the reason for films like this. There is an amazing documentary by Scorcese on Dylan that is 10000 x better than this movie. Half the movie was fictional anyway, so why anybody who knows Pete likes it is beyond me. Watch the Power of Song to see the real Pete.
Beautiful.
Thank you for reminding us of who Pete Seeger really was, not just another folk singer but truly someone who really lived for the good of all humanity. He is absolutely my favorite folk singer of all time.
Deeply grateful to know you, and learn about pete. I have been to Graystone and looked at the former building where woody was cared for. Would love to have you on my podcast someday
My recollections of Pete’s generosity and Toshi’s toughness echo yours. One Clearwater festival they invited me, a total stranger, to sleep on their bed while they patrolled the grounds! Heroes and models to be sure.
That sounds just like Pete and Toshi. Thanks for sharing.
A bunch of Pete friends saw the film together: Sarah Underhill, Betty Boomer, Melissa Ortquist and several others. We all thought similarly to what our shared as insights. Excellent film even with quiches.
Love you, Spook. Parrots For Peace send love.
I'm hearing the same from many of Pete's personal friends. Thanks for sharing.