Brief Baez bio.
Baez discusses the definition of 'folk music' and a commercial vs. a more purist notion of folk singing and folk songs. She describes herself as a 'melody person' and says that singing with people appeals to her. Baez talks about the following songs on her first album: John Riley, Silver Dagger and Dona Dona.
Musical Segment: John Riley, Silver Dagger and Dona Dona.
Baez talked about her combination of music and politics and emphasized the context of a given concert or album often took precedence over its content. We live in a decaying society...but in the 1980s it has not been easy --impossible to do a protest album. Have had to compromise now. In the past folk and protest songs were what people wanted.d
From sixteen she has always done what she wanted to do. She says no publicity has ever hurt her career. She talks about Diamonds and Rust and writing.
She talks about Marie Flore and Blessed Are from her album Blessed Are.
A musical segment from Blessed Are album: Blessed Are and Marie Flore.
Baez talks more about Diamond and Rust and her past with Bob Dylan.
Musical Segment: Diamonds and Rust from 1975 Album, Diamonds and Rust.
Baez talks about her decline in appeal in the United States and that she is taken seriously in Europe because they want to hear her opinions. She argues children of the 80s did well in Europe but not in the U.S. because it is a sensitive time for Americans. She says they want to be the most powerful, to get their pride back and "I represent everything that works against that. As a Quaker I reject nationalism, " but I'm not that kind of threat in Europe. She says, "I speak as a counter culture person in Europe; She looks forward to retiring from singing and doing something else and talks about the song children of the 80s and touring in Europe.
Musical Segment: Children of the 80s.
Baez's advice to young songwriter interested in folk music. ...always hope people do it because they like writing songs and not just writing songs because they want them to sell...
WNYC archives id: 8898