i'm sorry, i won't translate the full story, but i'm gonna foccus on what
matters most, IMO.
all in all there are three articles about neil, AYP, and about patriotism.
and everything is kinda overshadowed by 'Let's Roll'. as an expression of
some weird patriotism, we in germany obviously can't handle. people tend to
understand the lyrics as an unconditional affirmation of mr. bush's
war-rhetoric. the german public was really worried about his speeches back
then. "evil, satan, cowards, wanted dead or alive, smoke them out ......" all
that talk wasn't very well received.
being confronted with this maybe more european point of view, neil got a
little pissed:
"oh, that. there is a certain amount of cynicism in this song that people
seem to escape." well,.........
he goes on explaining that 'Let's Roll' is all about heroism and human
tragedy and has nothing to do with mr. bush and his rhetoric. he also talks
about RITFW as a song nobody would seriously call a patriotic one.
Seriously? i happened to be in new york city and i saw both csn&y concerts.
with the first chords of 'Let's Roll' (the cell phone) the audience started
shouting: USA, USA !!!!! and when RITFW closed the first night (before the
encore) someone handed an american flag over to graham nash .............
i guess wolfgang doebeling, arne wilander and some other guys didn't buy
neil's words. they adore him, but they can't get over 'Let's roll'.
According to the magazine neil's management cancelled all meetings with the
german press that were confirmed before.
the review itself is pretty much a mixed one. (3 stars bv arne wilander) he
rates 'going home' best song, most of the lyrics as pretty weak. as neil had
nothing to say, but he needed a few songs - banal -.
"Let's roll for freedom. and he rolls with george w.bush. and he rolls on and
on and on."
so, please don't send me flames. this is not my opinion about neil, 'Let's
roll' and patriotism. this is what i think about the german rolling stone
special. (and i think willander and doebeling still love him to death,
anyway.)
i surfaced and all of my being was enlightened. E.V.
paula.
