Last week I did a classic tune article around The Eagles Hotel California. Today I want to tell a small story about an artist who was one of the biggest sellers here in South Africa during the Apartheid years, specifically the early 1970’s.
At the time we were pretty much isolated from the world due to the apartheid, this isolation duly ending up as full blown economic, cultural and sporting sanctions.
I Think Of You - Coming From Reality Album released in 1971
Rodriguez was a mexican american songwriter who recorded two albums neither of which were a great success in America. In fact after the second album went unnoticed he gave up music to go work on construction sites to support his family
Sugar Man - Cold Fact Album released 1970
In South Africa we were fighting a border war against insurgents who wished to topple the Apartheid regime. As reported on Allmusic.com ….
As Dutch national newspaper NRC Handelsblad discovered in 2005, young white South Africans who had been enlisted with the national service had embraced Rodriguez as their own counterculture Hendrix. However politically incorrect this must seem, their longing for the Vietnam era -- when smoking grass and listening to Rodriguez' thought-provoking lyrics was viewed as a means of rebelling against their own ultra-conservative government -- comes across as perfectly imaginable. As a consequence, much of his repertoire remains a big favorite of singalongs at an average "Braai," or barbecue party.
I was part of that generation and we all believed he was a mega-star. Little did we know it was only in Australia and South Africa where he was revered.
Where Sugarman was his most well known song, the following track was the most popular amongst the teenagers with the lyrics surely creating many a hard on for testerone overloaded teenage boys
I Wonder - Cold Fact
I wonder how many times you've been had
And I wonder how many plans have gone bad
I wonder how many times you had sex
I wonder do you know who'll be next?
I wonder, I wonder, wonder I do.
I wonder about the love you can't find
And I wonder about the loneliness that's mine
I wonder how much going have you got
And I wonder about your friends that are not
I wonder, I wonder, wonder I do.
Much of his early lyrics and music was aimed at highlighting the problems facing the poor people living in ‘inner city Detroit’.
Inner City Blues - Cold Fact Album, performed Live in the year 2009
In 1998 Rodriguez was surprised to find out how big he was in South Africa when a group of fans finally tracked him down and invited him to come play in South Africa (This searching for Rodriguez led to the making of the OScar winning documentary Searching for Sugarman...a must see for music fans). He subsequently went on tour to Australia and South Africa on numerous occasions.
Crucify your Mind - Cold Fact
From that excellent publication Wikipedia:-
In 1998 Cold Fact was awarded a platinum disc in South Africa, and was five-times platinum in Australia. Rodriguez has since toured South Africa and Australia with much success, but remained relatively unknown in his native country of the US.[5]This began to change after the reissues of his albums in the US by Light in the Attic Records in 2008 and 2009, and even further in 2012 with the Academy Award winning documentary film Searching for Sugar Man, which soon led to appearances on major American television shows like 60 Minutes and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Rich Man’s Hoax - Cold Fact
And we shall end off where it all started with his first single he recorded
I’ll Slip Away - Coming to Reality (re-released on the album
I strongly suggest you take the time to watch the documentary Searching for Sugarman
Thanks for reading and listening as always your support is appreciated.
I'm from Indonesia, a very beautiful and nice song, the lyrics are most loved by music lovers, thanks @themagus have shared
Great Article on a True Talent!
Thanks .... between him and Leomard Cohen I remained sane during my military service ...thanks for stopping by and the vote.
good music my friend @themagus, good luck always my friend, i will upvote and resteem.
Thanks friend
same as my friend, I am very happy if my friend want to visit my blog, because I really need support from someone like you @themagus, thank you very much.
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very good music, i really like posting @themagus,
And, of course, Just Jinjer had a Pretty Big Hit in South Africa with their cover of Sugarman!
Ahhhh, forgot about that. Going to have to do the 'cover feature' again featuring those two..thanks for the reminder {pops off to youtube to search for Just Jinger}
cool friends, all need a struggle,
good job fella, hopefully always success and a good day, thank you have to share a friend
Good post my friend.
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Classical music is beautiful .. Success keeps friends ..
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I've never heard of this performer. But what you said about his work, that he did it in difficult times is worthy of respect and study. The music really is beautiful, touches the soul.
Thanks for stopping by @anna-mi, I appreciate your support. I love his music...