Arts

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This is America: Protest music through the ages

Billie Holiday elegantly walks onto stage, takes one diaphragm-engaging breath, and begins her song. Soft jazz plays behind her, making a haunting feeling creep over the audience. “Black bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze / Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees,” her bell-like voice sings.  A young Bob Dylan quickly strums his acoustic guitar,…

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In defense of country music

Big green tractors. An ice cold beer. Blue jeans and dirt-covered work boots. This imagery might make you think of the early 2000s. You might be transported to your grandfather’s truck with artists like Jason Aldean and Kenny Chesney singing their Southern-accented hearts out through the car radio. On the other side of things, you…