Attention: Wal-Mart Shoppers!

Aw, Shucks! ^ | 5/10/04 | Aw,, Shucks!

[shuckmaster]

Dear Shucks,

The other night I was checking out the new Walmart.com service in search of music to download for 88 cent a song. I have a about three hundred CD's in my collection, maybe twenty of which are albums that I can actually let play through from beginning to end. So, naturally being able to scan an entire album and choose the songs I actually wanted was the main attraction to their site.

The first name I did a search on was Johnny Van Zant. I was just curious about his solo efforts before he took over his late brother Ronnie's gig as front man in Lynyrd Skynyrd. I was quite stunned and shocked by this excerpt of Wal-Mart's bio of Johnny. It reads as follows:

Southern Rock differs from standard Rock in its regional mix of conservatism and rebellion. It is defined by political incorrectness: maleness, whiteness, sexism, racism, and a flaunting of Confederate flags, mixed with a more positive regional pride.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=4118&dept=4104&product_id=846516&path=0%3A4104%3A4118%3A5094%3A25336

Now, I'm pretty thick skinned. I try not to get too worked up by those who pretend to know me by the way I talk or dress. But, when I step into a store to spend my hard earned money on a product they have for sale, I expect to be treated with a little respect. Rudeness and incompetence are the reasons why I no longer set foot in a Wal-Mart store. And those are the very same reasons why I will never again visit their website.

I'm sure Wal-Mart will plead ignorance about this blatant denigration of Southern Rock and all those who have been touched by such great music, and they'll get around it in the end. However, if Brand X music store on the corner said anything half as racist and bigoted in a Rap artist's bio, they would not only be chastised by all the local papers, they'd probably get the Molotov treatment.

I think it's about time for Wal-Mart to see a big gray cloud on the horizon. And I ain't talkin' about rain.

Matt Hilliard Nashville, TN

[stainlessbanner]

bump

[LanPB01]

Well, I bought the first two seasons of "The Sopranos" at Wal-Mart, and none of it was edited. If they don't edit that level of profanity, I can't imagine what it would take.

[oyez]

Southern Rock differs from standard Rock in its regional mix of conservatism and rebellion. It is defined by political incorrectness: maleness, whiteness, sexism, racism, and a flaunting of Confederate flags, mixed with a more positive regional pride.

That was soooo unnecessary. Obviously, the commentator has an ax to grind. They aught as well have said "Southern Rock appeals to those with missing chromosomes. If the writer had used that kind of venom against any other music form, with the exception of C&W he would be surely out of a job or worse.

[Alas Babylon!]

Yes, I'm very aware of that. Neil Young? A Southern man don't need him around, anyhow!

[Don W]

You forgot something in that lyric.

In Birmingham they love the governor (Boo! Boo! Boo!)
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

[Mad Dawgg]

Let me preface my remarks by noting I graduated in 1977 at the start of the school year in 76 my Mom and dad wanted to know what I wanted for Graduation, they barely got the words out of their mouth before I could say Skynyrd tickets.

Well, tickets couldn't be secured for grad. so they got a Stereo instead and allof Skyryds albums.

Then I was surprised on my birthday in 77 with a note in a birthday card that I was going to see Skynyrd with 3 of my friends. My Birthday is October 14th. Never got to use those tickets...

I am a big fan of Southern Rock, have been for many years.

So to your comment:

"Actually, it's a far from a true description." Which was a response to: "Southern Rock differs from standard Rock in its regional mix of conservatism and rebellion. It is defined by political incorrectness: maleness, whiteness, sexism, racism, and a flaunting of Confederate flags, mixed with a more positive regional pride.

Well let us take it part by part:

"Southern Rock differs from standard Rock in its regional mix of conservatism and rebellion."

Definitely!

"It is defined by political incorrectness:"

No Doubt!

"maleness"

I can't think of one Female Southern Rock group maybe I missed it but I doubt it.

"whiteness"

Hmmm, can't remember a single ethnic member of any Southern Rock group, Again maybe I missed it but I can't remember a single non white member of any of the big Southern Rock groups.

"sexism"

Hmmm Songs about getting some trim on a Saturday night, What's your name little girl What's your name. Yep Sexism!

"racism"

Your example above is the only song I can remember that touches on anything remotely racial, also in the same song Neil Young is taken to task about his song "Southern Man" so this is the first example I find that is at the very least stretching the truth, I think outright lie but remember some equate Confederate Flag to racism. Which brings us to:

"and a flaunting of Confederate flags, mixed with a more positive regional pride"

Most definitely!

SO I really don't think the description is that far off, just that taken together it sounds ominous but in fact is very true save for the racism.

[Alas Babylon!]

Yes, but I took offense at the racist part, as did you. All the other stuff I'm proud of too. But in these last few decades, I've seen a lot more racism up North than down here.

[shuckmaster]

I read and reread the letter. I fail to see anything even vaguely refering to unions, boycotts, hating Wal-Mart, or trying to make any kind of joke.
If you actually took a second to read it instead of instantly, ignorantly jumping out of your thin skin, you would see that there's an unacceptable racially motivated slur on both Johhny Van Vant and all others who perform or appreciate Southern rock music.
If you support or agree with that type of general slur against either the artist or his style of music, then just come right out and say so but, don't try to distort the message into something totally different than what was clearly intended.

[shuckmaster]

>>>You do realize this song was written in response to Neil Young's 'Southern Man',<<<

Actually, it was written in response to Neil Young's very derogatory song 'Alabama' which appeared on a later album. It does reference 'Southern Man' in the lyrics.

[ampat]

I guess I'll stick with Apple's itunes.

[discostu]

Just picked up T2 at Wal-Mart. The only modifications were the ones advertised on the box (ie the Extreme Version with 16 minutes of stuff that was cut from the theatrical version).

[shuckmaster]

>>>I can't think of one Female Southern Rock group maybe I missed it but I doubt it.<<<

A female vocalist died in the Skynyrd plane crash. The Rossington Collins band featured a female lead singer up front (who still preforms on tour with Skynyrd).

>>>maybe I missed it but I can't remember a single non white member of any of the big Southern Rock groups.<<<

You've never heard of the Allman Brothers?

[joebuck]

"Hmmm, can't remember a single ethnic member of any Southern Rock group, Again maybe I missed it but I can't remember a single non white member of any of the big Southern Rock groups."

You obviously never paid attention to the rhythm section of the Allman brothers band. Also, I believe that all the members of Blackfoot (Train, Train) were native americans. Finally, I believe that Skynerd had a female african american back up singer the last year they toured.

[discostu]

And don't forget Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, had he not OD'd they would have been on the list of big Southern Rock bands, their one album is still one ofthe best of the genre.

[Skooz]

They do, however, sell "clean" versions of music.

By popular demand.

[Know your rights]

They may have been from the South, but I've never heard them called "Southern rock."

[CWOJackson]

What! I thought Walmart only sold music made in China.

[Reelect President Dubya]

If you actually took a second to read it instead of instantly, ignorantly jumping out of your thin skin, you would see that there's an unacceptable racially motivated slur on both Johhny Van Vant and all others who perform or appreciate Southern rock music.

Man, if something like this gets you so upset, I feel sorry for you when something important actually goes wrong in your life.

You must not have much of one to have the time to worry about this sort of silliness.

[familyofman]

"Actually, it was written in response to Neil Young's very derogatory song 'Alabama' which appeared on a later album. It does reference 'Southern Man' in the lyrics."

I disagree. The direct reference to Neil Young's Southern man couldn't be much clearer. Plus I seem to recall an interview with Skynard on VH-1 Classic (I think) where they expressly said SHA was in reply to SM. 'Southern Man' was really derogatory about the south - "bull whips crackin" and a few references to white women having sex with their black slaves.

[discostu]

Heavy duty guitar driven blues with Southern sensibility. I think the fantasy metal tinge throws some people off, but you can throw Thin Lizzy into your stereo during any Skynard/ Allman Brothers binge and it'll fit right in.