Fantastic interview David and Rodney!! I’ve known about some of Ami Yares’s work but I learned about so much that I was not aware of. You asked just the right questions and gave him space to speak so clearly about the important work he’s been doing.

Exclusive interview with Ami Yares, singer-songwriter and Executive Director of Buildabridge, including the songs "Jerusalem", "Bukra Fi Mish Mish" (Heartbeat), and "Moments of Rust".  Although we actually conducted this interview back in July 2021, it is extremely timely, timeless and inspiring. Edited by Sarah Voit.

Ami Yares - Interview

This is a Cedar Walton tune with additional lyrics by Suzanne Cloud, which turns this song into a dark and satirical travel commercial for clueless Americans to visit exotic Bolivia - a country the West (especially the USA) helped to corrupt in so many different ways. Personnel: Jef Lee Johnson (guitar), Chico Huff (bass), Jim Miller (drums), Dave DiPalma (saxophone and horn arrangement), Dave Buffington (trumpet), and Suzanne Cloud (vocals)

Bolivia

Music by Jim Miller and lyrics by Suzanne Cloud. Musicians: keyboardist Mark Knox, drummer Jim Miller, vocals Suzanne Cloud and Mark Knox

If you are absolutely put off by today's media coverage of our world - please listen. Most of the lyrics are composed of industry jargon insiders use in the biz. Here they are and their meanings:
"SLAP shot (=stupid, live and pointless), talking bean (=vacuous taking head)
Cable, keeps it cheese (=schmaltzy story or anchor chat producers hate but viewers love)
Greta (Van Susteran from Fox News), back to you. We know you’ve got things to do.
Hair cut (=the on-camera talent), mike stand (=photographer's term for reporters), too
Bird block (=satellite-feed newscast segment), Brady Bunch (=team coverage video effect; the screen is split into boxes)
Bat phone (=direct line from producers to anchors), out to lunch
Dog lick (=live shot irrelevant to story), neat trick
Straight live (=reporter stands there and explains what's happening, no tape), oh my!
Three A's (='ask any asshole'), slow fade, train wreck (=on-air newscast crash)
Newsroom, boom boom, all jive.

Christie’s (Chris Christie – Gov of NJ) grip and grin (=candidate photo-op)
Hot roll (=rolling tape from the live truck during the newscast), newsgasm (=big disaster story)
Big board (=giant TV screen in back of reporter) with anchorettes (=attractive but inexperienced female anchors)
Dave’s (David Gregory) gone from Meet the Press
War zones with standup tease (=upcoming story promo)
BOPSA (=generic shot of a 'bunch of people standing around'), diggin' sleaze
Go get what's next, forget context
Warm props (=background newsroom employees seen in wide shots of the studio floor during newscasts), don't stop, train wreck
Newsroom, boom boom, all jive

Newtown (Sandy Hook massacre), hose and go (=shoot as much video as possible)
Smotherage (=teams of reporters on the same story), never slow
Truth told? Let's get real! Fuzz was (=any sensational story with cops and dead bodies), sex appeal
Stakeout (=packs of photographers and reporters waiting for something or someone), scandal rules, ratings, silly fools.
Wire fire (=wiring a mic' on a remote interview guest so the studio anchor can fire questions), old liars, flop sweat
Newsroom, boom boom, all jive.
Push the suck button (=a directorial or other major on-air technical mistake) and cue the Jesus lights" (=camera filters that create a 'star effect' on the studio lighting).*


Broadcast Snooze

I wrote the music and the lyrics inspired by a friend's young daughter's fascination with Barbie Dolls. This song was also recorded by British jazz singer Claire Martin and numerous cabaret singers in NYC.  Performers: piano - Marty Mellinger, bassist Steve Varner, drummer Jim Miller, and Suzanne Cloud on vocals. Horn arrangement by trombonist Dale DeVoe

Collagen Lips

This tune was written by the late, great composer/guitarist Jef Lee Johnson and lyricist/singer Suzanne Cloud for the 1996 CD "With a Little Help From My Friends". 

This was recorded live on May 2, 2019 in Collingswood, NJ.Personnel: Tim Glenn (g), Louis Taylor (as), Tyrone Brown (b), Craig McIver (d) Suzanne Cloud (v)

Below the Beltway

Angels and Saints:  Written in tribute to David Bowie and Prince. The song is intentional in that it uses Bowie’s musical elements in new ways. Prince and Bowie for me were the “Angels and Saints” who sang to me and let me know it was ok for me to be me. There's a thread though both of their writing that explores the light and the dark, the mind, the body, the spirit, sex and sexual identity and the search for wholeness. By extension the song is a tribute to all of those who challenge us and give us strength, including Gandhi, John Lewis, Jesus, Malala, Maya Angelou who Inspire us and show us that we are capable of so much more than we could possible imagine. The song also challenges all of us to live like angels and love like saints. The song is from the upcoming Documentary Angels and Saints Eros and Awe Directed by Vic Compher and Rodney Whittenberg.

Angels And Saints Demo 1

Music For The New Revolution is a podcast on music and social issues, co-produced and co-hosted by David Heitler-Klevans and Rodney Whittenberg.

Ami Yares - Interview

Music For The New Revolution

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