August 1999
"Tender," the first single released from blur's most recent CD, "13," has been likened to John and Yoko's "Give Peace a Chance," Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre," among other grandiose ballads. "Tender" reminded me of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" from the first time I heard it. "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" is a traditional Spiritual. As is the case with spirituals, it sought to gain divine assistance to get through a difficult situation, to get to the "other side." The opening acoustic guitar, then the guitar throughout the song, as well as the underlying beat that is maintained for the duration of the song, reminds me of "Michael..." The repetition of the words, especially the "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, get through it..." part encourages the person to whom this is addressed, to hang in there, to keep moving forward, so as to come out at the "other side," the "shore," so to speak, that will lead the addressee to salvation. That is why this song is ultimately full of hope, for there is the certain hope that salvation awaits for the person who makes it to the "other side." We have here a bona-fide Spiritual, the greatness of which will become ever more evident with the passage of time...Amen, I do believe!
BRITGIRL
KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE?
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