Happy Friday!
At the recommendation of music industry pundit Bob Lefsetz, I made time to watch the new Woodstock documentary on Netflix this week.
I wasn’t alive when Woodstock happened, but have felt in its shadow my entire life. For those of us who are only students of the culture, politics and social pressures of the 1960s, it can be hard to “feel” what it was like. Documentaries like this are helpful to move from academics to empathy…
A peaceful gathering of almost half a million people in a small space. The shared consciousness of a massive crowd feeling the same feelings. Goodwill and helping each other out, when all the odds and culture seems against you. And music and art and the power of creativity.
This documentary touches more on the story of the culture that incubated Woodstock than the amazing music, but it does have bits of songs from Richie Havens, Santana and Joe Cocker. And that powerful and haunting Star Spangled Banner from Jimi Hendrix.
I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t recommend watching the 1970s Woodstock documentary (directors cut is 224 minutes!!) to see the full musical performances. And here’s a 23 hour playlist of all of the performances on Spotify.
But I also recommend watch this new documentary on Netflix, Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation. It’s a crash course on culture of the 1960s that echo into our politics, art, humanity and culture of today.
See you on the internet!
Greg
GREG SWAN 