Wednesday, July 16, 2008

CSN sing "Denver"

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

Graham Nash's famous song, "Chicago", was written about the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, as well as the trial of the Chicago Eight. The line "Won't you please come to Chicago just to sing" refers to Nash pleading with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young band mates Stephen Stills and Neil Young to come to Chicago to protest at the Chicago Eight trial, although most people just assume it was a call to people to come to Chicago to protest. That was unlikely, as the song was released two years after the '68 convention.

But the convention protest site Come Up To Denver has word of a new version:

Crosby, Stills and Nash brought the audience to their feet when they performed "Denver" at their concert on June 26 at the Wells Fargo Theatre in Denver. "Denver" is a remade version of the Come Up to Denver Campaign's remade version of Graham Nash's original song "Chicago" .

Graham Nash dedicated their performance of the song on Thursday to Coloroado Governor Bill Ritter, who was in the audience. No word on what the governor thought of CSN rallying activists to converge on the capitol of his state for the 2008 DNC.
(The live version of "Chicago" featured a dedication to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley).

Here's CSN in Denver singing "Denver":