Great Lake Swimmers & the BP oil spill

(english translation below)

Kanadski indie-folkeri Great Lake Swimmers omogućili su javnosti da čuje pesmu sa novog albuma. "Balada o ribarevoj ženi" (Ballad Of A Fisherman's Wife) govori o nesreći koja je zadesila žitelje priobalnog dela Meksičkog zaliva, pogođenog najvećom naftnom katastrofom u istoriji - BP mrljom (BP oil spill). Nafta je uništila ili značajno oštetila čitave ekosisteme na jednoj od "vrućih tačaka" biodiverziteta, a ribu i plodove mora kontaminirala do nivoa previše opasnog za konzumaciju. Najviše pogođenim su se našli ljudi koji su živeli upravo od eksploatacije plodova mora - samostalni ribari. Toni Deker, frontmen Great Lake Swimmers, povodom "Balade" je izjavio:

"Pesma je napisana pošto sam, uz veliku užasntost, čuo vesti o naftnoj katastrofi u Meksičkom zalivu. Najupečatljiviji i najdirljiviji su mi bili izlivi ljutnje onih koji su živeli oko ovih voda, prvenstveno ribara, a pogotovo njihovih žena. Želeo sam da prokomentarišem krizu iz tog specifičnog ugla gledanja".

Iako nije ni muzički ni lirički najimpozantnija pesma koju je Deker napisao, jednostavnost i vokal u prvom planu omogućuju da poruka bude jasna i glasna. Takođe, pesma je puštena u dobrom trenutku - iako je curenje nafte zaustavljeno a mediji se utišali - kriza je daleko, daleko od kraja.

Poslušajte pesmu OVDE (swimdrinkfishmusic.com)

Podsetimo se, BP mrlja ili Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill kriza, počela je eksplozijom na platformi Deepwater Horizon kompanije British Petroleum, kada je poginulo 11 radnika. Kuljanje nafte iz izvora je trajalo od 20. avgusta do 15. jula 2010. U ovom periodu oko 4,9 miliona barela sirove nafte ispušteno je u okean, a deo je stigao do obala Meksičkog zaliva ostavljajući za sobom na milione mrtvih i kontaminiranih stvorenja, narušene osetljive ekosisteme i razorenu lokalnu ekonomiju.

(english)

Canadian indie-folkerers the Great Lake Swimmers have made one of the songs from their upcoming album available for listening. "Ballad Of A Fisherman's Wife" tels a story about the disaster that has stricken the people of the Gulf of Mexico's coastal region. The BP oil spill - the greatest oil-related disaster in history, has destroyed almost entire ecosystems of this biodiversity hotspot, and also made all local sea foods too dangerous for human consumption. So this is the greatest ordeal for ones making a living from sea food exploitation - and especially small scale fishermen.

Here's what the singer-songwriter and band's frontman Tony Dekker said about the origins of Ballad:

"Ballad Of A Fisherman's Wife" was written after hearing, with great dismay, news about the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Most striking and heart-felt to me were the sentiments of outrage from those who made their living in and along these waters, especially the fishermen, and especially their wives. I wanted to comment on this ongoing crisis from that very specific viewpoint."

Though it's not the most striking song made by Dekker, musically or lyrically, the fact that it has dominant vocals and simple structure makes the message of the song clear to hear. It also comes at a good moment - as a reminder that, though the leak has been capped and media has been quiet since - the crisis is far, far from over.

Listen to the whole song HERE (swimdrinkfishmusic.com)

The BP or The Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill crisis has startet with an explosion on the Deep Water Horizon platform of British Petroleum. 11 workers died on spot. Oil gushing from the wellhead lasted form 20th of April to 15th of July 2010. In that time, 4,9 million barrels of crude oil was released in the water and certain amount had reached the coasts of the Bay. It left behind millions of dead and oil-contaminated creatures, harmed fragile ecosystems and wildlife and destroyed local economy.