Diamond Jaws

My 2-cents-worth on the international diamond trade, in about 2 minutes. Video version at YouTube and Vimeo.

diamond jaws
diamond jaws
see how they bite
see how they gnaw
at the soul of Africa

down below the ground
they're digging your diamonds
and the warlords, they're killing
for your diamonds
they're selling you jewels
soaked in blood
back home, dead bodies
face down in the mud

diamond jaws
diamond jaws

ah but diamonds are a girl's best friend
the suffering, the suffering
never ends
and diamonds are forever
just like death
take a deep breath

diamond jaws
diamond jaws

copyright p & c Samm Bennett

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posted by flapjax at midnite (4 comments total)

Really like the idea here FJX, particularly the twist on cliches "diamonds are a girl's best friend" and "diamonds are forever". I was feeling though that you could expand the musical soundscape? I was hearing some kind of soaring african choir-like vocal figure - perhaps way back in the mix - something that added a melodic theme to the menacing lead vocal. I'm sure you can imagine what I mean - a kind of chanted thing, perhaps in an african language (that'd be pretty cool - particularly if translated it meant "diamond jaws"). None of that is criticism btw, more the sort of observation I'd have been making if I'd been at your elbow during the recording. Thought too that maybe the lead vocal is just a tad too upfront in the mix - only a gnat's cock too much though, and that's probably just personal taste. Nice one.
posted by MajorDundee at 8:47 AM on July 25, 2009

Thanks for posting this. My bro in law spent years volunteering in Africa and purely out of curiosity I've corresponded with folks over there about issues like this, and man, it's really just insane. Africa is a big deal in our family, so that said, we'll spread this around and it will be deeply appreciated.

Now, you either have huge cajones or just haven't shared your vocal range with us before. Obviously, your vocal is deep, but it also has an authoritative quality that very gently says, " YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN MOTHER FUCKER!"

Seriously, this is great stuff. Good on ya, brother!
posted by snsranch at 4:49 PM on July 25, 2009

Thanks for the comments, y'all, much obliged.

MajorDundee, I agree, I think the vocal is a bit too hot, too. If I ever release this anywhere else, I'll pull it back.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:10 AM on July 28, 2009

Oh, and sns, I just noticed you put this on a playlist called Protest Songs. FYI, I've got another coupla bona fide political/protest songs here at MeFiMu...

New Orleans 2005
and
Undefined.

I wonder if there are many other tunes here on the site that could fall into the "protest" category?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:15 AM on July 28, 2009