By bill biss
PULLQUOTE: “I think the beauty of the album is the bridge between the end of that experience and the beginning of the Obama administration… I think people are just coming back and awakening from their slumbers.”
Funny girl, actress, author and singer, Sandra Bernhard is a veritable chameleon of talent. Her latest endeavor is a new recording of rock and world music called Whatever It Takes released on August 25. The music was produced and co-written by Ted Mason, former Modern English member. Remember their hit 1980s song called “I Melt With You?” These two artists along with numerous guest vocalists such as Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders and noted Rwandan cultural ambassador and singer Jean Paul Samputu have crafted a thoughtful and musically entertaining new work. Whatever It Takes takes the listener on a journey from New York to Africa, the Middle East and South America with a rich tapestry of world music paired with the American sounds of rock n’ roll. The Rage Monthly spent a bit of time on the phone with Sandra Bernhard to talk about the songs, why she was motivated to create such a diverse recording and how it all came together. Not many people are aware that Bernhard is a classically trained vocalist. Her voice is pure and maidenly, as well as robust on Whatever It Takes.
There is an amazing and diverse selection of music on Whatever It Takes. From Algerian folk to Brazilian samba or Rwandan dance and more, creating a blend of world rock/afro pop. Why did this combination appeal to Sandra Bernhard? “I feel it’s kind of reflective of how I think in terms of my whole performance idea, which is openness and liberation. Constantly being open to different experiences culturally and emotionally. I think it kind of hits that same tone as the rest of my work. It’s obviously a different sort of format and musically it’s different because it’s original. I think it’s in keeping with my general outlook and philosophy about life. We’re all on a journey and we traverse each other’s other experiences. It’s good to be open and we embrace that.”
This combination of sounds is all held together by a rock n’ roll sensibility. There are several moments where one feels a déjà vu experience of The Beatles or Jefferson Airplane in the tone and styling. One song called “A Women in Love” is reminiscent of “She’s Leaving Home” from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles. Sandra shared her thoughts on this interpretation and creating the CD with Ted Mason. “It’s interesting that you say that. Ted Mason brought me the project initially. He was the driving force behind it musically. I kept feeling that a lot of what he was influenced by was The Beatles. Which I love, I think it really captures that spirit and that emotional tone. You’re absolutely right. I agree with you. He brought in a lot of talented people. We really did the album… I wouldn’t say quickly but effectively and we just did it. It wasn’t like precious. We collaborated on the music and he would go off and complete it. A lot of people just came in because they like working with him and loved the project and loved the whole emotional tone of it. I think it really turned out beautifully.”
Another selection is called “The Sun Comes Out.” Her mood and optimism is clearly felt in the lyrics and delivery. It’s almost like you could picture Sandra running through a field of daisies. Laughing, Bernhard replied, “Yeah! Find me a field and I’ll be there.”
Bernard was a teenager of the 1960s and numerous musical artists influenced her while she was becoming a young woman discovering world music before it was even labeled as such. Sharing her musical inspirations, she replies, “Certainly The Rolling Stones who often would go to Morocco and use local musicians or go to India and The Beatles of course. I think that was the time when everybody was discovering world music. It wasn’t called “world music” then. People were just going and checking out different spiritual paths. So much a part of spirituality is music.
Also American R&B, I grew up with Motown, Aretha and all the great soul singers of the time. The African rhythm and beat is sort of inherent to R&B in American black music. Al Green and Marvin Gaye, those singers influenced me. Another is Joni Mitchell, who in her way was very influenced by jazz. One of my brothers listened to a lot of hardcore jazz and all the great jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk… Really the list goes on and on and on. These are just some of the primary people that I can think of off the top of my head.”
What does she hope people will hear and take away from the music on Whatever It Takes? “We started it towards the end of the Bush administration and in the heat of the cynical thinking that was going on in our country. I felt like during those eight years, people were very afraid of other experiences… afraid of travel. The rest of the world was sitting in judgment of us. I think it was a very negative time. I think the beauty of the album is the bridge between the end of that experience and the beginning of the Obama administration and people feeling…even though financially there is a lot of turmoil, I think that the war is ending. I think people are just coming back and awakening from their slumbers. In a way, people shut down during that period. I’d like to think that this album is a musical and poetic bridge between the two experiences.”
“Don’t Cry in Bed” featured on Whatever It Takes has a definite message behind the lyrics. Bernhard explains, “I think it’s just about staying optimistic, even in the middle of heartbreak. I think all of us experience that and wonder how we’re going to survive. If somebody disappoints us or if a relationship doesn’t work out. It’s about survival and optimism.”
One more song that rings with the triumph of the spirit is called “Why So Blue?” This is a rousing anthem/spiritual showcasing Rwandan cultural ambassador and Kora award-winning singer/songwriter Jean Paul Samputu. The rhythms and emotional pull of the song is such that you can’t help tapping your foot or moving to the song while you enjoy. “Oh good! I like it when the music makes me move. Spiritually, physically or emotionally, that’s what music is supposed to do. That’s awesome. I hope everybody feels that way about it.” Sandra replies.
As noted earlier, Sandra Bernhard is multi-faceted as an artist. As an author she has penned three books beginning with Confessions of a Pretty Lady published in 1988. Is there a fourth book in the works? “It’s not eminent but I’ve been gathering material… I say sometime in the next couple of years, I’ll get it out there. There is so much else I’m working on right now. I’m trying to write television and film projects and of course, perform live. I’m raising my daughter. There is a lot going on. It’s definitely in the works.” Sandra Bernhard is pretty much a whirlwind of talent. She writes, sings, does comedy, stage and film. Is there one thing that she would like to do well that she can’t? “Ummm… play tennis. I’d like to play tennis with Serena and Venus. Other than that there is not a lot I’m aspiring to.”
