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“I Don’t Eat Animals”
A perfectly ’70s and yet still relevant vegetarian folk song from the singer who charmed the world with “Brand New Key”
The further the past stretches out behind us, the more we feel we have a grip on each bygone era, whether or not we were actually there. I remember thinking in the early 2000s that there was no way this murky decade could possibly be defined. Now I can identify almost to the week when current millenium-inspired fashion trends sprang from.
When I heard a live recording from 1970 of Melanie Safka performing her song “I Don’t Eat Animals,” I confidently thought — despite not having been anywhere near alive when it happened — yes, how very of its time. Hippies, flower power, peace and love! However, while this is a song that has been largely forgotten, at best considered a 70s novelty, I think it’s worth a closer listen.
Melanie Safka is not one of the first names that springs to mind when recalling singer-songwriters of the past, but she has undeniably put in the work — releasing 42 albums in 47…
