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Hi,
This has been a devastating week--a week like no other. As usual, I have found solace in music. Here are 17 songs that moved me, stirred me, made me cry, gave me hope. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wXiwex66QsBv2v88bIqmx?si=XzjmksbmT-O3U_ua-DgxNg 1. "For What It's Worth" Buffalo Springfield. Steve Stills, Neil Young et al with the quintessential 1966 protest song. 2. "Everyday People" Sly and the Family Stone. San Fran soul stalwarts, huge hit song, "I am no better and neither are you." 3. "Taking It To The Streets" The Doobie Brothers. Michael McDonald (aka The VOICE) sings lead. In the seventies, the Doobies appeared on their favorite TV show "What's Happening!" I know. They called me. I was the show-runner. |
4. "My City of Ruins" Bruce Springsteen. Written about his depressed hometown, Asbury Park, NJ. Song took on new meaning after 9/11 and hit me hard this week.
5. "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye.The Prince of Soul sings urgently about police brutality.
6. "Revolution" The Beatles. Written by John Lennon, sparked by political protests in the late sixties.
7. "Chicago" Graham Nash. Nash wrote this after the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. The lyrics start with "We can change the world" and the melody does me in.
8."What Did You Learn In School Today?" Tom Paxton. Civil rights advocate and folksinger from Chicago, a career spanning 50 years. I'm a fan.
9. "Peace Train" Cat Stevens/ Yusuf Islam. A song about hope. Lots of controversy has followed him. I listened to him constantly. Nostalgia can be powerful.
10. "A Change is Gonna Come" Otis Redding. Written by Sam Cooke about his encounters with racism in the South. I like Otis's pared-down version better. Sam's hit version with strings annoys me.
11. "This Land Is Your Land" Pete Seeger. Woody Guthrie song, Pete sings it best.
12. "People Get Ready" The Impressions. Written by Curtis Mayfield. I prefer this to the other million versions.
13. "The Weight" The Band. Robbie Robertson says in his memoir that this song is about Southern racism and a bookseller named Fanny. So, the "load" is books? GREAT song.
14. "Lean On Me" Bill Withers. A guy at the protests in D.C. sang this Wednesday night and the crowd joined in. Deeply moving moment.
15. "America" Simon and Garfunkel.New York's finest sing about a couple in search of America, literally and figuratively. We're all on that search.
16. "Wake Up Everybody" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Philadelphia Soul, with Teddy Pendergrass, one of my all-time favorites, singing lead.
17. "Imagine" John Lennon. Imagine a world of peace. That is all.
Until next week--hopefully, a better week--some music to soothe your spirits somewhat..Please stay safe, sane, and...PLAY IT LOUD!
5. "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye.The Prince of Soul sings urgently about police brutality.
6. "Revolution" The Beatles. Written by John Lennon, sparked by political protests in the late sixties.
7. "Chicago" Graham Nash. Nash wrote this after the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. The lyrics start with "We can change the world" and the melody does me in.
8."What Did You Learn In School Today?" Tom Paxton. Civil rights advocate and folksinger from Chicago, a career spanning 50 years. I'm a fan.
9. "Peace Train" Cat Stevens/ Yusuf Islam. A song about hope. Lots of controversy has followed him. I listened to him constantly. Nostalgia can be powerful.
10. "A Change is Gonna Come" Otis Redding. Written by Sam Cooke about his encounters with racism in the South. I like Otis's pared-down version better. Sam's hit version with strings annoys me.
11. "This Land Is Your Land" Pete Seeger. Woody Guthrie song, Pete sings it best.
12. "People Get Ready" The Impressions. Written by Curtis Mayfield. I prefer this to the other million versions.
13. "The Weight" The Band. Robbie Robertson says in his memoir that this song is about Southern racism and a bookseller named Fanny. So, the "load" is books? GREAT song.
14. "Lean On Me" Bill Withers. A guy at the protests in D.C. sang this Wednesday night and the crowd joined in. Deeply moving moment.
15. "America" Simon and Garfunkel.New York's finest sing about a couple in search of America, literally and figuratively. We're all on that search.
16. "Wake Up Everybody" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Philadelphia Soul, with Teddy Pendergrass, one of my all-time favorites, singing lead.
17. "Imagine" John Lennon. Imagine a world of peace. That is all.
Until next week--hopefully, a better week--some music to soothe your spirits somewhat..Please stay safe, sane, and...PLAY IT LOUD!