Holiday

Green Day blasts its way through this protest, from the 2004 album American Idiot.

 

I beg to dream and differ

from the hollow lies.

This is the dawning of the

rest of our lives.

A Change Is Gonna Come

This Otis Redding tune, long a civil rights standard, has been covered by other artists, including this duet by father and son Thomas and Brian Owens.

Splendid.

It’s been a long, long time coming
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come, ooo
It’s been so long, it’s been so long, a little too long
A change has gotta come

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Poetry and music mix in Gil Scott-Heron’s composition, circa 1970s. The references rung bells for this listener. For others, it may be a spur to further research.

The central concept is still dynamite.

The revolution will be no re-run brothers
The revolution will be live.

Spin

Idle thoughts:

When I tumble with earth’s rotation, do I get a bit of push, or do I slow?

When somersaulting against the globe’s turning, do I get a boost or resistance?

When I jump, does the ground leave me behind just fractionally?

Where is the most or least, the equator or the poles?

There are days in which I wonder.

There are days where it matters not at all.

Either way, I’m a traveler.

Chin tucked. Knees bent. Head down. Curl and roll.

Repeat…

Or not.

Bidding America Goodbye

Tanya Tucker performed this tune at  this year’s Farm Aid in a muddy Wisconsin venue. Country slide guitar, harmonica and solemn snare help punctuate a tale perfect for a sad, country song.

We don’t hear a lot about Farm Aid these days, but that annual fundraiser helps sharpen the focus on an agriculture in transition.

This Saturday mornin’ there will be an auction
Underneath a cold gray country sky
And while the rest of the nation is still sleepin’
They’ll be bidding America goodbye

 

 

The American Life

There’s no mistaking the words in this clearly enunciated video
Madonna is now touring in select venues with a Madame X show I’d pay to see.

Do Not Be Afraid

Here’s a performance by MELISMA of Philip Stopford’s composition, words by Gerard Markland, commissioned in 2010 by Andrew and Kathryn Radley on the occasion of the baptism of their daughter Sophia Elizabeth on October 24, 2010, at St Peter and St Paul’s Church.

“You will never be consumed by the flames”.

The song was also performed by Unity Christian Knightsounds in the hallway of their school on April 3, 2019, as a senior at the school was just about to enter brain surgery. He is still battling brain cancer and the after-effects of treatment.

Peace Train mix

This is for all you club fans.

Junior Vasquez has a 13-minute remix of Cat Steven’s hit, complete with Dolly Parton’s vocals layered into the mix.

It’s fun.

So, clear a spot in a room and prepare to cut a rug in the name of international co-existence.

Another Day in Paradise

Phil Collins recorded a soulful tune in 1989 that’s been covered a multitude of times, a single that arose from an experience he had.

I’ve bumped into this alternate video a couple of times; it tries to capture the grittiness of life on the street.

Brandy and Ray J covered the tune in a 2001 video, which did a little better.

Ray Wilson, formerly of Genesis, covered the song live in 2010

My favorite cover to date is this one by Dennis Brown, recorded in 1992.

 

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she’s been there
Probably been moved on from every place
‘Cause she didn’t fit in there