The power of inspiring lyrics and singers
Bob Bollen
Public
Seen by 52
Over the last few days I've been blown away - and moved to tears - by a song & singer I've not come across, through learning in my choir. It's Emeli Sande's You Are Not Alone. See her performance at Global Goal Live - The Possible Dream (which imo needs to focus more on the need for system change).
How can we curate and share powerful songs like this? How can we attract singers with integrity?
Alex Cooper Tue 3 Mar 2020 9:27PM
I have a dream Bakermat
Alex Cooper Tue 3 Mar 2020 10:17PM
One morning I woke up
and I found the invader
oh partisan, carry me away
because I feel death approaching
and if I die as a partisan
then you must bury me
up there in the mountain
under the shadow of a beautiful flower
and all the people passing by
will say "what a beautiful flower"
this is the flower of the partisan
who died for freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spCdFMnQ1Fk
Hey what have we got to worry about?
I'd just like to see Proportional Representation, but I'm not sure I'm gonna die for it ... you know, one step at a time ... I'm not going to take on the monarchy and fight for a British Republic (this week anyway) ... not unless you've got my back that is ... and if I do die as a clicktivist, be sure to bury me up there in the mountain under the shadow of a beautiful flower
[song version from Netflix series Money Heist]
Alex Cooper Wed 4 Mar 2020 12:06AM
No apologies - I've been on a "retro"
Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
Gabriella Wed 4 Mar 2020 2:33PM
Good question Bob. I think the song has huge power in motivating the masses. Nordic Giants is a beautiful example of political music. They're a psychedelic rock duo from Brighton who loop famous political speeches, (Ram Dass, Charlie Chaplin, Martin Luther King Jr) into their music. Here's there latest album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_D76NQA4wU&t=183s I wrote a poem about collective consciousness and waking up, which Nordic Giants took on their 2017 tour also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NW6p0l7yqk&t=13s
Bret A Warshawsky Thu 5 Mar 2020 10:59AM
Some resources for the thread:
https://www.earthwisecentre.org/music-for-change
Join this 1-hour interactive online webinar with initiators Dr Anneloes Smitsman, Prof dr. Sabine Brunswicker, Chloe Goodchild, Sabine van Baaren, Michael Haupt, Dr Kurt Barnes and other members of the Tipping Point Team and Council, to explore how music can change people and our world. Discover why we chose to utilise the power of our voice as music to catalyse social change, and how you can join this growing Tipping Point movement of:
Cultural Creatives
You have a burning desire to share the song, poem or tune of your heart with the world, because you know it will make the difference the world needs now.
Change Agents or Catalysts
You dream of a bright new future and a thriving world for all, and you are determined to make it happen.
Solutionaries
Your life's work has been a calling and you naturally focus on how you can build solutions our world so desperately needs in innovative new ways.
Visionaries
You can see clearly and you can activate the possibilities our world needs; you know that your role and purpose for this transition time matters.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN ↓
AND this link:
I'll be contributing to this on some levels (not music)
https://livehopefestival.com/home/
Phil Sat 7 Mar 2020 1:01PM
The New York Times have been using poetry in their morning staff meetings to inspire and boost creativity, according to the Guardian. Employees were sceptical at first but soon discovered the unexpected power of poetry that "jolts your mind into thinking about a subject or theme in an unexpected way." This feels like a great way of companies to create a feel that is different from the usual guff about "living the brand." A poet-in-residence for the biggest corps or a more modern solution - Uber Poets anyone? Platform Poetry for Platform Capitalists would surely clean up on Dragon's Den.
Gabriella Sat 7 Mar 2020 2:38PM
I have a book of poems on my desk and one of the first things I like to do when I arrive in the morning is read one poem to myself. It takes you out of the morning rush, allows you to rest in more of timeless soul space. I thought about randomly reading the poem out loud on several occasions... maybe it's time?
Alex Cooper · Tue 3 Mar 2020 9:02PM
Hi Bob, that's a pretty special track and performance. I also like the songs she's done with Rudimental and Labrinth.
I was looking for something else to share but came across this
It's not exactly in the same vibe, it's electronic/trancey and the lyrics are a little spare, but the video is hypnotic and with a good set of speakers it creates a beautiful space.
I know nothing about the artist (I get most of my music feed from Spotify on an "if you liked that, then you'll like this" basis).
Give it a try - and I hope others will share their choice of music - whether classical, popular, relaxing or revolutionary ... but engaging, powerful and inspiring in some way to open our minds ...