The Activist's Playlist
Published June 29, 2009 @ 06:32PM PT
Tonight in my N.I.A. class we moved to a Michael Jackson tribute playlist. When "Man in the Mirror" started, a student said "Woman in the Mirror!" as we were all women standing before the studio's mirrors. It was a great class - my first in 5 months; I'll be taking them for free now in exchange for volunteering at the studio. (Mop the floor, then dance on it, basically...)
MitM left me wondering what folks listen to to get themselves psyched up about the work they do and tackling the world's problems. On my iPod I've got this playlist called "In the World" that I consider to be a loose collection of social activism songs - or songs that remind me why I'm an activist. A random sampling:
Virtual Insanity, Jamiroquai
Living for the City, Stevie Wonder
All Alone (No One to be With), Slick Rick
Let's Do it Together & Beautiful Tomorrow, Blue Six
Someday We'll All be Free, Donny Hathaway
And a bunch of CSN, 10k Maniacs, and some I'd rather not mention. (All I'll say is, Hear me Roar!) :)
Your turn. What's on your playlist?
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Comments (18)
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Author
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Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.
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welcome,ending poverty in america is just like telling the rich to stop stealing (some of them) or to do more to help us put a end to poverty.just look at this if all the churchs&acter&film maker do their part and write off some our all on thay taxes it can be done.thay pay high taxes any way. just help. one love
THE PEACEMAKER
Posted by JOHN HENRY on 06/29/2009 @ 07:34PM PT
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Me Llaman Calle - Manu Chau
This is Not a Love Song - PIL (Europop version)
Posted by Dave Bennion on 06/29/2009 @ 08:09PM PT
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To steal Michelle's thunder - Live Your Life by TI
Also:
- What's Left of the Flag by Flogging Molly
- Sweet Little Thing by Lucero
- Tiny Dancer by Elton John
- Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show
Posted by Michael Bear on 06/29/2009 @ 09:40PM PT
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From Little Things, Big Things Grow - Paul Kelly
Love Generation - Bob Sinclair
Fav video : Dan, the Dancing Man
Posted by Oceania OZ on 06/29/2009 @ 10:12PM PT
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Oh, and "Eye of the Tiger"
Posted by Oceania OZ on 06/29/2009 @ 10:24PM PT
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Love it!
Posted by Leigh Graham on 06/30/2009 @ 05:05AM PT
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Sorry guys, wrong Dancing Man, It's www.wherethehellismatt.com
Posted by Oceania OZ on 06/29/2009 @ 10:59PM PT
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Biggie - Things Done Changed
MIA - Paper Planes
Ting Tings - Not My Name
The National - Secret Meeting
(but these days, it's all MJ, all the time)
Posted by Matt Kelley on 06/30/2009 @ 05:04AM PT
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It is all MJ, isn't it!
Love The Ting Tings!
Posted by Leigh Graham on 06/30/2009 @ 05:06AM PT
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Excellent! I haven't heard of half these songs. Time for research!
Posted by Leigh Graham on 06/30/2009 @ 05:08AM PT
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What I've Done - Linkin Park
Reeducation - Rise Against
Land of Confusion - Disturbed (Cover of Genesis)
Plus anything by Rage Against the Machine.
Posted by Jeremy Keith Hammond on 06/30/2009 @ 08:10AM PT
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At the risk of revealing too much, my iPod's "Top 25" includes:
How Soon Is Now (The Smiths)
Atmosphere (Joy Division)
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division)
Anarchy in the UK (The Sex Pistols)
Holiday in Cambodia (Dead Kennedys)
Posted by Emily Gertz on 06/30/2009 @ 03:19PM PT
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PS... really fun blog post, Leigh.
Posted by Jeremy Keith Hammond on 06/30/2009 @ 03:23PM PT
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Activism Inspiration, eh?
Frank Sinatra - My Way
Miley Cyrus - The Climb (that's right)
Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
Rascal Flatts - Life is a Highway (more just uplifting than activism-inspiring)
Posted by Justin Berk on 06/30/2009 @ 03:55PM PT
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Sweet!
Posted by Oceania OZ on 07/01/2009 @ 01:57AM PT
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A nice new song about how desperation (less wickedness) ie: poverty, is a cause of crime:
Ain't No Rest For The Wicked
by Cage the Elephant
Posted by Jeremy Keith Hammond on 06/30/2009 @ 04:21PM PT
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Ghetto Bastard - Naughty by Nature
Changes - Tupac
Masters of War - Bob Dylan
My Window - soulbone Lyrics
No Woman No Cry - Fugees version on their cd
True colors - Fredro starr featuring Jill Scott
Almost anything by Rage Against the Machine, esp. The Battle of Los Angeles
Posted by Laura G. on 08/09/2009 @ 01:18PM PT
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An Alternative to Capitalism?
The following link, takes you to a "utopian" article, entitled "Home of the Brave?" which I wrote and appeared in the Athenaeum Library of Philosophy:
http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/steinsvold.htm
John Steinsvold
Posted by John Steinsvold on 10/07/2009 @ 07:44PM PT
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