Well since I picked one of my son’s favorite bands last week, he is back this week with another selection.  He recently downloaded this song from iTunes and it is now on heavy rotation on his iPod.

This song seems like a good fit considering there is so much fear and uncertainty going around right now.   The passage of the new stimulus package earlier this week brings with it much hope for an economic recovery.  We’ll look back in a few years to judge the wisdom of this decision.

I’m waking up at the start of the end of the world,
But its feeling just like every other morning before,
Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it’s gone.
The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour and I,
Started staring at the passengers waving goodbye,
Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?

But I believe the world is burning to the ground,
Oh well I guess we’re gonna find out,
Let’s see how far we’ve come
Let’s see how far we’ve come

Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we’re gonna pretend,
Let’s see how far we’ve come
Let’s see how far we’ve come

My son is a big fan of Green Day and I like a lot of their music too.  They have the raw energy of a 3 piece band that reminds me of some of the best punk bands in the early 80’s.  This song has a solid bass and drum line that erupts into a typical Green Day crescendo after the chorus:

There’s a drought at the fountain of youth, and now I’m dehydrating
My tongue is swelling up, as say 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4

Troubled times, you know I can not lie
I’m off the wagon and I’m hitchin’ a ride

With Bruce Springsteen playing the Superbowl halftime show, I thought; why not feature one of his songs this week.  I have been fortunate enough to see Bruce play live a dozen or so times and he always puts on a tremendous show.  In searching for a song to feature, I found this acoustic version of “Reason to Believe”

Struck me kinda funny
Seem kinda funny sir to me
Still at the end of every hard earned day
People find some reason to believe

It is interesting to see how Bruce re-interrupts his own music.  This version is close to the original, although he added some nice slide guitar for spice.  When I saw him on the Magic tour, this song was transformed into an all out rocker complete with Bruce playing harmonica on a bullet microphone and guitars that sounded like ZZ Top.

You see, there are many ways to perform the same song and it just takes some vision, desire and work.  For me, there is reason to believe that we can redesign the way most of us commute.  As we struggle through our current difficulties, what do you find at the end of your hard earned day?

This song by John Mayer has recently been associated with President Obama and his inauguration.  The lyrics are very representative of how powerless many of us feel with our elected officials.  Here, take a listen:

Me and all my friends
We’re all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There’s no way we ever could

Now we see everything that’s going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don’t have the means
To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change

Hopefully with a new administration, people will lose some of their past apathy and get energized.  There is a strong feeling that President Obama has a certain amount of political capital and goodwill behind his initiatives.  I hope this translates into active participation to ensure good decisions are made by our leaders.

So get involved in change, the waiting is over.

One of my best friends is a huge David Bowie fan.  In 2005, Bowie played during the Fashion Rocks event at New York Radio City Music Hall and introduced a new band called Arcade Fire.  The video this week is taken from that appearance with the band doing their song “Wake Up”;

I was originally going to feature the band’s song “No Car Go” since the title fit so well with the theme of this blog, but this performance is just so strong it deserves more attention.  If you have never seen or heard it, spend a few minutes and I think you will become a fan too.

The lyrics of this song are very appropriate since we need to wake up and alter our current habits.  We definitely have to make changes:

Children, wake up
Hold your mistake up
Before they turn the summer into dust

If the children don’t grow up
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We’re just a million little gods causing rainstorms
Turning every good thing to rust

I guess we’ll just have to adjust

I have never attended an Arcade Fire concert, but they are on my wish list.  The band has such a powerful energy that is very evident in this performance.  Most of their songs start slowly and then build to very soaring climax.  Pay4Rides is just an idea now, but with your help, we can grow this into something much bigger.

Last week I featured Joe Strummer covering a Bob Marley song.  So this week, I figured I should give Mr. Marley his due.  Here is the video for “Could You Be Loved”:

Don’t let them fool ya,
Or even try to school ya! Oh, no!
We’ve got a mind of our own,
So go to hell if what you’re thinking is not right!
Love would never leave us alone,
Against the darkness there must come out the light.

I recently watched the movie “I am Legend” staring Will Smith.  Bob Marley’s compilation of hits is called “Legend” and his music is featured very prominently in the movie.  Here is a quote from IMDB:

Neville: [talking to Anna about Bob Marley] He had this idea. It was kind of a virologist idea. He believed that you could cure racism and hate… literally cure it, by injecting music and love into people’s lives. When he was scheduled to perform at a peace rally, a gunman came to his house and shot him down. Two days later he walked out on that stage and sang. When they asked him why - He said, “The people, who were trying to make this world worse… are not taking a day off. How can I? Light up the darkness.”

His music and message still remain vital today.  So even if we are not trying to make the wolrd worse, we are each responsible for our own contributions to the problems of traffic and pollution in our daily lives.   Take a day off from driving to reduce your impact on the environment while helping better the lives of others.

This past week marked the 6th anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer.  I was fortunate enough to see The Clash in 1979 before the album London Calling was released.  I did not know a lot about the band at the time, but a friend talked me into going and for that I am forever thankful.  We had lodge level seats in a NYC concert hall called the Palladium.  They opened with London Calling and it felt like the entire theater was bouncing to the pounding beat.  The band had an amazing energy that night.

After his death, the album Streetcore was released featuring a cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”.  At the beginning of the video, you can hear Joe Strummer say “People can change anything they want to”.  Listen to the incredible passion in his voice.  I think this is very true, with the key being, we have to want to.  Take a few minutes to watch this inspiring video to see for yourself.  Unfortunately the video has recently been removed from YouTube, but you can watch it here.

Joe Strummer’s music had a profound effect on many people.  He was also a driving force behind setting up Future Forests, an organization that combats global warming by planting trees in various parts of the world.  The organization has since been renamed The Carbon Neutral Company and does some excellent work in carbon offsetting.

At the end of the video, you can see the words “The Future is Unwritten” on the wall.  What a powerful statement.  We all have a hand in writing our future, what will your contribution be?

Photo Credit: David Shankbone

I have never been a big fan of Christmas music.  They start piping it into the stores in November and then every radio station proceeds to overplay their favorites.  By the time of Christmas morning arrives, I am sick of hearing the same dozen songs or so.

So when looking for a song this week, I wanted to select a Christmas song, but which one?  I chose “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby & David Bowie:

Recorded over 30 years ago, this unique combination stands the test of time.  You would be hard pressed to find 2 more diverse performers to bring together.  Bowie left his “glam” wardrobe behind and appeared on Bing Crosby’s television special to the surprise of many.

The true genius of this recording was to create counterpoint lyrics for Bowie to sing against the “Little Drummer Boy” background.  “Peace on Earth” was written specifically for this performance and it allows Bowie to perfectly compliment Bing’s Drummer Boy. 

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we’ll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Can it be

Back in 1977, the idea of putting Bing Crosby with Ziggy Stardust must have seemed a little crazy, but it worked.  It just proves that you never really know until you try.

This week’s song is “Handlebars” by Flobots.  I can not embed the video here, but click on the link if you would like to hear it.

This is an interesting song that is very open to interpretation, which is how music should be.  The music and lyrics start very simple.  As the song progresses, it grows in sound and thought.  I think it supports the idea that people can do anything, both good and bad.  That a small group of individuals can determine the future of the planet.

Here is a sampling of the lyrics:

I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to De Colores
And I’m proud to be an American

Me and my friends saw a platypus
Me and my friends made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want
‘Cause look

While researching this song, I also found another Flobots song called “Rise” that I like, but had not heard before.  In the chorus, they repeat the line:

Rise – Together We

Great message!  If you take the time to listen to either song, let me know what they mean to you.

When I first try to explain this idea to someone, the reaction I receive the most is “I wouldn’t feel comfortable picking up a stranger”.  I fully understand this and I think that is the main obstacle to Pay4Rides actually being implemented.

For inspiration, I offer the Free Hugs video:

This video has had almost 35 million views on YouTube.  If you have not seen this before, please take a few minutes and watch how cautious most people are at first.  I love the way this video builds and builds on its’ own energy.  If you have seen it before, go ahead and watch it again, you know you want to.

This one video has grown into a movement and you can visit the Official Home of the Free Hugs Campaign or the The Illustrated Guide to Free Hugs.  All it takes is a trust and belief in others to make great things happen.