Need DUers help - tasteful 9/11 songs

[ChoralScholar]

I'm teaching a music and culture class, and being that tomorrow is the anniv. of 9/11, I am starting a unit on music inspired by world events.

I am compiling a playlist of 9/11 songs to use in class, but I want to avoid largely the ridiculous/jingoistic side. Can you help me compile a list of thought-provoking and tasteful songs related to the September 11 tragedy?

Thanks. I'll be checking in over the next few hours as I compile my lesson.

[GCP]

1. Bowie doing the Paul Simon song "America" was really great

On the TV special where they played to the cops and fire-fighters.

[ChoralScholar]

11. I will look for it. Thanks! EOM

[mark414]

2. if i remember right, bruce springsteen did an entire album

called "the rising"

neil young did the song "let's roll" about flight 93 (that crashed in PA)

i can't think of anymore at the moment...

[speedoo]

9. Yes "The Rising" is the album title... "Into the Fire" is a powerful song

on that album. Bruce sings about the rescue workers going into the Towers. Heartbreaking.

[querelle]

3. Hands

By Jewel. It was her tribute to 9/11 and a very lovely song. Here is the video at YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r72njlusyDI

Q

[ChoralScholar]

4. Did she re-record it, or publicly dedicate it?

Hands was recorded prior to 2001, as I recall.

[yewberry]

5. Far Away--Sleater-Kinney

Kind of personal, though. Living Colour's "Flying" has a similar first-person/individual view, but from a totally different POV.

[flvegan]

6. "An Open Letter To NYC" by the Beastie Boys was sort of a tribute

After 9/11. It's off their "To the 5 Boroughs" CD.

Lyric sample:

I see you're still strong after all that's gone on

Life long we dedicate this song

Just a little something to show some respect

To the city that blends and mends and tests

Since 911 we're still livin'

And lovin' life we've been given

Ain't nothing gonna take that away from us

Were lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust

Dear New York I know a lot has changed

2 towers down but you're still in the game

Home to many rejecting know one

Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they're from

[ChoralScholar]

7. Thank you all.

These are great suggestions. Keep them coming everyone.

[alarimer]

8. Where were you when the world stopped turning?

Alan Jackson.

Definitely not a "boot in your ass" kind of country song.

[ChoralScholar]

10. Agreed.

Thanks.

[idgiehkt]

12. Ani Difranco's "Self-Evident"

she wrote it for 9/11

it's really beautiful, she performs it as spoken word and it's really haunting. You can download the mp3 for free from her site here:
http://www.righteousbabe.com/ani/l_self_evident.asp

Be warned, it's really powerful...

"...on a morning beatific
in its indian summer breeze
on the day that america
fell to its knees
after strutting around for a century
without saying thank you
or please

and the shock was subsonic
and the smoke was deafening
between the setup and the punch line
cuz we were all on time for work that day
we all boarded that plane for to fly
and then while the fires were raging
we all climbed up on the windowsill
and then we all held hands
and jumped into the sky..."


"...and i'll tell you what, while we're at it
you can keep the pentagon
keep the propaganda
keep each and every tv
that's been trying to convince me
to participate
in some prep school punk's plan to perpetuate retribution
perpetuate retribution
even as the blue toxic smoke of our lesson in retribution
is still hanging in the air
and there's ash on our shoes
and there's ash in our hair ..."

It's about the greatest piece I've heard on the tragedy, but it's really politically charged.

[babylonsister]

13. Yes. Don't know what you're looking for but here's some ideas.

Don Henley - NY Minute
David Bowie - Kathy's Song
John Mellencamp - Peaceful World
Eva Cassidy - People Get Ready
Billy Joel - Miami 2017, NY State of Mind
Neil Young - Imagine
Paul McCartney - Freedom
CSNY - Find The Cost Of Freedom
Enya - Only Time
Paul Simon - American Tune
Steely Dan - What A Wonderful World
Cat Stevens - Oh Very Young
Kristy Jackson - Little Did She Know
Beatles - Across The Universe
Phil Driscoll - America

[speedoo]

14. Would you like to include some poetry?

If so, I will try to research a poet from New York who wrote some wonderful poems related to 9/11.

[ChoralScholar]

15. I wish I could. My scope is already getting too large.

I have included the Ani DiFranco poem-song "Self-Evident"

[speedoo]

18. No problem.

I hope it goes well for you.

[greendog]

16. "On That Day" by Leonard Cohen

Some people say

It's what we deserve

For sins against g-d

For crimes in the world

I wouldn't know

I'm just holding the fort

Since that day

They wounded New York

Some people say

They hate us of old

Our women unveiled

Our slaves and our gold

I wouldn't know

I'm just holding the fort

But answer me this

I won't take you to court

Did you go crazy

Or did you report

On that day

On that day

They wounded New York

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. Alan Jackson's "The day the world stopped turning."

It's just simple, non political, very pretty.
Duckie

[ChoralScholar]

19. Thank you everybody.

I compiled 21 songs that encompass the musical culture surrounding 9/11. I have used country/rock/punk/instrumental/electronica/rap/etc. I have included both sides, both left-wing and right-wing just to be comprehensive.
------------------------------------------------
Old music that became associated with 9/11:

1 Only Time - Enya

2 Imagine - John Lennon

3 Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.

4 I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

5 New York State of Mind - Billy Joel

6 What's Going On - Bono w/ Coldplay

7 Hands - Jewel
-----------------------------------------------------
New Music Written After 9/11

8 Where Were You - Alan Jackson

9 Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue - Toby Keith

10 Let's Roll - Neil Young

11 Half Your Angels - Crosby Stills and Nash

12 Into the Fire - Bruce Springsteen

13 Have You Forgotten - Darryl Worley

14 Peace on Earth - Willie Nelson

15 An Open Letter to NYC - The Beastie Boys

16 Self-Evident - Ani DiFranco

17 We Are One - Carolyn Ranieri

18 On The Transmigration of Souls - John Adams

19 Flying - Living Colour

20 Faraway - Sleater - Kinney

21 Metal Bird - Tim Conrardy

[deadparrot]

20. "Believe," by Yellowcard was dedicated to "the rescuers of 9/11."

Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9bIGnnmgf4I

Lyrics:
Think about the love inside the strength of heart
Think about the heroes saving life in the dark
Climbing higher through the fire, time was running out
Never knowing you weren't going to be coming down alive
But you still came back for me
You were strong and you believed

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.
Be strong. Believe.

Think about the chance I never had to say
Thank you for giving up your life that day
Never fearing, only hearing voices calling out
Let it all go, the life that you know, just to bring it down alive
And you still came back for me
You were strong and you believed

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.

(Again today, we take into our hearts and minds those who perished
on this site one year ago, and also those who came to toil in the rubble
to bring order out of chaos, to help us make sense of our despair)

Wanna hold my wife when I get home
Wanna tell the kids they'll never know how much I love to see them smile
Wanna make a change or two right now
Wanna live a life like you somehow
Wanna make your sacrifice worthwhile

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.

Think about the love inside the strength of heart
Think about the heroes saving life in the dark
Think about the chance I never had to say
Thank you for giving up your life that day

(The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here)

[Nailzberg]

21. Anything by Toby Keith!!!!!!

I'm kidding. This is what happens when you don't get enough sleep.

[jus_the_facts]

22. Here's one by DU'er Beetwasher and his band Lost World....

...it makes me want to cry everytime I listen to it...it's called Black and Blue Mornin'...it's awesome to say the least...please take the time to do what's necessary to hear this song...it's worth every second. :loveya:



http://www.myspace.com/lostworldband