Playlist:
Dixie Chicks - "Travelin' Soldier"
Pink - "I Have Seen The Rain"
Jack Johnson - "Imagine"
Dave Matthews Band - "Funny The Way It Is"
MTV All-Stars - "What's Going On?"
Dispatch - "The General"
U2 - "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"
O.A.R. - "War Song"
Jack Johnson - "Times Like These"
State Radio - "Camilo"
Black Eyed Peas - "Where Is The Love?"
Tupac - "Changes"
Dave Matthews Band - "All Along The Watchtower"
Nas - "One Mic"
Pearl Jam - "Masters of War"
R.E.M. - "Orange Crush"
Lee Greenwood - "God Bless the U.S.A."
John Mayer - "Waiting on The World to Change"
Title: "Travelin' Soldier"
Album: Home
Record Company: Atlantic
Catalog #: 5096033000
Published: 2002
The song is beautifully sung, and must be listened to all the way through to capture the full meaning of the song. A country/bluegrass group, the Dixie Chicks sing about a girl who falls in love with a soldier and is unsure whether or not he will return. This song was included on my playlist because of the country style as well as the uniquely depressing melody of the song. The listener will be entranced by the story since it is so easy to follow. The basis of the song is a soldier who is sent off to Vietnam, and the only way to be in contact is to write letters with this girl. It is important to note the age of the protagonist, who is “two days past eighteen,” which means he was eligible to be in the army for only two days.
Title: "I Have Seen The Rain"
Album: I'm Not Dead
Record Company: La Face
Catalog #: 80320
Published: 2006
Pink’s father, Jim Moore, wrote this song while he fought in Vietnam. Moore describes his exact feelings of Vietnam, as he writes, “I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, I don’t know where I’m going…I have seen the rain, I have survived the pain.” The rain refers to the constant downpour of rain experienced by the soldiers in Vietnam. I have included this song in my playlist because it is unique in the fact that it is a somber song written by an actual soldier who experienced Vietnam. It is special that father sings with daughter, and this fact adds to the magnificent emotion of the song.
Title: "Imagine"
Album: Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Record Company: Warner Bros/Wea
Catalog #: B000PMG9G2
Published: 2007
A native of Hawaii, Jack Johnson covers one of John Lennon’s most memorable songs. Johnson’s ability to simplify Lennon’s already simple song is amazing, as a soft acoustic guitar is the only addition to Johnson’s emotional voice. The song seems to slow down time because of how Johnson makes the music flow. This song was included because it allows the listener to relax and enjoy all that surrounds him or her, regardless of the current economic times or present-day controversial Occupation of Iraq, for example.
Title: "Funny The Way It Is"
Album: Big Whiskey and The GrooGrux King
Record Company: RCA
Catalog #: 748712
Published: 2009
A song by the South African Dave Matthews, the listener is reminded of how ironic it is that a comparison of two people can be so different at any given moment. The lyrics are filled with contradictions of happiness and sadness. For example, “On a soldier’s last breath, his baby’s being born.” One can find similarities to this style in the aforementioned song by The Byrds, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" The jazzy, funky, electric sounds of the Dave Matthews Band helps to describe that both ends of the spectrum can happen on a given day. This song was included in the playlist because of the message that it sends that two parts of the world can be so different at the same time. For example, a child can be playing games outside with no fear in America, and on the other hand children in Iraq are hiding from the war that is going on outside their homes.
Title: "What's Going On?"
Album: What's Going On
Record Company: Play-Tone, Columbia
Catalog #: CK 86199
Published: 2001
A cover of one of the best song’s ever written, The MTV All-Stars consists of various artists of different genres, including the Backstreet Boys, Limp Bizkit, Britney Spears, Nelly, and Christina Aguilera, amongst others. This song was recorded shortly before the devastating attacks on September 11th, 2001. However, the song was recorded for “Artists Against AIDS Worldwide,” but was the meaning was shortly expanded after the attacks. This song was included in the playlist because it is a unique and modern version of such a simple and powerful song.
Title: "The General"
Album: Bang Bang
Record Company: Bomber Records
Catalog #: B0003655-02
Published: 2004
This song is an interesting take on the concept of war, as the protagonist of the song tells his soldiers that “he has seen the others, and I have discovered, that this fight is not worth fighting.” This is an anti-war song with a variation of acoustic guitars and African bongos. I have included this song because the message is so simple and powerful, and placed upon a catchy tune. The song is relaxing, and is included in this playlist because it tells a story of peace and self-realization. The general tells his men that “you are young men, you must be living” rather than fighting a pointless war.
Title: "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"
Album: War
Record Company: Island
Catalog #: 571
Published: 1983
U2 is an alternative rock band from Dublin, Ireland. This song refers to two “Bloody Sunday’s” in Ireland. One occurred in 1920 when British troops fired shots into a football match, and the other is in 1972 when Irish were killed at a civil rights protest. This song sounds joyful, however, the lyrics state otherwise. “The trench is dug within our hearts, and mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart.” This song was included in the playlist because of its ability to protest an action that was confusing for a nation, specifically Ireland. It is also interesting to note the album title, War, was related with the concurrent Cold War. This song was included in the Modern playlist because it is from a foreign band shortly after the Vietnam War, yet it does not relate to Vietnam at all.
Title: "War Song"
Album: All Sides
Record Company: Everfine/Atlantic
Catalog #: 511179
Published: 2008
This American pop group mixes rock n’ roll with a Latin tinge in the beginning. In the video, O.A.R. clearly states how “This song is not about war. This song is about the warrior. And we sing it for them.” The song describes how the soldier is unsure if he will ever see his friends again, and how he wants to make sure that he will never forget them. This song is included in the playlist because of the perspective it gives about a soldier is unheard of and generally in newspapers or on television, rather than song. These young men and women go off to war without knowing whether they will return home or not, and this song does a wonderful job explaining these sentiments.
Title: "Times Like These"
Album: On & On
Record Company: Universal Distribution
Catalog #: 075012
Published: 2003
Again, Jack Johnson has the ability to mellow the mood of anyone willing to listen to his carefree and soft vocals, which make this song extremely relaxing. Although this song is not directly related to war, the song was included in the playlist because it reminds the listener that life always goes on. However, after one event, “somehow [you] know, it won’t be the same.” Similarly to Dave Matthews, Johnson uses a lot of contradictory sayings, yet we have no control over the “times like these” and must live for the moment.
Title: "Camilo"
Album: Us Against the Crown
Record Company: Nettwerk
Catalog #: 30486
Published: 2006
When paired with a catchy harmony, this song almost makes the listener forget that the lyrics are about war. This song sings about a different viewpoint of war through the eyes of a prisoner of war, and thus was included in my playlist for this reason. The prisoner is against war and refuses to fight, resulting in his imprisonment. Similarly to O.A.R.'s "War Song," this song is about a prisoner of war, and is thus included in the playlist. The man states to “punish me for not taking your orders, but don’t lock me up for not leavin’ my home.” The slow, but loud electric guitar and drums make for an interesting rock n’ roll combination. The song further describes how the prisoner had to deal with death while in war. It is interesting to note that this song is written by Chad Urmstom, who also wrote and sung the aforementioned “The General.”
Title: "Where Is The Love?"
Album: Elephunk
Record Company: Interscope Records
Catalog #: 9860862
Published: 2003
This song questions why violence is so prevalent in our world today and how it is affecting the youth of the world. The catchy beat makes the listener want to hear more, as various artists have a unique voice to add to the song. The Black Eyed Peas tell us to set a good example for the children, as we currently are “infecting their young minds faster than bacteria, kids what to act like what they see in the cinema.” The song shows how people are attracted to violence, whether through video games, movies, or newspaper articles as that is what the older generations of America thrive upon. This song is included in my playlist to try to make people see how we are shaping the lives of children today and the methods by which we chose to shape the children.
Title: "Changes"
Album: Greatest Hits
Record Company: Interscope Records
Catalog #: 90301
Published: 1998
Tupac Shakur sings about racial discrimination and prejudice in the United States – a war that is usually not thought of as a war. Therefore, this song is included in my playlist because of the ability of Tupac to point out that racism is extremely prevalent and changes should be made. The song has a mellow mood to it, with a reoccurring keyboard line in the background. Tupac says “it’s war on the streets and the war in the Middle East, instead of a war on poverty they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.” Tupac sings about how African-Americans are most certainly considered a minority, and how he always has to fight for his life on the streets because “that’s just they way it is.” Unfortunately, Tupac was shot and murdered.
Title: "All Along The Watchtower"
Album: Live at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado
Record Company: RCA
Catalog #: 68124
Published: 2002
Dave Matthews Band covers an original Bob Dylan song and has made it into their own unique style of music. As Dylan’s version is fully acoustic, the Dave Matthews Band version is electric. When played live in concerts, as shown in the video, the song begins with an electric bass solo. Dave Matthews then begins the song in a mellow and slow mood. However, as the song progresses, the entire band enters and makes the song an explosion of sound, with hints from Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Matthews makes the listener anticipate the speed of the song. Once the pace is expedited, the song clearly becomes more of a rock song. This song has been included in my playlist because of the combination of both Dylan (slower tempo) and Hendrix (rock tempo) and is made into their own song with outstanding solos. Dave Matthews Band will usually use this song as a closing piece to a concert, marking the lasting importance on his audience.
Title: "One Mic"
Album: Stillmatic
Record Company: Ill Will/Columbia
Catalog #: 85736
Published: 2001
Once again, this song is about racial wars and prejudice. The ominous bass drum paired with gunshots and sirens will definitely make the heart race. This song tells a factual story about how African-Americans deal with racial injustice and war in the streets. Nas explains how “Everybody gotta die sometime, hope your funeral never gets shot up, bullets tear through the innocent nothing is fair.” This song is included in my playlist because it gives the listener a vivid and perhaps factual imagery of street violence and how something should be done to stop it.
Title: "Masters of War"
Album: 4Live: 10-22-03 Benaroya Hall
Record Company: RCA
Catalog #: 82876635712
Published: 2004
I have included this song on my playlist because it is a cover of a famous Bob Dylan song, and Eddie Vedder’s raspy voice helps attract the ear of the listener. He sings with such emotion and force that he helps reinforce his message. Dylan originally wrote the song to be anti-Vietnam, and Pearl Jam covered it with the same idea in mind, except anti-Iraq. The song is more about the authorities who chose to go to war, which is why the song tells “you masters of war, you that build the big guns, you that build all the bombs” that America knows who they are and what they have done to the nation.
Title: "Orange Crush"
Album: Green
Record Company: Warner Bros
Catalog #: 2-25795
Published: 1988
“Orange Crush” refers to Agent Orange, which was used during the Vietnam War. This rock n’ roll song is upbeat and often misconceived to be about the popular beverage, Orange Crush. I have included this song in my playlist because it is important to note the affect Agent Orange had on human beings long after the Vietnam War had ended. Military personnel often developed cancer as a result. The members of the band sing that “we are agents of the free,” which is two-sided in the fact that it refers to both Agent Orange and the United States.
Title: "God Bless the U.S.A."
Album: God Bless America
Record Company: Sony
Catalog #: 86300
Published: 2001
This somberly patriotic song has been included in my playlist because of the impact it had on all Americans after the attacks on September 11th, 2001. Greenwood tells his listeners “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” Greenwood knows that all American’s have pride in their heart, and are grateful for all the wars fought before they were even born that resulted in their freedom today.
Title: "Waiting on The World to Change"
Album: Continuum
Record Company: Sony Music Distribution
Catalog #: 79019
Published: 2006
I have included this happy, upbeat song on my playlist because I believe that it is a modern version of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” This song has elements of jazz, reggae, and rock music in it, which makes it extremely unique. Mayer describes how war is unnecessary, and that when television station’s “own the information, they can bend it all they want.” This means that they can provide what their audience is attracted to, which is violence and struggle. Mayer describes how one day, the youth will be the leaders of the nation, and therefore we are “waiting on the world to change” to make the world a peaceful environment. This is the final song on my playlist because I believe that this could be used as an anthem to help inspire and direct the world to creating a peaceful environment.
I have included this happy, upbeat song on my playlist because I believe that it is a modern version of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” This song has elements of jazz, reggae, and rock music in it, which makes it extremely unique. Mayer describes how war is unnecessary, and that when television station’s “own the information, they can bend it all they want.” This means that they can provide what their audience is attracted to, which is violence and struggle. Mayer describes how one day, the youth will be the leaders of the nation, and therefore we are “waiting on the world to change” to make the world a peaceful environment. This is the final song on my playlist because I believe that this could be used as an anthem to help inspire and direct the world to creating a peaceful environment.
