Yesterday was the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, and in celebration of that, tonight's edition of the Jukebox is focused on songs that speak to our ever evolving relationship with the Earth. I've selected six, but could've easily gone into the teens once I started thinking about it and researching on it. Here below are six songs about the Earth, and I tried to choose a spectrum of musical forms. As always with the Jukebox, you're invited and encouraged to leave your suggestions (with a link if possible) in the comment section. Let's talk about music!!
My first selection is the most personal for me, it's the one that first comes up when I think of songs about the Earth that have impacted me. It's Mother Earth (Natural Anthem) by Neil Young. I actually prefer the original Neil Young and Crazy Horse version, with all it's epic guitar distortion, but couldn't find it on youtube. Nevertheless, it's still powerful to hear Neil quiver with deep emotion as he sings his tribute to the Earth and his plea for us to treat our home planet differently.
The next pick is by another classic Canadian defender of the environment, Bruce Cockburn. When brainstorming for this session of the Jukebox yesterday, I sent fellow Beams contributor Rev. Bruce Sanguin an email asking what came up for him when thinking of Earth songs. Bruce is a leader in the field of ecological Christianity, and is passionate in his love for the Earth, so I figured he'd have some choice suggestions. He sent many great ideas, but his pick of Beautiful Creatures by Cockburn was a bruiser. It got inside me yesterday while listening to it, and broke me down. This is a tough one, but I really suggest a short contemplative practice with this song. I've chosen some different vibes for the next four, but this one is a flat out heartbroken lament.
The next pick is called Collapse (Post Amerika) by the American punk band Rise Against. It represents another perspective and energetic expression on this issue, this one a fiery political rocker from a younger generation then the two above. This video post with the lyrics helps to get a better sense for the view being expressed.
Next up is a song called Pass it Down by the country band Alabama, perhaps an unexpected song from an unexpected source, but a cool track out of the country tradition.
When searching around the web yesterday about Earth songs, I came across considerable consternation from folks who thought Michael Jackson's Earth Song did not get enough cred on Earth Day, and didn't make enough 'best of Earth song' lists. Fine then, let's do it, Michael Jackson's Earth Song it is!!
And lastly, a live version of Eddie Vedder and Johnny Depp collaborating on the song Society, originally done by Vedder on the soundtrack to Into the Wild.
