Eco-communities as a social vision

Eco-communities as a social vision
Egalitarian and ecological communities, like the pictured East Wind (www.eastwind.org), are very close to our vision of an ecological society
Showing posts with label pop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pop. Show all posts

15 October, 2021

"Mother nature" by Angelique Kidjo (feat. Sting), album "Mother Nature" (2021)

 


Don't ever let them hurt you in anyway

Oh never let them steal and take the best of you
Keep building cities from the ground
We're rising with the waves
Don't ever let them hurt you in anyway
Oh never let them steal and take the best of you
Keep building cities from the ground
We're rising with the waves
Mother nature has a way of warning us
A time bomb set on a lost count down
Do you hear will you stop it
Won't you listen
Aminssiamn nin va mian lébé nin hihé a min
Aminssiamin ké lé ayin ghan ya djia édo la noussi lo
Each one of us needs one of us
We need each other
We need each other now
We need each other now
Each one of us needs one of us
We need each other
Don't ever let down hurt you in anyway
Oh never let them steal and take the best of you
Keep building cities from the ground
We're rising with the waves
Mother nature has a way of warning us
A time bomb set on a lost count down
Will you find will you stop it
Won't you listen
We need each other now
We need each other now
Each one of us needs one of us
We need each other
Aminssiamn nin va mian lébé nin hihé a min
Aminssiamin ké lé ayin ghan ya djia édo la noussi lo
I know we are humans
But why can't we use gift she has given us
Mother nature has a way of warning us
A time bomb set on a lost count down
Do you hear it will you stop it
Won't you listen


16 January, 2018

"Time Is Ticking Out" by Cranberries, album: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001)


We better think about the things we say
We better think about the games we play
The world went round, yeah, around and round
We better think about the consequences
We better think about the global census
If time went down, yeah, if time went down
What about Chernobyl
What about radiation
We don't know, we don't know
What about deprivation, gluttony, the human nation
We don't know, we don't know
For me love is all
Time is ticking out
Looks like we've screwed up the ozone layer
I wonder if the politicians care
The dime went down, yeah, if time went down
What about our children then
Is there nothing left for them
We don't know, we don't know
For me love is all
I need the oxygen, I need the oxygen
For me love is all
To do do do
Time is ticking out yeah time is ticking out

as a tribute for the loss of this great singer, a warning about the consequences of human destructive actions towards environment.


24 June, 2016

OMNIA - Earth Warrior, album Earth Warrior (2014)

03 February, 2012

"Earth Passport" by Liquid Blue (2009)

Envision, in your mind an open door to all the world
One planet, one people, a world where fear does not exist
All nations, united, and human rights for everyone
It can happen, why can't we?
Take me to a place where there's peace in the human race
Where everyone is treated the same, regardless of their name
Where the arts flourish here, where there's no such thing as fear
The people dance, the people sing, let freedom ring
Step into, the shoes of, your brothers in distress and pain
Perspective is changing, open hearts can change the world
Change places, new vision, inviting all into the dance
It can happen, why can't we?
Earth passport, no visa.


Earth Passport was recorded in nine languages including all six official UN languages and it received a Guinness World Record for “Song Sung in the Most Languages (Billboard Hit)”. The lyrics are a plea for world peace and include (in order from start to end of song): English, Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, French, Tagalog, German, Spanish, and Russian. In addition to the English vocals recorded by Liquid Blue, singers were brought in from around the world to sing in their native dialects. For example, the Russian vocals were recorded by a local singer when the Liquid Blue was performing a show in Belarus.(www.liquid-blue.com)

You can hear this song in youtube

13 January, 2011

"Ka-ching" by Shania Twain, album" Up (2002)

We live in a greedy little world--
that teaches every little boy and girl
To earn as much as they can possibly--
then turn around and
Spend it foolishly
We've created us a credit card mess
We spend the money that we don't possess
Our religion is to go and blow it all
So it's shoppin' every Sunday at the mall

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

Can you hear it ring
It makes you wanna sing
It's such a beautiful thing--Ka-ching!
Lots of diamond rings
The happiness it brings
You'll live like a king
With lots of money and things

When you're broke go and get a loan
Take out another mortgage on your home
Consolidate so you can afford
To go and spend some more when
you get bored

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

Let's swing
Dig deeper in your pocket
Oh, yeah, ha
Come on I know you've got it
Dig deeper in your wallet
Oh

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

Can you hear it ring
It makes you wanna sing
You'll live like a king
With lots of money and things
Ka-ching!


A distinctive song from a famous pop singer, usually singing about love and men. Its about the disease of our societies, the consumerism, and the feeling of internal emptiness we feel, trying in vain to fill it with shopping therapy. We read in wikipedia:

The song deals with America's consumer culture through boom years of 1990s and early 2000s....Lyrically, the song talk about the greed in the world....The video depicts a city consumed with greed, Twain finds the streets empty and cars left abandoned while everyone is in a casino, sticking with the theme of the song. Scenes of Twain sporting a silver outfit and a dress (red in the pop version, green in the country version, and blue in the world version) are intercut throughout the video. The pop version with the red dress was the one typically used. "Ka-Ching!" is one of only two Shania videos to remain commercially unavailable.
You can hear and see this song-video in youtube

28 December, 2010

Brimful Of Asha by CORNERSHOP, album: When I Was Born For The 7th Time (1997)

There's dancing
Behind movie scenes
Behind the movie scenes
Sadi Rani
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
from the morning
past the evening
to the end of the light
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45

And dancing
Behind movie scenes
Behind those movie screens
Asha Bhosle
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
from the morning
past the evening
to the end of the light
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45

And singing
illuminate the main streets
And the cinema aisles
We don't care bout no
Government warnings,
'bout their promotion of the simple life
And the dams they're building

Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45

Mohamed Rafi -45
Lata Mangeshkar -45
Solid state radio -45
Fer-guh-son mono -45
Bancs publics -45
Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogie, the Heavy
Hitters and the Chichi music
All India Radio-45
Two in ones -45
Argo Records -45
Trojan Records -45

Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45

seven seven thousand piece
Orchestra set
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Mine's on the RPM!!

Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45


a happy hour song taht has nothing to do with political, social or ecological awareness. It calls us to have a good time singing and watching movies promoting escapism from our great concerns. Yes, but some verses seems to act reversely ans keep us in mind of some serious issues that destroy societies, environment and lives far from us. Lets make the thing clearer by reading the following lyrics analysis, taken from HERE:

To understand the song, one must understand the Indian movie industry. Ever since cinema was introduced to India, most commercial movies have been heavy, sweet, musical productions. The song-and-dance interludes are not incidentals, but staples, and often are what make or break a movie. An American friend of mine was under the impression that singing was a necessary skill for Indian actors and actresses! Actually, the singing is almost always done by background singers. The background singers, of course, are not required to possess charisma or looks, and in fact in early times, care was taken to not expose them in the media, to preserve the romantic association with their voices in the minds of the moviegoing public.

Why is all this so important? Right from the beginning, movies took over the hearts and lives of common Indians in a manner that nothing has done before or since. The happiness, the tragedy, the passionate and tender love, and the conflict are all designed to speak to the melodrama-loving Indian heart. As Hindi grew more popular, Hindi movies took over the whole country. The heart of the Hindi film industry in Bombay, whimsically nicknamed Bollywood, eventually became a force larger than the one it was named after. The songs are no exception, and over the last sixty years or so filmi music, as it is called, has become by far the most popular kind in India.

Two female background singers perhaps distinguish themselves from the rest in sheer prolificness and popularity: Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar. The two, as it happens, are sisters, and recently there has been much focus on their professional and sibling rivalry. At any rate, their singing formed the emotional soundtrack of India, as it were, for many years.

And now lets go to the part of the verses of the song that concen us:
The movies and songs are an escape: they are what allow people to forget important concerns, at least for a while. The reference to dams might need a bit of explanation. In India, these often are unnecessarily huge and costly projects that are designed that way with the aim of being points of prestige, and besides, for lining the pockets of politicians and contractors. They displace thousands of people and impact the environment in massive ways. The project currently approved on the Narmada is one present-day example. So these are issues that people should be worried about.

But this escapism is not presented as being bad. The spirit of the song is that movie fantasy is a lovely and comfortable thing.
you can hear this song in youtube

25 September, 2010

"Verlorenes Paradies" by Vicky Leandros, from the same titled album (1982)


Sagt mir, wo ist das Paradies.
Sagt, wer die Welt zerstoeren ließ.
Sagt mir, warum der Fisch im Fluß
und auch die Blume sterben muß.
Wer bringt den Wald in Gefahr?
Wer baut Mauern und Straßen,
wo ein Maerchenland war?

Sagt wer zerstört ein altes Haus,
wer schüttet Gift auf Felder aus,
sagt mir wer hat die letzte Spur,
den Baum, den Strauch, das Stück Natur
in unserer Stadt betoniert?
Sagt mir, waren das nicht wir?

Verlor'nes Paradies -
wie schoen und wie bunt und wie friedlich
koennt' diese Welt sein.
Doch wir steh'n vor dem Ende.
Seht das endlich mal ein.
Verlor'nes Paradies -
wir schau'n einfach zu
wie man uns aus dem Himmel vertreibt.
Ob die Erde auch morgen
fuer uns liebenswert bleibt,
liegt an uns ganz allein.

Ich sing' fuer Dich.Ich sing' fuer mich.
Ich sing' fuer jeden, der hier wohnt.
Wir brauchen wieder einen Traum,
fuer den es sich zu traeumen lohnt.
Ich sing' fuer Dich.Ich sing' fuer Euch,
fuer alle Menschen auf der Welt.
Ich sing' fuer alles, was wir lieben
und fuer das, was uns gefaellt,
ein kleines Lied, ein kleines Lied
fuer das verlor'ne Paradies,
fuer uns're Wälder, uns're Wiesen,
uns' re Felder, uns're See'n,
Singt alle mit, singt alle mit
und singt so laut wie ihr nur könnt,
damit die Wunder dieser Erde
nie im Leben mehr vergeh'n.

Verlor'nes Paradies -
Wir schaun einfach zu
wie man uns aus dem Himmel vertreibt,
Ob die Erde auch morgen
fuer uns liebenswert bleibt,
liegt an uns ganz allein.


Translation- from google

Tell me where is paradise.
Tell me, who could destroy the world.
Tell me why the fish in the river
and must die, the flower.
Who brings the forest in danger?
Those who build walls and roads,
fairyland where one was?

Says who destroyed an old house
who pours poison on fields
tell me who has the last trace,
the tree, the bush, the piece of nature
concreted in our city?
Tell me, do not we?

Forlorn Paradise -
as beautiful and as colorful and as peacefully
Could be this world.
But we stand before the end.
Behold the last one times.
Forlorn Paradise -
we simply schau'n
as we are selling out of the sky.
Whether the earth tomorrow
for us is lovely,
is up to us alone.

I sing for Dich. Ich sing for me.
I sing for everyone who lives here.
We need to see a dream
for which it pays to dream itself.
I sing for Dich.Ich sing for you,
for all people around the world.
I sing for all that we love
and for what we like and
a little song, a little song
for the lost one paradise
for shortness of forests, meadows shortness,
We 're Fields, shortness of lakes,
Sing with all singing, all with
and sings as loud as you can,
to the wonders of this earth
never in my life vergeh'n more.

Forlorn Paradise -
We simply gaze
as we are selling out of the sky,
Whether the earth tomorrow
for us is lovely,
is up to us alone.


A song about what we are going to lose when we abuse environment. Vicky Leandros is a Greek SInger who made successfull carrier abroad between 60s and 80s with two successful participations in EUROVISION song contest with one win.

You can hear this song in youtube

15 August, 2010

"Gasoline" by Sheryl Crow, album: Detours (2008)

Way back in the year of 2017
The sun was growing hotter
And oil was way beyond its peak
When crazy Hector Johnson broke into a refinery
And the black gold started flowing
Just like Boston tea

It was the summer of the riots
And London sat in sweltering heat
And the gangs of Mini Coopers
Took the battle to the streets
But when the creed was handed down
For no more trucks and no more cars
They threw cans of petrol through the windows at Scotland Yard

Gasoline
Will be free, will be free
Gasoline
Will be free, will be free

When the Mounties stormed the palace of the Saudi family
They held them up for ransom
Without disturbing their high tea
But their getaway was shaky
They stalled in the Riyadh streets
Cause you can't make it very far
When your tank is on empty

The final can of gasoline was loaded on a truck
And driven through the streets of Agra to the palace aquaduct
You see, all the majesty of worship that once adorned these fatal halls
Was just a target to the angry
As they blew up the Taj Mahal

Gasoline
Will be free, will be free
Gasoline
will be free, will be free

Gary ran a market way down in Tennessee
Where all the farmers got together and talked about this great country
But when the government turned its back on farming
Man, what I hear
They dragged the pumps out of the ground
With a big vintage John Deere

I've got soldiers on my payroll
Standing guard on my front drive
Snipers on the roof poised at those
Who don't want me alive
Cause they audited my taxes
My family under threat
Cause I've got a message and a megaphone
And I'll scream it to the death

Gasoline
Will be free, will be free
Gasoline
Will be free, will be free

You got the farms in Argentina
Making fuel from sugar cane
You got the bastards in Washington
Afraid of popping the greed vain
Cause the money's in the pipeline
And pipeline's running dry
And we'll be the last to recognize
Where there's shit there's always flies


A humoristic song probably about a nearby future when humanity will be run out of petrol. The song has many strange parts. Read here a discussion about the meaning of the song

You can hear this song in youtube

25 June, 2010

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths, Album: Meat Is Murder (1985)

Heifer whines could be human cries
Closer comes the screaming knife
This beautiful creature must die
This beautiful creature must die
A death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER

And the flesh you so fancifully fry
Is not succulent, tasty or kind
It's death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER

And the calf that you carve with a smile
Is MURDER
And the turkey you festively slice
Is MURDER
Do you know how animals die ?

Kitchen aromas aren't very homely
It's not "comforting", cheery or kind
It's sizzling blood and the unholy stench
Of MURDER

It's not "natural", "normal" or kind
The flesh you so fancifully fry
The meat in your mouth
As you savour the flavour
Of MURDER

NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
Oh ... and who hears when animals cry?


A very famous song against meat eating. It worths dealing with ethics in food, but we think that these ethics must restricted in the wellfare of animals we use for food, to have a happy and free life in the fields and not to live in misery inside an industrialized hell.

Life in our planet is sustained by the loss of other lives, either animals or plants. Any time we eat, we must feel respectful to the form of life being killed but not guilty of murder. And we must take into acount that meat is not human's basic food but only supplementary in a mainly vegetarian diet.

You can hear this song in youtube

27 February, 2010

"The Last Apache" by Bolland & Bolland (1976)

He was just a boy
They called him Rising Sun
He grew up proud and strong

Sound of ancient songs
Ringing in his ears
For so many years

Now he's grown a man
The music dies
Just hear the sound of battlefights

Hear the shooting guns
The soldiers rise
The Indian run

Ride on, Indian soldier
You want to be free
Give him back his country
He's the last Apache
The last Apache

Hear the distant drums
Fighting their last fight
It ended overnight

Gave his life in vain
Rising Sun
Won't shine again

Ride on, Indian soldier
You want to be free
Give him back his country
He's the last Apache
The last Apache

Once the Indians were free
To live in their own country
Then came the white man
He took away their land
And only one of them survived
He is the last Apache

Ride on, Indian soldier
You want to be free
Give him back his country
He's the last Apache
The last Apache

The last Apache


A song about the destruction of Indian societies, culture and los of their land

You can hear this song in youtube

20 November, 2009

"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, album: Willy and the Poor Boys (1969)

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,


A classic antiwar song against Vietnam war. We read in wikipedia about this song:

The song was inspired by David Eisenhower, the grandson of President
Dwight David Eisenhower who married Julie Nixon, the daughter of
President Richard Nixon in 1968 (Eisenhower later enlisted in the Navy
Reserve).John Fogerty told Rolling Stone: "Julie Nixon was hanging
around with David Eisenhower, and you just had the feeling that none
of these people were going to be involved with the war. In 1969, the
majority of the country thought morale was great among the troops, and
like eighty percent of them were in favor of the war. But to some of
us who were watching closely, we just knew we were headed for trouble."

This song was popular during the Vietnam War and is included in
several Vietnam films and computer games. The song symbolizes the
thoughts of a man who is being drafted. This spoke out against the war
in Vietnam. It is sung from the perspective of one of these men (who
is not the son of a Senator, millionaire, or military leader, thus not
a "fortunate son"), who ends up fighting in the Vietnam War.
You can hear this song in youtube

23 October, 2009

“Όταν θα γεννηθεί ο γιος σου” του ντουέτου Λήδα-Σπύρος, άλμπουμ: “Χαμένο τίποτα δεν πάει” “When your son will be born” by Leda-Spyros (duet) (1974)


Όταν θα γεννηθεί ο γιος σου
θα 'ναι μια μέρα σαν τις άλλες,
νοικοκυρές θα πλένουν ρούχα
παιδιά θα παίζουν στις τραμπάλες.

Θα ταξιδεύουν μ' αεροπλάνα
θα πλημμυρίζουν τα γραφεία,
άλλοι θ' αφήνουν το φεγγάρι
θα ψάχνουν σ' άλλο γαλαξία.

Όταν θα γεννηθεί ο γιος σου
πες του την πρώτη σου ιστορία
για την αλήθεια που λυτρώνει
και πολεμάει την αδικία.

Μην τον βυζάξεις με το ψέμα
μακρύς ο δρόμος που θα πάρει,
θα μετανοιώσει και θα κλάψει
κι όλο στα ίδια θα γυρνάει.

Όταν θα γεννηθεί ο γιος σου
τα εργοστάσια θα μας πνίγουν,
φύλλα στα δέντρα δεν θα υπάρχουν
μαύροι καπνοί θα μας τυλίγουν.

Τότε πες του να δει τον ήλιο
ύστερα απ' τη νεροποντή,
είν' δικός του ο κόσμος όλος
να τονε φτιάξει απ' την αρχή.

Όταν θα γεννηθεί ο γιος σου...


translation:

When your son will be born
It will be a common day like all others
Women will do the household
Children will play in playgrounds

They’ll travel with planes
They’ll crowd offices
Some others will leave Moon
And will explore other galaxies

When your son will be born
Tell him your first tale
About the truth that liberates
And fights injustice

Don’t nurse him in lies
He has a long way to go
He will regret and will cry
And he’ll meet the same old story

When your son will be born
Industries will surround us
Trees will lost their leaves forever
Black smokes will wrap us

That time tell him to see the sun
After a rainfall
The world all is his own
To make it from the start again
When your son will be born…


A beautiful old Greek song from mid 70s about the uncertain social and environmental future of next generations and the parental duty to show their kids the right way.

You can hear this song in youtube

17 July, 2009

“Ο ΚΑΚΟΣ ΣΟΥ ΕΑΥΤΟΣ” από Αρνάκια, album: Στο στόμα του λύκου, "Your Evil Self" by Little Lambs, album: In wolf's mouth (1993)

Οταν οι γνώμες των άλλων σ' εξοργίζουν
κι όταν οι αρχές σου τη βία υποστηρίζουν
για ποιόν αγώνα λοιπόν θα ξεκινήσεις
με ποιόν εχθρό θα χτυπηθείς.

Κι αν θελήσεις κάποτε ν' αλλάξεις την ζωή σου
πρέπει να διώξεις το κακό που τρώει την ψυχή σου
γιατί δεν φτάνει μονάχα να γκρεμίζεις
ο κακός σου εαυτός καραδοκεί.

σκότωσε τον μπάτσο που έχεις μέσα σου
σκότωσε τον μπάτσο πριν είναι αργά

Κι όταν χρειαστείς κουράγιο μην τρομάξεις
σκέψου πως δεν έχεις τίποτα να χάσεις
πρέπει την μάχη αυτή να την κερδίσεις
είναι καιρός για αλλαγή.


Translation

When other’s opinions makes you angry
When your principles support violence
What kind of struggle you’re gonna start
Which enemy you’re gonna strike

And if you want to change your life someday
You must throw away the evil that eats your soul
‘cause it’s not enough only to destruct
Your evil self lurks

Kill your cop inside you
Kill him before its too late

And when you’ll need courage don’t be panic
Think you have nothing to lose
You must earn this fight
It’s time for change

Kill your cop inside you
Kill him before its too late


These lyrics must be taken deeply into account by any social movement that fights for a better society. First of all we must reject our violent ego that reproduces violence in a vicious circle, undermining any social victory against a totalitarian state or exploitative system. When you cut a tree branch to make a war club, then you don’t expect from it to become a green tree again.

Ghandi, M.L.King succeed much more things than any bloody revolution that turned to be a more violent authority than the overthrown regime. Zapatistas succeeded not by the use of their weapons, but by their gradually minimized use in favour of creation of supporting social nets all over the world and by non violent actions that, as it has been stated, “throw more ink than bullets”.

This song is topical today in our country that is suffering an uprising of social and state violence, after the tragic events of late December caused by the murder of a child by a policeman. Many assasinations and attacks against police took place after that event that have nothing to do with social upheavals, offering an excuse to the totalitarian and highly corrupted greek government to release extreme police violence against social activists, immigrants and political refugees and to proceed to restrictions of human rights especially during demonstrations, communications and internet use.

You can hear this song in youtube

26 June, 2009

IN MEMORY: "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson, album: History: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)


From Wikipedia:
On the morning of June 25, 2009, Jackson reportedly collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles. After he collapsed, Jackson's personal physician, who was with him at the time, attempted to resuscitate him. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a 911 call at 12:21 pm (PST) and arrived nine minutes later. Jackson was reportedly not breathing and CPR was quickly performed.

Resuscitation efforts continued both en route to the UCLA Medical Center, and after arrival at approximately 1:14 pm (20:14 UTC), for a further hour. He fell into a coma and died shortly after arrival. The cause of death is as yet unknown, but he was noted to be already in cardiac arrest by the paramedics who attended him. Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2:26 pm local time (21:26 UTC).

Los Angeles Police Department homicide and robbery division detectives attended the scene as a matter of routine in high profile death cases. The case was transferred to the Los Angeles coroner for investigation as there was no doctor in attendance to sign the death certificate. Jackson's body was transported by helicopter from UCLA to the LA Coroners offices. The autopsy is said to be scheduled for Friday, June 26, 2009.

Prior to his death, Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010. During a publicity press conference, Jackson made suggestions of possible retirement.


What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain...
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son...
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores

I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far

Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about apathy
(What about us)
I need you
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo, ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn


We read about this beautiful song in wikipedia:

"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious material such as "We Are the World", "Man in the Mirror" and "Heal the World". However, "Earth Song" was the first that overtly dealt with the environment and animal welfare.
You can hear this song and video clip in youtube

IN MEMORY: Michael Jackson sings for a better world

"Man In The Mirror" by Michael Jackson (1988)

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go
That's Why I Want You To Know

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change)

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me
(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . .
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . .)
Change!

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror,
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time)
('Cause When You Close Your Heart)
You Can't Close Your . . .Your Mind!
(Then You Close Your . . . Mind!)

With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change



A call to reject our selfish way of life and see the misery around us. It’s the only way for a better world.

You can hear this song in youtube



"Heal The World" by Michael Jackson, Album: Dangerous (1991)

There's A Place In Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways To Get There
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All My Brothers
Create A World With No Fear
Together We'll Cry
Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...


With the same thematology as “Man in the Mirror”, Heal the world” is focused on world children’s poverty and famine. We read in wikipedia:

In a 2001 Internet chat with fans, Jackson said "Heal the World" is the song he is most proud to have created. He also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach said children about how to help others. This concept of 'betterment for all' would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said he created the song in his "giving tree" at the Neverland Ranch.
You can hear this song in youtube

03 April, 2009

“Happy Birthday” by Steve Wonder, album: Hotter Than July (1980)


You know it doesn't make much sense
There ought to be a law against
Anyone who takes offense
At a day in your celebration
'Cause we all know in our minds
That there ought to be a time
That we can set aside
To show just how much we love you
And I'm sure you will agree
It couldn't fit more perfectly
Than to have a world party
on the day you came to be

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you

I just never understood
How a man who died for good
Could not have a day that would
Be set aside for his recognition
Because it should never be
Just because some cannot see
The dream as clear as he
That they should make it become an illusion
And we all know everything
That he stood for time will bring
For in peace our hearts will sing
Thanks to Martin Luther King

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you

Why has there never been a holiday
Where peace is celebrated
all throughout the world

The time is overdue
For people like me and you
You know the way to truth
Is love and unity to all God's children
It should be a great event
And the whole day should be spent
In full remembrance
Of those who lived and died
for the oneness of all people
So let us all begin
We know that love can win
Let it out don't hold it in
Sing it loud as you can

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you

We know the key to unity of all people
Is in the dream that you had so long ago
That lives in all of the hearts of people
That believe in unity
We'll make the dream become a reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so


Another song about Martin Luther King, proposed by our friend Amana. We read in wikipedia about the background of the purpose and promotion of this song:

Wonder wrote "Happy Birthday" in order to honor Martin Luther King and used the song to campaign for King's birthday, January 15, to become a national holiday in the USA. The sleeve liner design (of the 1980 Motown LP issue) is entirely dedicated to these two purposes. Both sides are printed in a black-and-white semi-glossy photographic process. One side features a large square photograph portrait of King inset on a black background with white lettering above and below. Above the photo is printed "Martin Luther King, Jr." "January 15, 1929 -- April 4, 1968" (on two lines, centered), and below it appears a passage of text written by Wonder. The text below the photo reads:

It is believed that for a man to lay down his life for the love of others is the supreme sacrifice. Jesus Christ by his own example showed us that there is no greater love. For nearly two thousand years now we have been striving to have the strength to follow that example. Martin Luther King was a man who had that strength. He showed us, non-violently, a better way of life, a way of mutual respect, helping us to avoid much bitter confrontation and inevitable bloodshed. We still have a long road to travel until we reach the world that was his dream. We in the United States must not forget either his supreme sacrifice or that dream.

I and a growing number of people believe that it is time for our country to adopt legislation that will make January 15, Martin Luther King's birthday, a national holiday, both in recognition of what he achieved and as a reminder of the distance which still has to be traveled.

Join me in the observance of January 15, 1981 as a national holiday.
Stevland Morris a/k/a Stevie Wonder

You can hear this song in youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNAy6Bhij8A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6sNSl2g15E&feature=related

04 March, 2009

"People Have the Power" by Patti Smith, album: Dream of life (1988)

I was dreaming in my dreaming
of an aspect bright and fair
and my sleeping it was broken
but my dream it lingered near
in the form of shining valleys
where the pure air recognized
and my senses newly opened
I awakened to the cry
that the people / have the power
to redeem / the work of fools
upon the meek / the graces shower
it's decreed / the people rule

The people have the power
The people have the power

Vengeful aspects became suspect
and bending low as if to hear
and the armies ceased advancing
because the people had their ear
and the shepherds and the soldiers
lay beneath the stars
exchanging visions
and laying arms
to waste / in the dust
in the form of / shining valleys
where the pure air / recognized
and my senses / newly opened
I awakened / to the cry

Where there were deserts
I saw fountains
like cream the waters rise
and we strolled there together
with none to laugh or criticize
and the leopard
and the lamb
lay together truly bound
I was hoping in my hoping
to recall what I had found
I was dreaming in my dreaming
god knows / a purer view
as I surrender to my sleeping
I commit my dream to you

The power to dream / to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it's decreed the people rule
it's decreed the people rule
LISTEN
I believe everything we dream
can come to pass through our union
we can turn the world around
we can turn the earth's revolution
we have the power
People have the power ...


We have the power to view a better world and change our fates, we can reject all those who rule us at the expense of our lives and our future.We read about Patti Smith's social & ecological activism in wikipedia:

Smith has been a supporter of the Green Party (United States) and was a backer of Ralph Nader in the 2000 United States presidential election. She led the crowd singing "Over the Rainbow" and "People Have the Power" at the campaign's rallies, and also performed at several of Nader's subsequent "Democracy Rising" events. Smith was a speaker and singer at the first protests against the Iraq War organized by Louis Posner of Voter March on September 12, 2002, as U.S. President George W. Bush spoke to the United Nations General Assembly. Smith, however, supported Democratic candidate John Kerry in the 2004 election. Bruce Springsteen continued performing her "People Have the Power" at Vote for Change campaign events. In the winter of 2004/2005, Smith toured again with Nader in a series of rallies against the Iraq War and call for the impeachment of George W. Bush.

Smith premiered two new protest songs in London in September 2006. Louise Jury, writing in The Independent, characterized them as "an emotional indictment of American and Israeli foreign policy". Song "Qana" was about the Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese village of Qana. "Without Chains" is about Murat Kurnaz, a Turkish citizen who was born and raised in Germany, held at Guantanamo Bay detainment camp for four years. Jury's article quotes Smith as saying:
“ I wrote both these songs directly in response to events that I felt outraged about. These are injustices against children and the young men and women who are being incarcerated. I'm an American, I pay taxes in my name and they are giving millions and millions of dollars to a country such as Israel and cluster bombs and defense technology and those bombs were dropped on common citizens in Qana. It's terrible. It's a human rights violation. ”

In an interview, Smith stated that Kurnaz's family has contacted her and that she wrote a short preface for the book that he was writing. Kurnaz's book, "Five Years of My Life," was published in English by Palgrave Macmillan in March 2008, with Patti's introduction.

On March 26, 2003, ten days after Rachel Corrie's tragic death, Patti Smith appeared in Austin, Texas, and performed anti-war concert. Patti prefaced her song "Wild Leaves" with the following comments and subsequently wrote a new song "Peaceable Kingdom" which was inspired by and is dedicated to Rachel Corrie. She supported Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
You can hear this classic in youtube

26 February, 2009

“PIECE OF GREEN” by Minimal Compact, album: The Figure One Cuts (1987)


I can't take you swimming the Rhein
Gas escapes... Bad air... Dying grass
Places out of bounds
Red sign tells you

Take me to the round around around
All across the universe it is spreading no reverse
Can we find a better place- more clean- more green

I can't take you out in this town
Foggy poison hunts people down
Places out of bounds
Red sign tells you

Take me to the round around around
All across the universe it is spreading no reverse
Can we find a better place- more clean- more green


Thanks to our friend MpinelikoMistress we present a beautiful song about environmental pollution from Minimal Compact. Small everyday pieces of joy were lost forever in a highly polluted urban environment. Once, when cities were smaller, rivers and countryside were clean for swimming and walking, now are heavy polluted making people depressed like prisoners with a strong feeling for escaping as far as they can from this situation.

You can hear some songs in myspace and youtube

03 February, 2009

“Walk On” by U2, Album: All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)


And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring...
And love is not the easy thing...
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got, they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight...

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't deny it
Can't sell it or buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Home...hard to know what it is if you never had one
Home...I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the heart is

I know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress up
All that you scheme...


Another song by U2 that is dedicated to another non-violent hero, Burmanese politician Aung San Suu Kyi, “a pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy , and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance”. She has been kept home prisoned since 1989, after many persecutions and detentions by military Junta in Myanmar, and prohibitions of seeing her close relatives. We read about this song in wikipedia:

The song was written about and dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi. It is written in the form of a supporting, uplifting anthem, praising her for her activism and fighting for freedom in Burma. She has been intermittently under house arrest since 1989 for her efforts. Due to the political tribute of this album, those in Burma caught with possession of either the single for this song or the album All That You Can't Leave Behind could face a prison sentence lasting between three and twenty years.
You can hear this song in youtube, HERE and HERE

30 January, 2009

Pride (In the name of love) by U2, Album: The Unforgettable Fire (1984)


One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come here to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love!
One man in the name of love
In the name of love!
What more? In the name of love!

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resists
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss

In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more? In the name of love!

...nobody like you...there's nobody like you...

Mmm...mmm...mmm...
Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love...


A song-Hymn dedicated to Martin Luther King and his non-violence action against the racial discriminations in USA. This way of action seems to be the only solution for everlasting social changes. Because they can change minds and ways of thoughts. A violent action doesn't change minds, it is based in inducing fear but causing internal rage that someday will be released and a new round of violence will start.

We have perfomed another song by Grave Digger, about Mahatma Gandhi and non-violence, "Silent Revolution" where we wrote extenxively about non-violence and its adoptation by ecological movement as the only effective way of social activism.

You can hear this song in youtube