Social Power of music

​Various Artists from the album The Social Power of Music available from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Music is a powerful force. Songs can sooth and calm as well as fire up the blood by singing of shared goals. In the right hands, music can change the world, and those are the chords that Smithsonian Folkways Recordings collects, offering a four-disc set that shows songs at work with The Social Power of Music. The 4 discs, 80 songs, and 124-page illustrated booklet presents moments in time, soundtracking struggle when Peggy Seeger shines a light into the dark corners of female fear with “Reclaim the Night”, Country Joe McDonald resisting the demands of war in “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die”, and Woody Guthrie the voice of poor and unwanted wanderers with “This Land is Your Land”. The Social Power of Music connects our causes, supporting beliefs by representing a worldwide network, chronicling the times when humanity came together, locking arms to walk as one for rights, standing firm against oppression and rattling the chains of revolution to give rebellion a beat you can dance to all the way to the barricades.
 
The Social Power of Music looks at history from four different perspectives, beginning the set with songs that encourage action on a local level, Disc 1 dedicated to the sounds of strife. Songs of Struggle (Disc 1) soundtracking the fight for civil rights with songs from activism leaders such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and The Freedom Singers. The Social Power of Music borders the personal call to action of Disc 1 with a global scope to its songs. Global Movements (Disc 4) Disc Four centering on native language expressions of voices raised to speak truths with anti-fascist verses, odes to the working class, and arguments against governmental corruption and violence. Sacred Sounds (Disc 2) seeks to join humans with their individual decisions to show spirit by presenting songs from a variety of religions and spiritual practices. Disc 3 nods to Emma Goldman, and her (in)famous quote of ‘If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution’ as the songs celebrate and show souls to the dance floor with the theme of Social Songs and Gatherings (Disc 3). The Social Power of Music takes no sides as it offers a stage to women and men who have made choices and used the power of song to let the feelings fly.
 
Listen and buy the music of The Social Power of Music from AMAZON
 

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