Assignment #2 playlists, plus one

2/16/2018

Here are all the embeds curated by the class for the annotated playlist assignment. Be sure to peruse them and come to class with any through-lines you spot — other than the prevalence of Kendrick Lamar (whew!), what are the commonalities to the songs students selected? Importantly, how would you suggest that these service our evolving list of social-action functions?

(Note: if a playlist has less than the assigned 10 songs, it's because Spotify does not include the particular songs
and/or artists that student had selected.)

FWIW, here's my own contribution — a playlist I made a few months ago of songs addressing nuclear war in various ways. It's lengthy and draws from a variety of eras and genres we've already discussed, plus a few to come. >>>

Participation! What song about nukes have we discussed at length that's not here? Got one to add to the playlist? Why?

3 Comments

Jun Liu

2/23/2018 10:20:52 am

A song about nukes we've discussed in class that you should add to your playlist is "Where Is the Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas. While the song is mostly about racial inequality and terrorism, in the second verse the group talks about war: "Nations droppin' bombs, chemical gasses fillin' lungs of littles ones." I believe this song is a great addition to your playlist because it offers a 21st century perspective on the issue and demonstrates how a protest song can be used to combat a problem (the proceeds of the charity single go to educational programs).

Marc Dover

2/23/2018 10:54:34 am

Agreed. "Where is the Love" is a very modern song that gives the current generation representation toward other audiences; as they are worried over what is occurring in the world around them.

Edward Han

3/3/2018 02:05:34 pm

I feel that any song from Linkin Park's 2011 album "A Thousand Suns" is an appropriate addition to the playlist. As a concept album dealing with nuclear warfare, many of the lyrics and song titles deal with the dangers and fear associated with the issue.
Although not a full track with original lyrics, "The Radiance" consists of a recording by J. Robert Oppenheimer (known in history as "the father of the atomic bomb) and his famous remark after seeing the detonation of the first atomic bomb "Now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds."

As for an original track, "Burning in the Sky" is probably the most obvious track to add to the playlist. The lyrics are from the perspective of humanity post-nuclear apocalypse and how we have "lost what (we) don't deserve," while the deaths of innocent lives burn the sky (a reference to an atomic detonation).

music as social action :: Blog