Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday

The first time I heard this song was through headphones. I always loved Billie Holiday's voice, but to really  experience her music, you have to watch her. Her facial expressions are so honest and heartfelt. You can tell that she deeply understands what she is singing about. She has seen it. The term "Strange Fruit" is a metaphor for lynchings. In the old south, when slaves became liberated, the white southerners became very angry when their "state's rights" to own human beings were made illegal. They began intimidation of the freed slaves. This is when the Ku Klux Klan became very powerful.



Billie Holliday was raised in Philadelphia, but her parents remembered life in the south. Billie was aware of the lynchings that took place in southern neighborhoods to blacks who simply said anything that could be taken as "dis-resepctful" to whites (as a Yankee in the south... I know how easy it is to accidently do this.) The song "Strange Fruit," and especially her magnificent performance, pushed northerners to "understand" how terrifying life still was in the post-Confederate south.

Videos for February

Here are some songs that I am finding inspiring lately:


I love Nina's version of this song.


I had no idea what this song was about until I saw this video! I'm young, I know...


Ahhhh. Can we just play this song over and over again for a few hours?
Give us something to think about.


The Times They Are Changing INDEED!


Legend has it that this song helped free the slaves!

My Savior

Do you remember any moments when you were so distraught over something, and the perfect song came on, giving you the wisdom and support you really needed at that very moment? That is what John Lennon has done for me. I had one of the most challenging weekends of my life recently, and the only thing that helped me to feel peaceful through all of it was the wisdom and music of John Lennon. I haven't heard anyone else sing so many songs that get right to my core, encouraging me to stay centered and peaceful, no matter what the circumstances. I wasn't always perfect, but neither was John. 

I was recently in a conversation about John Lennon's first son, Julien. Anyone interested in Beatles history knows that if you need a moment to negatively judge John, his treatment of Julien is a perfect opportunity. According to my friend's understanding, John's treatment of Julien was unfair and questionable. But here is why I don't let that ruin all the peace lessons that I can find in John's music and activism: 

According to my former Religious Studies professor, Dr. John Young, Martin Luther King, Jr was a "womanizer." Gandhi was an absentee father. Two of my greatest heroes were NOT perfect, and neither was John. Humans make mistakes, and it's unfortunate that often the greatest minds will show their ugly side to their families. Luckily, John was not a relative of mine, so I can listen to his music objectively. Just like I can read the great wisdom of Gandhi and MLK and learn from that wisdom alone, with no personal betrayal clouding my vision.  No one is perfect. 

For the past two weeks I have been faced with more challenging social interactions than I have had to deal with over the past two years.  The amazing thing about these last two weeks, is that 95% of the time I was proud of myself for dealing with the challenges calmly and peacefully. A lot of that wisdom and peace was taught to me through the music of John Lennon. 

Now that the challenging two weeks are over, I can listen to John with gratitude, as opposed to having a need for guidance. Music is so powerful. The songs that speak to us do so because we need their wisdom right at the moment. I am so grateful to John Lennon for the music he gave us, and for daring to share his wisdom and insights through his lyrics. Lyrics from the 70's that are SO relevant to us now, and always will be. That is what people mean when they say that certain songs are timeless. That is what John brought us. Timeless wisdom and universal truth. 

John Lennon, Happy Birthday

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Ozzy Pays Tribute to John Lennon

A beautiful tribute to John Lennon by Ozzy Osbourn.

How to Celebrate John Lennon's Birthday

Saturday, October 9th is John Lennon's 70th Birthday! I will be in Hollywood celebrating in front of the Capitol Records building. If you are in SoCal, join me at noon on Vine St. You could also drive over to the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live and see the new John Lennon exhibit. If you don't live here, no biggie. Just do the following:

1. Invite some friends over.

2. Wear your favorite Beatles shirt. (I know you have at least one from Target!)

3. Watch "The U.S. vs. John Lennon"

4. Snack on cookies with peace signs painted with icing!

5. Give your guests a take home gift of a John Lennon CD. My favorite is "Double Fantasy."

New Podcast About John Lennon Released by PBS

LENNONYC: Beyond Broadcast - Episode 1: Jack Douglas | American Masters



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Bobby McFerrin Teaches the Pentatonic Scale

Our Generation: John Legend Speaks For Us

It's taken 2 wars, a financial collapse, 8 years of Bush, and a breakdown of Religious tolerance, but the hard times have finally gotten an answer from someone who can speak to the younger generations. John Legend and The Roots new album "Wake Up!" was just playing full blast in my car after making the impulse buy at Starbucks, and I almost cried with happiness as each song went by. The opening song is called "Hard Times." Perfect beginning. These are hard times. Everything we have been taught about American prosperity is being challenged by our current reality.

The second track, "Compared to What" is a 60's anti-war song that can easily be applied to our current situation. The third track, the most moving and inspirational, is called "Wake Up Everybody" a remake of the tune by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes has a verse that touches my heart especially: "Wake up all the teachers, time to teach a new way. Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say. Cause they're the ones who are comin' up and the world is in their hands. So when you teach the children, teach them the very best you can."

I won't go through the whole album, but let me just mention the 4th track, "Our Generation (The Hope of the World)"  This song demands that the young people who grew up after the passing of the Civil Rights era (that means YOU Generations X, Y, and Millenials) wake up and do something about this situation we are in! As the songs says,"Our Generation, it's all left up to us. Let's straighten it out!"

I just can't express how excited I am to see an empowering, world-changing album put out by a famous, relevant and current musician who young generations will listen to. Please go out and buy this album. Or burn a copy. Or listen here. Maybe this will be the chance to get another musical revolution going. Let's change the world.