Another Day In
Phil Collins
...But Seriously, ©1989
(Collins)
Song examines hunger, poverty and the plight
of the homeless in
The music video for this song includes
powerful words and images. Data and statistics regarding the numbers of people
living in poverty are superimposed over pictures of the homeless and street
people.
In a 1990 interview Collins explained.
"Yes, I'm projecting a different side, but people don't think there's any
sincerity in that, and that's what annoys me, I don't mind if people don't like
the music - well, I mind, but I can handle that - but there's been a
questioning of my sincerity in doing a song like
Queen's 1981 musical collaboration w/ David
Bowie, Under Pressure and Everlast's 1998 song What It's Like are
two powerful works that deal with compassion and social responsibility. Both of
these songs encourage listeners to have empathy for those who are less
fortunate and reach out to those in need. "Under Pressure, produced
by Queen and David Bowie, was the result of an impromptu recording
session...and marked the band's first collaboration with another recording
artist...and in 1990 the bass and piano featured again on Vanilla Ice's number
one single Ice Ice Baby."
Former House Of Pain member Erik
Schrody - a.k.a. Whitey Ford, a.k.a. Everlast discussed the meaning and
motivation for his song in a 1999 interview. "I think it's just one of
those things where everyone feels like these things and has been through these
things and it's nice to not feel like you're alone...I wouldn't celebrate some
of the situations in the songs, but don't judge other people. I think when you
stop judging other people, you stop feeling as though you're being judged, and
that creates a whole different world of freedom for everybody. Maybe the song
has just this much of that in it. It's just one of those things that everyone
can relate to. They've been there; they know somebody that's been there. It's
not a party song. It's a bit of a hard pill to swallow, but it tastes
good."
The 2003 song Where Is The Love? by
Black Eyed Peas picks up where Marvin Gayes socially conscious song What's
Going On left off, providing a powerful mix of post 9/11 political and
social commentary. Overseas we tryin' to
stop terrorism but we still got terrorists here livin' in the U.S.A., the big
CIA, the Bloods and the Crips and the KKK but if you only have love for your
own race then you only leave space to discriminate. The songs Co-producer
Will.I.Am explained, "It's like if Marvin Gaye was alive today…The
world needs this song right now. There's no song like that in urban music, pop
music. We're saying some pretty deep stuff, some conscious stuff."
Steve Earle’s 2004 song The Revolution Starts Now is a call to
action and an appeal for people to support and care for each other. …Last night I had a dream that the world had
turned around and all our hopes had come to be…and nobody went without
And I learned a song to sing The revolution starts now. Earle warns in the
Liner Notes to the CD, “Democracy is hard work. American democracy
requires constant vigilance to survive and nothing short of total engagement to
flourish. Voting is vital, but in times like these voting alone simply
isn’t enough.”
The 2006 song Wide Awake by the group AUDIOSLAVE was released not long after the
one year anniversary of hurricane Katrina. The song criticizes the Bush
administration for mishandling Katrina relief and recovery efforts and in
effect, abandoning the poor and less fortunate residents of
In 2007 the group Nickelback donated 100% of
the proceeds from digital sales of their song and music video If Everyone Cared to charity. “...the video tells the stories of four
ordinary people who have done extraordinary things for humanity: Bob Geldolf
(Live Aid), Nelson Mandela, Peter Benenson (founder of Amnesty International)
and Betty Williams (World Centers of Compassion for Children
International).” The band hopes the song and video will both educate
people and also inspire them to take action. Guitarist, Ryan Peake explained,
“...The idea is simply to do something that moves you and helps others,
no matter how small.”
Back in 2004 Steve Earle cautioned almost
prophetically about the shortcomings of governments and the importance of an
active and involved citizenry. “…Without our active participation,
however, the future is far from certain. For without the lifeblood of the human
spirit even the greatest documents produced by human kind are only words on
paper or parchment, destined to yellow and crack and eventually crumble to
dust.”
Source(s):
Phil Collins Interview;
Music Express, 1990
Everlast
Interview; Yahoo! LAUNCH "Feature-
Here To Stay" By Dave DiMartino
Liner Notes Under Pressure Classic Queen
©1992
"Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Black Eyed Peas' Where Is The Love" MTV News 02.04.2004
“AUDIOSLAVE’s New Album
Touches on Hurricane Katrina Disaster” September 1, 2006
“Giving Back, One Nickel At A
Time” – 1.29.2007 Road
Runner Records
Liner Notes The Revolution Starts Now
© 2004
Music and Lyric Resources:
Referenced and Related Works:
Dorothea Dix's, Memorial to the Massachusetts Legislature
(1843)
Stephen Crane's, "Maggie, A girl of the Streets"
Walt Whitman's, "I Sit And Look Out"
Economic Opportunity Act, 1964
LBJ's "War On Poverty" State of the Union Address
Queen's w/ David Bowie, "Under Pressure"
"Where Is The Love?" / "What's Going On"
"What It's Like" Student Essay
“Another Day In Paradise” Constructed Response
Walt Whitman Constructed Response Activity
Dream Deferred / Do The Right Thing / Fight The Power /
Children's Rhymes
President John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address / “What I’ve Done” Essay Writing Activity
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“The Drum Major Instinct”/ “If Everyone Cared” Essay
Writing Activity
"Where Is
The Love?" Music Video - Yahoo! Music (external page)
Homeless.org (external page)
National Coalition for the
Homeless (external page)
Take Action Tour (external
page)
The ONE Campaign (external page)
DATA (external page)
Taylor’s Campaign
– Richard Cohen Films
(external page)
YouTube - “Another Day
in Paradise” ( external page )
YouTube - “What
It’s Like” ( external
page )
YouTube - “What
I’ve Done” ( external
page )
YouTube - “Wide
Awake” ( external page )
YouTube - “If Everyone
Cared” ( external page )
YouTube - “What
I’ve Done” ( external
page )