Archive for May 26th, 2008
war
Hello everyone and happy summer. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything but I’ve been stockpiling some new music (no Death Cab or Coldplay here; their new releases are great but I’m sure you’ll be hearing them everywhere else in the world until you don’t want to hear them again for awhile, so I’ll leave that to your professional mainstream dj), and yes, finally going to print soon with those new designs I’ve been promising so thanks for continuing to check in and know that some product updates are in the works.
I thought I’d dive in again on this Memorial Day with something old and somethings new. The older one is unfortunately timeless, especially given the state of the world and this nation in particular - again. An impressive and extensive history of the song War is available by clicking on the link. In brief, the Temptations were the first to record it. It was included on their 1970 album “Psychedelic Shack”. Motown had no intention of releasing it as a single, but many people protesting the Vietnam War made it clear that it would be a big hit if they did. Since Motown head Berry Gordy had other plans for The Temptations, he had Edwin Starr record it and his version was released as a single. It was #1 on the charts for three weeks and Starr won a Grammy for Best R&B Male Vocal. This is a classic, and war is nothing but a heartbreak, good for absolutely nothing. Go ahead, say it again:
The other one is much newer. “Light Up Ya Lighter” was originally on Michael Franti’s “Yell Fire” in 2006 and more recently found amongst the music of many other artists on the soundtrack of a Phil Donahue/Ellen Spiro film in very limited release called “Body of War“. I guess I’d feel remiss if I didn’t point out that in as much as we tend to associate Memorial Day with the fun-filled onset of the summer season, its about our soldiers, active and veteran, dead and alive. We are at war and they are there, not on a sandy beach or a sunny slope in their homeland but over there, fighting for their lives and God only knows what else or why at this point 5 years and 2+ months later. Do enjoy your day, and do enjoy your summer, and do pray for those who cannot.
Click here to view a trailer of “Body of War” and go see it if you have the opportunity, and say (or sing) it too: NO MORE… Written by Eddie Vedder for Tomas Young, the 25-year-old Iraqi War veteran featured in the film, who joined the service after 9/11 to fight in Afghanistan and find bin Laden but was deployed to Iraq instead, and was paralyzed one week into his tour by a bullet to his spine.
One of the current Green Tee causes directly addresses the plight of war veterans and their families. Read more about the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust here. Buy a tee or send something directly. Light up ya lighter for the troops. Make peace.
Other “Body of War” Links
Phil Donahue: Body of War - In his own words
“Donahue Tackles Iraq” from Wired Magazine
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Tee of the Month
