Musical Monday - Arcade Fire - Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
I'd like to introduce a new feature here called "Musical Monday" - at least until I think of another name. Some of the music I like ties in to migration in one way or another, and I've been wanting to share it more widely. As information, goods, and (sometimes) people flow more freely than ever before across borders, musicians are writing about it.
In remembrance of those who've died in Haiti in recent weeks, and in the hope that those who need help can be reached in time, the first Musical Monday is Arcade Fire's Black Wave / Bad Vibrations. Arcade Fire co-founder Régine Chassagne's family migrated from Haiti to Canada to escape the Duvaliers, like some of my former clients. She has sung about her family's homeland on the band's first album, Funeral, and on last year's Neon Bible. This song is very meaningful to me now that I've gotten to know some Haitians who went through some truly horrific experiences before coming to the U.S.
As is usually the case (and was the case in New Orleans with Katrina),
the worst-off of the world get hit much harder than others by natural
disasters. The natural disaster in Haiti right now has its true roots
less in the storms that have battered the island than in the political
disaster that Haiti has experienced as long as anyone can remember.
I've just taken Kyle's advice and donated to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Red Cross, who recently launched an appeal to bring aid to the Haitian people. Kyle has listed some other options here (scroll down).
[Update: Kyle and I were posting literally at the same time about the Red Cross, and I wrote the preceding paragraph before reading his post. Ironically, just as he was calling attention to the American Red Cross's error, I was donating to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), an international umbrella group. I hope the other IFRC member agencies have put more thought into how to handle legal risks during natural disasters than has the American Red Cross. At any rate, the IFRC can use donations to help the people of Haiti.]
I've just taken Kyle's advice and donated to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Red Cross, who recently launched an appeal to bring aid to the Haitian people. Kyle has listed some other options here (scroll down).
[Update: Kyle and I were posting literally at the same time about the Red Cross, and I wrote the preceding paragraph before reading his post. Ironically, just as he was calling attention to the American Red Cross's error, I was donating to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), an international umbrella group. I hope the other IFRC member agencies have put more thought into how to handle legal risks during natural disasters than has the American Red Cross. At any rate, the IFRC can use donations to help the people of Haiti.]
Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
We can reach the sea
They won't follow me
The shadows they fear the sun
We'll make it if we run
We can reach the sea
They won't follow me
The shadows they fear the sun
We'll make it if we run
Run from the memories
(run run from the memories)
Je nage, mais les sons me suivent (run run from the bottom of Haiti)
Left my name with the border guards
Anything I don't need
Ce sera un long voyage
Sur les vagues de l'oubli
Run from the memories
(run run from the memories)
Je nage, mais les sons me suivent (run run from the bottom of Haiti)
Stop now before it's too late
I'm eating in the ghetto on a hundred dollar plate
Nothing lasts forever that's the way it's gotta be
There's a great black wave in the middle of the sea (for me)
Stop now before it's too late
I'm eating in the ghetto on a hundred dollar plate
Nothing lasts forever that's the way it's gotta be
There's a great black wave in the middle of the sea
For me
For you
For me
It's always for you
Stop now before it's too late
I'm eating in the ghetto on a hundred dollar plate
Nothing lasts forever that's the way its gonna be
There's a great black wave in the middle of the sea (for me)
Stop now before it's too late
Your lover was for hire, you know history's been made
Nothing lasts forever that's the way it's gotta be
There's a great black wave in the middle of the sea
For me
For you
For me
It's always for you
This sand is not asleep
It's moving under my feet
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2 Comments
This is excellent, yave, and you're a brave one. I don't know if I could commit to putting something like this out every monday. Sorry for burrying your post! I started writing late today.
Great idea yave. It'll give me a reason to look forward to Monday.