beats to keep on keepin' on
I had this very funny powerful moment recently in Trader Joe’s. I was in the thick of something at work (just in it, ya know?), and in need of a quick mid morning break.
While I went straight to the peanut butter chocolate chip Lara bars, on came “Jump in the Line” by Harry Belafonte. It turned my whole day around.
For the rest of the week, I walked to work playing that tune and it made me feel happy, light-hearted, invigorated, energized and wanting to watch Beetle Juice all at once.
That’s the great thing about music: it can completely change your mood. It can transport you back to a certain place and time. It can make a train ride go by quicker. It can bring people together at a wedding. It really helps during a break up. And can generally always help you power through the workday. It can fuel you to run faster. And at least for me, it can just make you dance a fool in the kitchen.
Post election, I was grasping onto anything that would uplift and sooth my spirits.
The most immediate: listening to good music. Or just music that would get me dancing again.
Last year, Subjects to Change, a teen program that I worked with at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, created a “Pump Up Playlist” project. This entailed crafting personal playlists with music that ignited individuals to get up, stand up and get pumped for changemaking.
With this in mind, I decided to make my own Pump Up Playlist last week. It’s been great to listen to on my walk to work, making dinner, and in researching what to do next in response to the election.
NOTE: I (finally) just got on Spotify and recommend you take a listen here (also happy to share it directly with you). Enjoy!
A PUMP UP PLAYLIST TOWARDS PROGRESS
People Everyday – Metamorphosis Mix /// Arrested Development
Rhythm Nation /// Janet Jackson
Standard // Empress Of
Skin on the Drum /// Michael Franti & Spearhead
Get on Your Feet /// Gloria Estefan
We Belong /// RAC (feat Herzig)
Come Together /// The Beatles
Keep On Pushing /// The Impressions
So Insane /// Discovery
I’ll Rise /// Ben Harper
Scream /// Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson
We didn’t Start the Fire /// Billy Joel
Light Me Up (feat. Marti Nikko) /// DJ Drez
Don’t Worry Baby /// Beach Boys
Changes /// 2Pac
Om Nashi Me /// Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Up Up & Away /// Kid Cudi
Send me on my Way /// Rusted Root
Stay Human /// Michael Franti
Changes /// Seu Jorge
Heart it Races /// Architecture in Helsinki
Love Train /// The O’Jays
Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé
Float On /// Ben Lee
Jump in the Line/// Harry Belafonte
p.s. currently in NYC and snapped this photo in front of thousands of post-it notes containing messages of hope, tolerance & solidarity in the Union Square subway station. It is AWESOME. (check out more here: subway therapy).