Music is our universal language. Thanks for the lift Roger!

Thanks for your wonderful selection Roger!
Maybe you've already seen this one, but just in case. A small holiday gift for you:

Sand Animation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=518XP8prwZo

Ebert: Oh my God. I've never seen anything like it.

you have a very terrible taste in music

All good, Rodge, stuff I know, too.

Funny thing: years ago I toured with an electric bluegrass washboard band. One of the novelty numbers we did was Beethoven's Ninth, with banjo and fiddle and scrub board. (This was long before Carter Burwell discovered a banjo arrangement for it. Maybe he heard us, dunno.)

Oh yas, how droll. One of the guys also juggled oranges along to it.

Well, we got up to Canada and everywhere we played it, everybody always sang along. What American yet knows the words? Why shouldn't they?

...'specially since Beethoven's title was "Ode to Freedom." They changed it, fearing political repercussions.

gerald hasslinger, you are so wrong. What's striking about these choices, especially after knowing that Roger is also into Leonard Cohen, is that he has *eclectic* taste in music. That's a real gift to be given. Those who only listen to one type of music all their life are just cheating themselves, and missing out on so much.

Mr. Ebert, if I might be so bold to recommend an artist, please listen to Happy Rhodes (yes, it's her real name). She has an astonishing voice, interesting and original music, and thoughtful lyrics. She's been making music for over 25 years and has 11 amazing albums, but she's very obscure because she is not in it for fame, money and glory, doesn't tour (though she has performed live) and hates self-promotion. Even though she's very different from anything listed here, her music, if given a chance, has a way of burrowing deep into your soul, and gets better and better the more you listen. I'm ridiculously biased because I've been a fan for 21 years, but I think her voice and music speak for themselves.

As I was reading the excellent Esquire article, a few songs came into my head and I played them while I was reading.

"Temporary and Eternal"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiIqnvFAoHs
(not because the lyrics describe you, in fact it's the opposite, especially with the first character. You've learned while you are alive what they realized only after death)

"Collective Heart"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udAKU1u9DWw
(this one is about how the the support of fans have meant the world to her and kept her spirits up at times. I made that video shortly after President Obama's inauguration because his collective heart made him President. As I was reading all the warm and glowing comments in the Esquire journal, I thought of all those people as your collective heart.)
Here's a version without the visuals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO9fdShLPRk

"Feed The Fire"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQu-AYjzg3w
(about being inspired by others, and hoping to inspire. For Happy it's music, for your readers and you, it's movies as well as your post-trauma attitude)

"When The Rain Came Down"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf_tmRnK4yM
(be it rain or adversity, what can be gloomy for some is life-affirming to others)

"Serenading Genius"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbCYw1gZYG8
(for all the creative people in the world)

"For We Believe"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXlx4gBK0CE
(a very early song, written when she was a teenager, about believing in what you do)

I could do dozens more, but I don't want to come off as too pushy. It may not be your cup of tea but I hope you do see this, and give a listen. She's not making music now so I'm not promoting anything, I just know what her music has meant to me and so many others who've discovered her over the years.

Thank you for everything, especially turning me on to Say Amen, Somebody, Louie Bluie and so many other great films over the years.

Ah, music!! As many opinions of music as there of politics! My finacee's father (a PARASITOLOGIST, no less) pointed out this little gem to us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbpwlqp5Qw

(if the link doesn't work, just Google Africa by Perpetuum Jazzile)

And of course the great Bobby McFerrin's Ave Maria with audience participation...beautiful.

Hm...and for a little taste of East Coast Canada, check out Hey! Rosetta. In particular the absolutely EPIC "New Goodbye", and the haunting "Psalm". Pay particular attention to the handclaps in "New Goodbye" and how the music builds layer upon layer, drawing you in. Check them out at www.heyrosetta.com and a music player will open automatically. This band is from Newfoundland, Canada.

Not an advertisement, I promise you....just a band I admire that hail from my little corner of the world.

Would love to know your thoughts!

Darren Gallant

Striking choices. I always listen to Regina Spektor when I'm feeling down - she's really amazing, and we need more artists like her. I'll be so bold as to recommend you look up a few of her songs, if you haven't heard any of them. :-)

What's sad about the song "Gimme Hope Joanna"
is that it's been transformed into a commercial for Yop. Gimme Yop. Horrible horrible add. Eddy Grant, what were you thinking????

Hi Roger.

I watched them all. Thank you for sharing them.

I've enjoyed the Playing for Change videos ever since you shared them with us at EbertFest. "Stand by Me" to open the festival was brilliant. I watch it often. They are so layered with texture, adding in each musician until it builds to a thrilling whole. Wow.

The "Sam Stone" video of Cash reminded me of the haunting video of "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and my girl Alison Krauss:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ys89rgn4b0&feature=related

Music makes you whole.