This article is a break from my usual photography posts, but I hope you'll like at least one of these songs.
The only thing in common with all these songs is that most, if not all, are Spoken and not sung.
The styles of these artists have very little in common with each other, as you'll realise if you survive the entire experience.
In all the songs, try to pay special attention to the lyrics. These are not light topics the artists address on their pieces.
1) Buffy Sainte-Marie - My Country Tis of Thy PeopleYou're Dying (1964)
Starting with a Folk artist, the Native American Buffy Sainte-Marie, whose songs usually tell about the struggles of her people.
In this song, you can feel the pain in her soul all through the performance. Music can't get much more emotional than this.
Luckily, there is a videoclip for this masterpiece:
2) Ursula Rucker - Libations (2006)
A North American artist from Philadelphia, Ursula Rucker is a force of nature. Her songs are incredibly political and strong. Her main style is Spoken Word, with influces from R&B and Jazz and lyrics-wise, she leaves no stone unturned.
Don't try to smoke at one of Ursula's concerts or you'll experience some of her harsh criticism in first hand. Consider yourself warned.
Libations is a tribute to all the personalities that fought for freedom and/or made a big impact on cultural development, from Frida Khalo to Malcolm X, from John Coltrane to Pablo Neruda, from Bruce Lee to Leonard Peltier...
3) Adyna Nyree - Off Beat Blues (2009)
Moving on from Folk, I believe everyone is capable of enjoying this next song, from the North American artist Adyna Nyree.
Coming from New York, Adyna plays a mixture of Jazz, Soul, Blues and R&B.
Her songs are very political, covering topics from Global Warming to War Bloodied Diamonds... or simply talking about the mundane routine of an office job.
Here's a live performance of a lively and vibrant tune:
Warning - The next songs are heavier and the lyrics are much darker and gloomier.
If this is not your cup of tea, you can skip the rest of the post. (Just don't come complaining that I've emotionally scarred you, if you decide to listen to the following songs without being ready for it.)
4) Fine Fine Titans - Guillotine (2015)
Fine Fine Titans is a defunct post-hardcore band from Michigan, USA. They were active from 2010 to 2016 and this track includes two vocals, one from the lead singer, Jennifer Bartlett... the other from a guest, the actor/sing-writer James Barbour.
The intercalation of a female and a male voice make this song even more powerful. The lyrics are about the destruction to society that racist ideals cause and the legacy of that on our children.
5) Otep - Shattered Pieces (2009)
Otep is a very creative, poetic and activist artist. Her style of choice is also my preferred music style: Pure F#ckin' Metal
She is a outspoken Lesbian and consequently, a very controversial personality. She's hated by many, loved by even more.
Otep had a very difficult childhood and that is very present in her lyrics and performances. But as she says, the ones who bullied her for being different are now anonymous and forgetful, while she's a successful artist with several albums published. Who's laughing now?
This song is a way of Otep dealing with all the pain she went through and a critic on how society tends to inflict suffering on those who dare to be different.
6) The Haunted - Forensick (1998)
And to conclude this musical adventure, another dark and depressive tune.
From the Swedish Metal band The Haunted, this track is a wake-up call to how society has become tamed and unbelievably desensitised by the constant show of terror called Daily News, delivered to us by a handful of International Corporations.
The Spoken Word part lasts less than two minutes and afterwards, from 1:53 until the end, it's a 100% instrumental theme.
I hope you have enjoyed this article and are not hiding under the bed by now. 😂
