In the wake of the attacks, I’ve turned to music to comfort me. Sometimes it helps. Other times, when it doesn’t relate to how I’m feeling, I turn it off. Loud dance and party music doesn’t suit my emotions right now. I just want to listen to something soothing.
One song that’s helped me get through the tough times is “My Religion,” by Krystal Harris. I’ve loved the song since I’ve first heard it; only now, I can relate to all the words.
The chorus goes: “My religion doesn’t hate/ It will never turn you away/ It always understands/ My religion won’t condemn/ Always lends a healing hand/ It’s love/ My religion’s love.”
I want to say those lyrics to the world so they’ll get an understanding of what Islam, my religion, is about. Islam doesn’t support killing people. It’s a religion of love and peace. It doesn’t forgive the killing of innocent people.
Harris’ Voice Soothes
Obviously, the song doesn’t specifically explain the rules of my religion, but it gives the listener an idea of what religion means to someone. Some of the lyrics I especially like are: “All it takes is to be willing/ To sacrifice for someone who is in need/ Then we can begin to heal again/ And love will sweep the land.”
How true is that? Just lighting a candle on the Friday after the attack and donating money made me heal quicker. I felt better doing something positive at a time when negative emotions consumed much of our thoughts.
“My Religion” is a pretty song, with Harris playing the piano, and drums backing her up. Even though it’s a ballad, it’s got a bit of an upbeat tempo, and features a cameo from Limp Biskit’s DJ Lethal, who scratches during the interlude. The best part of the song, though, is Harris’s soothing voice.
Healing ‘Hands’ On the Radio
I’m not the only one seeking comfort from music. Music has been key in the healing effort as Americans try to recover from the devastation. A lot of previously released songs have made it back on the airwaves.
The emotional lyrics of Jewel’s song “Hands,” and its message of hope and acceptance, made it a heavily requested song on Z-100. The first line of the song is “If I could tell the world one thing, it would be, we’re all OK.”
Some other popular requests that I’m glad to hear are Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World” and “I’ll Remember,” by Madonna. I loved these songs before, but never really thought about the lyrics. Now the songs seem more profound.
Eerie Lyrics Have New Meaning
“Ordinary World” contains the lines, “Papers in the roadside tell of suffering and grief/ Fear today forgot tomorrow beside the news of holy war and holy need.”
Those lyrics remind me of paper flying out of the towers and also of the many pictures posted of missing people. It’s eerie that Duran Duran used those words to express the pain and suffering of love lost.
Another song I’d heard before, without paying close attention to the words, is “One” by U2. “One love/ One blood/ One life/ You got to do what you should/ One life/ With each other/ Sisters/ Brothers/ One life/ But we’re not the same/ We get to/ Carry each other/ Carry each other.”
Patriotic Songs on the Air
The lyrics express diversity, but more importantly, that we are all human and part of the same family. We need to carry each other through this. I agree with radio and video programmers, who started playing the song often after the attack, that it’s been helpful to hear.
More unusual for the radio stations I listen to, like Z-100 and WPLJ, was their playing of patriotic songs like country singer Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA” and Whitney Houston’s rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Houston’s recording, from the 1991 Super Bowl during the Gulf War, has been re-released and the money raised from its sales will go to charities helping the victims of the attacks and their families.
Stars Launch Benefit Songs
New benefit songs are also in the works. Michael Jackson’s heading up one project, and Latin music stars are doing their own song. And a benefit remake of Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” will feature, among others, Diana Ross, Sugar Ray, the New York Knicks and the New York police and fire departments.
Already getting airplay is a remake of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 classic “What’s Going On.” Originally intended for AIDS victims in Africa, now 50% of the money raised from the song’s sales will go to the United Way’s September 11th Fund. The project, headed by Bono of U2 and Jermaine Dupri, also features Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Destiny’s Child, Ja Rule and others.
To have so many artists on one song representing different genres, from pop to hip-hop to rock to rap, shows the diverse culture of America. Like the artists, all Americans should embrace our diversity.
- Arts/Culture
- Religion