Photographer Janette Beckman and curator Julie Grahame have organized a one-time fundraiser for the ACLU that showcases images of musicians who have recorded protest songs or are known for their activism. Forty-three photographers have donated images of 50 artists, from John Lennon to Nina Simone to Bad Bunny, and 100% of the profits will go towards the ACLU and their efforts to protect equality, freedom and rights. In addition to the images there is a playlist of songs for the fundraiser.Bob Marley, who performed at Crystal Palace Bowl in 1980, is known for songs such as Get Up, Stand Up, War, Redemption Song and Concrete Jungle that advocate for social issues, human rights and resistance. Photograph: David Corio

Curated by Briana Ellis-Gibbs

(I posted a few here; go see the whole piece with all the photos. It’s motivating! A.)

Bruce Springsteen, New York, 2017

Songs such as American Skin (41 Shots), The Ghost of Tom Joad and Born in the USA highlight systemic injustice, racism and the struggles of working-class people and immigrantsPhotograph: Danny Clinch, Transparent Clinch Gallery

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Doechii, New York, 2025

She is known for songs like Anxiety that advocate for mental health awareness and has used awards show speeches to speak out against government overreach and oppression. Photograph: Sacha Lecca

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Nina Simone, London, 1968

One of Simone’s most prominent songs, Mississippi Goddam, was a direct response to systemic racial inequality in the US exemplified in the handling of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing and Medgar Evers’s murder. The song became an anthem for the civil rights movement. Photograph: Michael Putland

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Dolly Parton, Tennessee, 2003

Her songs, including A Woman’s Right and Coat of Many Colors, have addressed social issues, and she has been outspoken and financially generous as a philanthropist. Photograph: Clay Patrick McBride

(snip-Go See The Rest!)

Music For Peace (from Nov. 30th)

I’m thankful for Bee’s blog, and especially for this song challenge! Here is the final one for November 2025:

A Last Peace Song November for 2025 – Better Together

The holidays roll on. I love this song, both for Christmas, and especially for peace. Here’s to it!

Obviously I’d Intended To Post This A Few Days Ago, But Didn’t Get It Done.

Enjoy it anyway; it isn’t as if we aren’t going to eat again until next Thanksgiving! I hope not, anyway; if that’s true, be sure to let us know, seriously. Meanwhile, have a smile with music.

Music For Peace

For this post, Bee went in a different peaceful direction with music. I really enjoy this song.

Peace Song November – Same Love

I went in a different direction, too. It’s a retelling of the WWI Truce story. We don’t have to fight.

Holidays Behind the Mask

Good Morning All. I’m writing from the other side of another holiday spent mostly alone. On the one hand, I like it this way. On the other, it gets lonely and I have to admit that as much as I hated “family holidays” growing up, I miss something that I can’t quite define. Is it that feeling that I’m supposed to be with ‘loved ones’ during the holidays? Is it that I am forced to recognize that just isn’t really an option? Is it that there is so much hype of the holiday that I must be missing something fundamental?

Today I watched a Casey LaDelle video and he pointed out the parking lots filled with trucks, drivers abandoned to the loneliness of a holiday alone. I watched a video last night about the elderly who have raised and lost their family and now subsist on memories of holidays gone by. And I watched a video about those with mental illness, physical illness or those who have made decisions to live their life differently than their family would accept who survive another Hallmark Video alone. For some, the holidays are a joy, but for others it is only another reminder that they are alone.

So, Please find it in your heart and thoughts to be kind to those you meet, especially during these holidays. You who shop and decorate and bake for families are decidedly stressed out, and so are those who are running the cash registers, the elderly man wandering the grocery stores with nothing much in his cart but very much in your way, and those who work their 40-hours and mosey home in your way on the highways to a cold house and a bologna sandwich. For some, the holidays are anything but Merry, and that paper mask they wear is for you.

Fair warning: The following video is hard for some to watch. For those who also struggle a bit on holidays, I empathize and send love. Hugs. Randy

Music for Peace

Bee brings back 99 Luftballons for the Peace Song challenge.

Peace Song November – 99 Red Balloons

If you didn’t get the German version in her blog post (I got both English,) here it is:

Here’s a rocker for my today’s selection; it may be more protest than peace, but peace is the objective, of course.

Music For Peace

First, here is a video to go with Bee’s post here yesterday:

(in case her initial video was unavailable.) Today, we get 2 from Bee, as she observes the Blogger’s Global Strike For Gaza. Post 1, then Post 2!

Peace Song November – Brother’s In Arms

Peace Song November – Fragile

Three videos is plenty; I’ll do one next time! ☮ 🕊 ✌

Music For Peace

Bee brings us another song for peace; the video is not available in some areas, but she’s transcribed the lyrics in her post below. I think you’ll appreciate her entire post.

Peace Song November – There Were Tears

For my selection: this is not the usual rock or folk that I’ve been posting; it’s very beautiful, all the same. I’ve been curious about it since Bee began the Peace Song Challenge, so today’s the day! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Music For Peace

Bee brings us a classic Cranberries piece, with a good message about peace in Ireland.

Peace Song November – Zombie

I’ve loved this song since I was a kid; we actually learned it in Sunday School! I still think it’s a fine peace song. Enjoy Peter, Paul, and Mary, with their Hammer!

Music For Peace

Bee brings a choral arrangement of “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”

Peace Song November – Let There Be Peace

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I’d been thinking of this song over this past week; today I was pleased to see it on another blog, so this one from the Isley Brothers is my choice. There are other covers, maybe almost equal to this one, which you can see at the page linked “another blog.” Enjoy! It’s smooth.