Labor Day Tunes

One of the most painful posts I have ever had to put together

I tried to get everyone on the team to participate, but Shauna is one of a handful of people with a wrong opinion of Bruce Springsteen, so the whole thing turned into an argument with her.  Eventually she gave in and gave me her list but could only come up with four songs.

As for Amy, she kept giving me random songs and justification for why Slayer should be included until she finally refused to participate and spent the rest of the day judging my list.

Sai started giving me favorite songs that had nothing to do with the theme.  After some back and forth I made the executive decision to get rid of half of her list.  She wont know about that until she reads this post and I’m putting my phone on silent.

Laura wanted nothing to do with this.

Everyone else pretended not to see my messages or made fun of my list.

Anyway, the list below is the best we could come up with.

Why is music important?

Art has always been essential fuel to movements and celebrations as they add a face, poetry, and substance to what can otherwise be a superficial acknowledgement of an important occasion or event.  Art can also make overwhelming and complex topics approachable, understandable – important.

When it comes to Labor Day – AI, Automation, and international conglomerates are forcing human beings to drill down the value of their work to compete with their brothers and sisters in other countries over what scraps are left to put food on the table.  Music can help us remember why this day is important and what we stand to lose if we continue to remain frozen and apathetic to what is happening to working class and middle class folks not just in Berkeley Heights but around the world.

On a personal level, music validates our struggle or experience – helps us feel we are not alone or strange or it can give us the words and amplify a feeling (love, joy) to make celebrations more meaningful.