Freethinking Music

I have been asked to put together an hour of live music for Atheists United in Hollywood (some of the nicest people you will ever meet, no exaggeration). Bobbie Kirkhart asked that I assemble a program of music by and/or about atheists/humanists/freethinkers, etc. The performance will be called FREETHINKING MUSIC, to be at the Center For Inquiry West on Hollywood Blvd. on Sunday, May 25th 2008 at 11AM.

For me this means content that questions, doubts or rejects the metaphysical, or celebrates being human, mortal and alive. It gives me an opportunity to sing a couple of my songs (which have already explored these issues), some songs I have always wanted to sing (including John Lennon's IMAGINE and XTC's DEAR GOD), and act as music director and bassist behind other singers better than I.

The only way I would do this is if it was a PRO performance with PRO musicians and singers, not some sort of piano karaoke of old-time tin-pan alley songs by the likes of George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Yip Harburg (which was one of the suggestions, betraying the cultural generation gap of many AU members, but thhat's another matter). I want this to represent music from the last 80-100 years, especially from live and current freethinking pop/rock bands and songwriters (there are plenty out there).

The first issue was musicians to perform WITH. My original band(s) have not played together in a few years, and some of those players are no longer in town. I am also acutely aware that not only is this a FREE gig (which understandably limits the available of some PRO musicians), but a gig for an Atheist organization, and not everyone would be so inclined to participate (yes, we can also be respectful of other people's religious beliefs!). I did not want to possibly alienate musicians that I may know who were not, lets say, fellow travelers.

As it turns out, everyone I asked said sure, no problem (unless they had prior commitments). So far I have rounded up a drummer and pianist, and my old guitarist is trying to move a previous gig. I also have at least 3 vocalists involved, with invitations out for a few more, and an expected listing in the upcoming MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE promises even more volunteers. On top of these I have decided to get a string quartet involved as well to play my 2 original songs and charts for 3 or 4 cover tunes. So far one or two players have said OK, so we're half way there!

As for the music, there is an obvious list to start off with. Amongst the aged atheist crowd I always hear about Yip, Gershwin, Porter, Irving Berlin, etc. But today's musicians who rejst the idea of god and afterlife include Elton John, Billy Joel, Burt Bacharach, Dave Matthews, John Lennon, XTC, Tori Amox, Jill Sobule (tyring to reach you, Jill, we'de love to have you!), Laura Nyro... here's one list I found.

Most of this music has nothing to do with religion or lack thereof, and I also did not want this program to be a review of nice pop songs. The songs that I have chosen (so far) either deal directly with this issue, or with doubt about status-quo interpretations of faith , or simply celebrate how we as humans can simply lean to enjoy life and get along:

• Dear God (XTC)
• Imagine (John Lennon)
• What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love (Bacharach/David)
• One of Us (made popular by Joan Osbourne)
• Your Song (Elton John) this song is regularly cited by christians as a song about god, which is categorically denied by the authors
• You May Be Right (Billy Joel) unless I can find a better one...
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow
• Brother Can You Spare a Dime
• Jesus is Just Alright (by the Doobie Brothers) featuring a slightly difference emphasis on JUST ALRIGHT)
  
• A medley of something from Berlin, Gershwin, Porter (over which I found some great quotes from a Bill Moyers program that will be read, see below)
• A couple of my songs, perhaps TOUCH or NOT AFRAID OF THE END, and a newer one called I LOVE, along with a few more cover tunes I may find between now and then

As this performance provides an opportunity to create some new things, I was looking for some way to throw some spoken word text into the mix. Many of the famous tin-pan alley atheist songwriters wrote many songs with god or religious themes (it was a job, after all, and it was not always a good idea to make announce your lack of belief...). Take Irving Berlin forr example: GOD BLESS AMERICA and WHITE CHRISTMAS are two of the biggest pop songs in the world, written by an atheist non-practicing Jew. The melodies are beautiful, even if the lyrics are something I and members of AU might not be interested in hearing (again and again and again!). I happen to come across some very moving quotes from a Bill Moyers show about god, faith and 9-11. A preist, a rabbi, a muslim religious leader and two atheists talk about the questioning god after the attacks, something I thought would be much more public than it was (although I would guess many people thought about it). Sounds like it could be the opening of a good joke, but they're actually very moving and sicere. Rather than exclude some of these great songs, I am actively seeking a suitable reader to read some of these quotes over this music - it shhould make for interesting contrast.

The Doobie Brother's JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT is MUSIC I have always enjoyed, even if I felt nothing for the message. Since the 70's when it was written, "just alright" has taken on a slightly different meaning (thanks to Frank Zappa's VALLEY GIRL - oh, yes, maybe there is a Zappa tune I can include!). I am trying to get in touch with Julia Sweeney to add nuance to this concept, but as she is getting married in the next week, the timing may be off. I can wait a bit, Julia, PLEASE call me!

I will be volunteering a bit of time to man the Atheist United booth at the Los Angeles Times LA Book Fair at UCLA tomorrow Sat 26 April, and will bring a poster and some flyers to publicize the event. I will also bring some of my MORALS VS ETHICS postcards to sell, and will be soliciting more music suggestions. Your comments and suggestions are welcome, this program will probably change much in the next month.