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Aural Fixations, The Rumpus Mixtape #3: Revolution in the Air

By

Anna March

•

Revolution begins with devotion to a moral vision and a belief that egregious wrongs must be made right.  In this way all revolutions are a revolution within. These days, there is both revolution in the air and a fear that not enough of us are outraged.

We tell pollsters we’re angry, fearful, and dissatisfied, that we’re sick of greed, the power of big banks and the triumph of corporate personhood. Yet we continue to watch TV and shop at the nearest big box store rather than occupy our nearest park, move our money to a credit union or shop local. Me, I sent pizzas to Zuccotti Park, but I ordered them with my Bank of America Visa card. I read a lot about it and posted messages on my Facebook wall. I sent books to the library. Is that doing something?

In response to the complacency of  “God Bless America” Woody Guthrie wrote “This Land Is Your Land.” When I hear his voice crack as he sings “This land is your land, this land is my land” it reminds me that it’s not up to someone else; it’s up to me. I am part of the 99 percent, part of the solution if I want to be.  It reminds me that this is our America, albeit with liberty and justice only for some.  In the words of Gil Scott-Heron, “the revolution will not be televised,” but it does have a soundtrack. This holiday season, we wish you your own merry little revolution.

-1-
“Fight the Power”
Public Enemy
Power to the People & the Beats – Public Enemy’s Greatest Hits

 

-2-
“Four Women”
Nina Simone
The Best of Nina Simone

 

-3-
“Girl In the War”
Josh Ritter
In the Dark: Live At Vicar Street

 

-4-
“The Times They Are A-Changin’”
Bob Dylan
The Bootleg Series, Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 [Disc 2]

 

 
-5-
“Tomorrow Is Already Here”
Stereolab
Emperor Tomato Ketchup

 

-6-
“Situation”
Making Friendz
Social Life

 

-7-
“The Revolution Starts Now”
Steve Earle
The Revolution Starts Now

 

-8-
“First We Take Manhattan” (LP Version)
R.E.M.
Drive – EP

 

 -9-
“This Land is Your Land”
Woody Guthrie
The Asch Recordings, Vol. 1-4

 

-10-
“Which Side Are You On?”
Florence Reece & The Almanac Singers
Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways

 

-11-
“Revolution”
John Butler Trio
April Uprising (Deluxe Version)

 

-12-
“Oh My”
The Drones
Havilah

 

-13-
“American Slang”
The Gaslight Anthem
American Slang

 

-14-
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
Gil Scott-Heron
The Soul of the Black Panther Era, Vol. 1

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Anna March
Anna March’s writing appears regularly in Salon and here at the Rumpus and her work has been widely published including in The New York Times’ Modern Love Column, New York Magazine, VQR, Hip Mama and Tin House. Her essay collection, Feminist Killjoy, and novel, The Diary of Suzanne Frank, are both forthcoming and she is at work on two new books. She teaches writing workshops, mentors writers, is active in promoting literary community and is the co-founder of LITFOLKS in LA and DC. She lives in Rehoboth Beach and Los Angeles. Sometimes she has pink hair. Follow her on Twitter @ANNAMARCH or learn more about her at ANNAMARCH.COM.

9 responses

  1. David James Avatar
    David James

    Anna, your weekly posts have become addictive. Music is great, always fits well within your message’s context which is thoughtful and well-written.

  2. james claffey Avatar
    james claffey

    yeah, yeah, yeah. this one got me through the drudgery. gave me some new musicians to spotify, too. nice job.

  3. Meg Tuite Avatar
    Meg Tuite

    I’m loving this, Anna!! REVOLUTION!!! Brilliance! I’m jammin through this AM! And Nina Simone!!!! Oh yeah!!! OUtstanding column! I look forward to these!!!

  4. anna march Avatar
    anna march

    thanks, all, for the support and interest. next week’s list: reading joan didion.

    xo

  5. Meg Pokrass Avatar
    Meg Pokrass

    THIS IS A BRILLIANT COLUMN. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS NEEDED.

    THANK YOU!!!!!

    XOXOXOXO

  6. Robert Vaughan Avatar
    Robert Vaughan

    Anna, all the way from India my hips are movin to the grovin! Thanks for this and so much more!

  7. Elissa Schappell Avatar
    Elissa Schappell

    Yay. Fight the power.

  8. Lisa Borders Avatar
    Lisa Borders

    Great mix!

  9. BJ Leiderman Avatar
    BJ Leiderman

    I’m new to your site, but I have to tell you that with this mix tape Ms. March, you really have hit it out of the park.

    I shall come back often.

    My best,

    BJ Leiderman
    Public Radio Theme Composer

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