MUSIC NEWS - The immensely popular, inspirational Playing For Change videos on YouTube are possibly one of 2009’s most implausible and gratifying cultural phenomenons. The remarkable clip for “Stand By Me", featuring 37 musicians from around the world, has been viewed by more than 9 million people to date and clips for other songs such as “One Love” and “Don’t Worry” (view clip below break) have been viewed by millions more. To celebrate the April 28, 2009 release of the Playing For Change – Peace Through Music CD/DVD (via Hear Music), four videos will be presented on the home page of YouTube (including exclusive content). Bob Marley’s classic “War/No More Trouble”, highlighting musicians from Congo, Israel, India, Ireland, South Africa, the USA, Zimbabwe and Ghana, along with an extraordinary performance by U2’s Bono and Bob Marley himself will debut tomorrow.
The special CD/DVD package Playing For Change – Songs Around the World, (available at participating Starbucks locations in the USA & Canada and wherever music is sold, starting April 28 [order below thru MNN]), contains a ten-song audio CD as well as a seven-track DVD, which features five full ‘songs around the world’ videos. The DVD also includes a trailer for the forthcoming PFC feature film and information on the PFC Foundation.
Also included in the unveiling event at YouTube is a version of Sam Cooke’s iconic “A Change Is Gonna Come” recorded live in New Orleans featuring some of the musicians from the ubiquitous “Stand By Me” clip including Grandpa Elliot and Clarence Bekker; the Playing For Change “Sizzle Reel” containing footage of the international collective Playing For Change Band, who just completed a wildly successful jaunt in the U.S.; and finally a clip of the upcoming feature film “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music” which will be released later this year.
(photo credit Playing for Change)
The L.A. based, Playing For Change is the brainchild of Grammy winning producer/engineer Mark Johnson, who traveled for a decade with his team with a single minded passion to connect the world though music. In a recent interview with PFC founder Johnson, PBS’ Bill Moyers called Playing For Change a remarkable example of “the simple yet transformative power of music...to touch something in each of us.”
In honor of the release date, I have offered a give away on my blog. It is open to all. Cut off is April 30th, 11pm-EST.
Posted by: Belinda Manning | Apr 28, 2009 at 03:13 AM