My friend Rick, who is on the Songs for Sheltering email list, recently reminded me of the wonderful work being done by Playing for Change, an organization dedicated to connecting musicians around the world by recording them performing a single song and weaving their contributions together. Here's an amazing video of PFC's diverse rotating coalition of artists -- including vocalists Clarence Bekker from the Netherlands, Titi Tsira from South Africa, and Sara Bareilles from New York -- performing Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," a song that remains relevant to every era, crisis, and generation. If the coronavirus exposes how our interconnectedness can betray us, I think Playing for Change demonstrates how our connections make us strong.
I highly recommend Playing for Change's own delightful YouTube playlist of Songs Around the World, a project ten years in the making. And you can visit their website for much more information on their videos, participating artists, projects, and charitable foundation.
BONUS: Here's the video Rick originally recommended -- an around-the-world performance of the Band's "The Weight," featuring Ringo Starr and the Band's own Robbie Robertson. It was a strong contender for today's Song of the Day, but it doesn't seem to be available on Spotify (yet). It certainly deserves to be enjoyed as well.
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Listen to the Spotify playlist here.
Watch the YouTube playlist here.