by Xenia Semenova
Strange Fruit This song was performed in 1939 by Billie Holiday and written by Abel Meeropol. Lyrics of the song-poem disclose the history of cruelty to people of color through the lynchings. Horrible moments of history can be felt through the beautiful and sad voice and this grief described already in the first words can bring goosebumps to your soul.
“Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees”
This strong and painful truth became a protest song in the history of the racism to the people of color, till now this song is giving us a sober vision of what happened in so called “civilized society.”
I Am Woman by Hellen Reddy 1971
I would call it a women’s anthem. You do not need to overthink this song too much, in every line there is an answer and explanation of women’s power and strength. My favorite lines are,
“Yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I’ve gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman.”
Even nowadays, in some societies, a woman’s potential is underrated. And their powerful capability can be punished. I want to believe there will come a time when women will be appreciated not by the level of their paycheck or muscles but also by the righteous importance they bring to the world.
Wind Change by Scorpions.
In the original version of the song the first verse was about the capital of the invader country and the wind of change. It was dedicated to Perestroika in URSS on the Peace Music Festival. One of my favorite songs ever till the moment when Ukraine was fully invaded. On June 6, 2022, in the Madison Garden in NYC, The Scorpions presented a new version of their song to support Ukraine, where they changed the first verse.
“Now listen to my heart,
It says Ukrainia
Waiting for the wind
To change.”
How dramatically tragic and sorrowful this song sounds now, but it still gives the same impact it was meant to bring 30 years ago,
“The wind of change is
Blows straight into the face of time
Like a storm wind that will ring the freedom bell
For peace of mind.”
Everyone will find their own answer in these lyrics, no matter if it is a support of one people or another, but there will always be wind of change and I believe each of us always knows when it touches your life.
by Xenia Semenova
Strange Fruit This song was performed in 1939 by Billie Holiday and written by Abel Meeropol. Lyrics of the song-poem disclose the history of cruelty to people of color through the lynchings. Horrible moments of history can be felt through the beautiful and sad voice and this grief described already in the first words can bring goosebumps to your soul.
“Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees”
This strong and painful truth became a protest song in the history of the racism to the people of color, till now this song is giving us a sober vision of what happened in so called “civilized society.”
I Am Woman by Hellen Reddy 1971
I would call it a women’s anthem. You do not need to overthink this song too much, in every line there is an answer and explanation of women’s power and strength. My favorite lines are,
“Yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I’ve gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman.”
Even nowadays, in some societies, a woman’s potential is underrated. And their powerful capability can be punished. I want to believe there will come a time when women will be appreciated not by the level of their paycheck or muscles but also by the righteous importance they bring to the world.
Wind Change by Scorpions.
In the original version of the song the first verse was about the capital of the invader country and the wind of change. It was dedicated to Perestroika in URSS on the Peace Music Festival. One of my favorite songs ever till the moment when Ukraine was fully invaded. On June 6, 2022, in the Madison Garden in NYC, The Scorpions presented a new version of their song to support Ukraine, where they changed the first verse.
“Now listen to my heart,
It says Ukrainia
Waiting for the wind
To change.”
How dramatically tragic and sorrowful this song sounds now, but it still gives the same impact it was meant to bring 30 years ago,
“The wind of change is
Blows straight into the face of time
Like a storm wind that will ring the freedom bell
For peace of mind.”
Everyone will find their own answer in these lyrics, no matter if it is a support of one people or another, but there will always be wind of change and I believe each of us always knows when it touches your life.