Choral Fixation

In the third and final part of their protest singing series, Liz and Jacqui talk to four activists and singers about protest music in the Black Lives Matter movement. They cover kids and their phones, Zoom choirs in the time of COVID, Kendrick Lamar's 'Alright,' club bangers, viral hits from unlikely sources, and the idea that we are imbued by our very humanity with a right to sing... and protest.

NOTE: This episode contains song clips with unbleeped lyrics.

Liz and Jacqui do a song spotlight on the best-known protest song of the 20th century, We Shall Overcome. On this epic journey, they cover Catholic hymns, Protestant theology, army bands, Stand By Me, fashion-forward bangs, the proper pronunciation of the name "Guy," union organizing, Chuck D, and the value of using the right tactics at the right time.

Jacqui and Liz do a deep dive into the sea... shanty that is Barrett's Privateers (and others). Featuring interviews with legendary folk musician Garnet Rogers and TikTok sea shanty sensation Sam Pope, this episode comes with its very own playlist on Spotify (called Big Shanty Tunes).

In the first of a three-part series, Jacqui and Liz outline a brief history of protest music and get into what singing together can do for a group's common effort. They also highlight some early sing-along hits of the protest genre, and the discussion ranges from druids to dandies, with stops for Pete Seeger, pirates, the Mamas and the Papas, Sardinians, He-Man, and evangelical hymns.

In the very first Spotlight Song episode, Liz explains to Jacqui why David Hasselhoff is big in Germany. Hint: He may have helped end the Cold War, and the CIA didn't even have to write his hit single.

Liz and Jacqui interview Nobu Adilman, one of the co-founders of Choir! Choir! Choir! and Kate Rae, charter member of same. They cover singing in bars, surprise divorce, the value of beer to a singalong, The Circumstances, dealing with death, art experiments, connection, the Fredericton Pub Choir, weeknight bedtimes when you’re old, choirs that barf, tributes to music legends, the Winnipeg Beer Choir, vulnerability, and the big ball of love. (Also featuring Mike Bravener and Ian Campbell)

Things can be rough this time of year, and singing together can help. Jacqui and Liz talk to members of the East of the Don Chorus about the songs that mean so much... or not.

We explore singing from a sociological, physiological and psychological perspective: what compels people to sing together, whether in a 150-member professional chorale or during the chorus of “Summer of ‘69” at karaoke night? Why is it such a rewarding experience—emotionally, physically or even spiritually? And if singing’s so great, what’s stopping some people from joining in? Coming in March 2020.