Paul Robeson’s rendition of the union organizing classic “Joe Hill” resounds in a new era of resistance. The Italian folk song “Bella Ciao” speaks against the rise of right-wing leaders in Europe. Peggy Seeger’s “Reclaim the Night” anticipated the #metoo movement. And the plight of immigrants and refugees has never been more compassionately conveyed than in Woody Guthrie’s “Deportees (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos),” performed below by Sammy Walker. While the compilation consists of historical tracks, the themes in the songs have gained new relevance amid current world events. The power of music as a unifying force - through struggles for fairness, spiritual quests, human celebrations and global political movements - is the theme of an ambitious new boxed set, The Social Power of Music, set for release early next year from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
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