Una canción: Subcity (Tracy Chapman 1989)

Tracy Chapman comenzó desde muy joven a componer sus propias canciones y a tocar en las calles de Harvard Square, en cafés y pubs. Pero fue en 1988, al participar en un concierto homenaje a Nelson Mandela, cuando se dio a conocer internacionalmente. Ese mismo año creó su primer álbum “Tracy Chapman”, que fue galardonado con cuatro Grammy. En 1989 lanza “Crossroad”, su disco más comprometido al que pertenece la canción Subcity. En ella se recoge una reflexión sobre la situación en la que se encuentran muchas personas que viven y trabajan por debajo de la sociedad. Personas excluidas que pasan desapercibidas y que no pueden alzar su voz en pro de la justicia. Frases como “I guess I'm lucky to be alive” reflejan la dureza de la situación en la que “sobreviven”, que aumenta cuando pasan a ser invisibles en un mundo que parece irreal pero que forma parte del nuestro; solo hay que querer verlo.

Subcity

People say it doesn't exist
'Cause no one would like to admit
That there is a city underground
Where people live everyday
Off the waste and decay
Off the discards of their fellow man

Here in subcity life is hard
We can't recieve any government relief
I'd like to give Mr. President my honest regards
For disregarding me

They say there's too much crime in these city streets
My sentiments exactly
Government and big buisness hold the purse strings
When I worked I worked in the factory
I'm at the mercy of the world
I guess I'm lucky to be alive

They say we've fallen through the cracks
They say the system works
But we won't let it
Help
I guess they never stop to think
We might not just want handouts
But a way to make an honest living
Living this ain't living

What did I do to deserve this
Had my trust in god
Worked everyday of my life
Thought I had some guarantees
That's what I thought
At least that's what I thought

Last night I had another restless sleep
Wondering what tomorrow might bring
Last night I dreamed
A cold blue light was shining down on me
I screamed myself awake
Thought I must be dying
Thought I must be dying

Una canción: One life (Lisa Ekdahl 2009)

"There's just one race and it's the human race / There's just one face babe it's your face"

Lisa Ekdahl es un magnífica cantante sueca de pop y jazz. En su último disco publicado -y nominado para los Grammys suecos en 2009-Give that slow knowing smile, incluye una muy bella canción, One life, que se convierte en un canto sencillo a la igualdad de todos: no hay más que una vida, no hay más que una cara, la del otro. Todos somos uno. Podemos estar buscando siempre elementos que nos impidan reconocer esa profunda verdad, pero ésta siempre acaba aflorando: es más importante lo que nos une que lo que nos separa. Solo una vida, un solo rostro..., el de todos.

One Life

You say we have nothing in common
I wouldn't say that if i were you
All of us come in through the same door
That much if nothing else i know is true
All of us will very soon be leaving
We were brought here, soon we will depart
Now i don't care if someone says i'm foolish
Cause while i'm here i'm singing from my heart

Chorus
There's just one life coming from that one place
There's just one face and it's your face
There's just one life going to that one place
There's just one face and it's God's face
And it's in
Everyone it's in every place
It is everywhere that one face
I can see it shining trough
Can't you see it shining trough
Don't tell me that you don't
Just tell me that you do

I wouldn't want hurt, i wouldn't
I wouldn't wanna to do you harm
All of us came in trough the same door
Now would you let me sleep in your arms
All of us will very soon be leaving
We were brought here, soon we will depart
Now i don't care if someone says i'm foolish
Cause while i'm here, i'm singing from my heart

Chrous
There's just one race and it's the human race
There's just one face babe it's your face
I can you see it shining trough
Can't you see it shining trough
Don't tell me that you don't
Just tell me that you do

There's just One Life