Sonic Sundays Special | Top 7 songs
Thievery Corporation’s Rob Meyers ( left) and Mr Lif performing in Seattle
Image | Juliet Romano-Olsen
In March of this past year, I began writing about musicians and bands that I love and wanted to share. The Guide Collective encouraged me to pursue my passions, and this project has fueled me to keep writing through a year of ups and downs and lots of uncertainty. I sought to bring music to your ears that would make you reflect, dance, and hopefully discover some new music. Many of the songs I’ve shared here are personal favorites or artists with a message, and after 19 Sonic Sundays (formerly known as Music Mondays), these are my top 7 songs from 2021.
“Marrikh” - Mashrou’ Leila
In 2021, We continued to rethink the way our society operates and de-stigmatize seeking help and taking care of our mental health. High-profile athletes Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka amplified the conversation by prioritizing their own mental health, despite the immense pressure to perform as representatives of their country. In “Marrikh,” Hamed Sinno presents the highs and lows of mental illness without sugar-coating in this heart-wrenching live performance.
”Letter to the Editor” - Thievery Corporation feat. Racquel Jones
2020 and 2021 have been years of mass protest all over the world. In 2020, the murder of George Floyd in the US promoted worldwide protests and a wide-ranging reckoning of anti-Black violence and racial bias in many institutions. This year, protests have continued to expose injustices. Thousands converged on the COP 26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland in early November to protest world leaders’ collective inaction to invest in and promote the development of sustainable energy sources and cut carbon emissions dramatically and to demand meaningful commitments to combat climate change. Brazilians continue to take to the streets in opposition of President Jair Bolsonaro’s continued refusal to respond to COVID-19 and policies that endanger indigenous lands and the health of the Amazon Rainforest. In Wet’suwet’en territory, several hundred miles north of my home in Seattle, indigenous activists are defending their ancestral territories from encroachment by pipeline projects and armed forces.
Thievery Corporation’s music is filled with social commentary and protest lyrics. In “Letter to the Editor,” Jamaican rapper Raquel Jones speaks about the importance of education and resistance against oppression, injustice, and corruption.
“Salt” - Mammút
Now, time to rock out to “Salt” by award-winning Icelandic band Mammút.
“Djoukourou” - Oumou Sangaré
This past year, many of us had access to COVID-19 vaccines that made it safer to gather with friends and loved ones. After months of near-isolation in our house, my roommates and I were able to throw a party with all the friends we’d only seen through screens. I’m thankful for the opportunities to socialize, celebrate, and—most of all—dance with others.
Our first Music Monday highlighted Malian singer, activist, and businesswoman Oumou Sangaré. Her music and her activism center women’s experiences and advocates for women’s rights. “Djoukourou” is an upbeat tune from her most recent album, “Mogoya.” The performance below is from the annual Afrikafest in the Netherlands, and includes solos from the talented musicians playing the electric guitar and the kamale ngoni, a harp-like traditional instrument.
“Border Ctrl.” - 47Soul feat. Shadia Mansour, Fedzilla
When it was released in 2020, 47Soul’s “Border Ctrl” highlighted the US-Mexico border wall, a major part of former President Trump’s political agenda, and the walls that were being built to separate Gaza and the West Bank from Israel and its various illegal settlements in Palestine. Since then, more walls and fences have been built. Israel completed its wall fencing in the Gaza Strip on December 7, fully turning the area into the “world’s largest open-air prison.” But throughout the year, Palestinians and others all over the world demonstrated for a free Palestine. On the border of Poland and Belarus, hundreds of migrants are stranded, barred from either country and unable to make their way to seek asylum in the EU. In the US, the current Biden administration has kept some Trump-era anti-migration policies in place into his term. For these reasons and more, “Border Ctrl” is as relevant as ever. Turn on captions for the English translation!
“Brillando” - Fémina
In “Brillando,” the women of Fémina sing, “Unidos existimos”—united we exist. If there’s one thing the pandemic should have taught us, it’s that we are all connected.
“Hasta la Raíz” - Natalia Lafourcade
As we move forward collectively into the next year, we will search for change and a new direction for ourselves and in our communities. In leaving some things behind in the old year, we also take the important lessons we’ve learned, relationships we’ve built, and momentum of the past year into the next. “Hasta la Raíz” reminds us of our inner strength, our roots, when facing new challenges.
This performance is from Natalia Lafourcade’s short film, “Un Canto Por Mexico – El Musical,” which was released in November to accompany her newest album. If you like this song, I recommend watching the full 25-minute video for a beautiful celebration of Mexican music, dance, and culture.
