Playing for Change

Every once in a while I stumble across something online that is so interesting and genuinely intriguing that I end up getting lost in it and losing half of my day checking it out. I recently had one of those moments when I happened upon playingforchange.com mid-Internet perusing. I realize some of you may already know all about this, (it having been around for about four years now) but for those of you who have never heard of it, do yourself a favor and check it out. The website describes Playing for Change as “a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music.” I know that sounds like a lofty goal and also a bit ambiguous, but if you check out the videos they have made you’ll understand what they’re talking about. Mark Johnson, one of the co-founders of Playing for Change and a Grammy award winning producer/engineer, explains that Playing for Change was “born out of the idea that we have to inspire each other to come together as a human race and that music is the best way to do this.” He says the project started four years ago with a street performer singing “Stand By Me,” and from there they “traveled all over the world through streets, subways, Native Indian reservations, African villages and the Himalayan Mountains... None of these musicians had ever met in person, it was the music that brought them together and the belief that we can do a lot more for this world if we work together than we ever can apart.” The videos are a stunning mix of unique music and great filmmaking based on a very cool ideal. I posted the first one they made (“Stand By Me”) because I think it remains my favorite, but please go look at the other ones. It may take up half your day but, based on personal experience, it's worth it.

-Laurie Moot 

Currently listening to: "Peace All Over The World," by Playing for Change

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