Celebrate Bob Dylan, Sun Ra, and the Mortal Who Connected Them
For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis and more, subscribe to Mother Jones’ newsletters.This string of days in late March includes the birthdays of two of the greatest musicians of their times: Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman on May 24, 1941) and Sun Ra (arriving from Saturn, he says, on May 22, 1914). Both are…
The Ambient Escapism of Normal People’s Real Playlists For Imaginary Characters
Screenshot from Spotify For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis and more, subscribe to Mother Jones’ newsletters.After about eight episodes of Normal People I noticed that I had been looking up songs from the episodes more than I did with most shows. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t alone. On Spotify, at least people 37,000 follow the Normal…
Big Freedia Is Making Party Music for People Who Can’t Party
For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis and more, subscribe to Mother Jones’ newsletters.It might seem like a weird moment to be releasing ass-shaking music. A worldwide pandemic has shut down the places where rump-wiggling typically thrives—bars, clubs, the darkened living-room floors of friends and friends of friends. If we can’t be together, we can…
20,000 Kids Have Learned Hip-Hop From One Revolutionary Network. Today’s Plague Won’t Stop It Either.
Students create hip-hop projects rooted in knowledge of Oakland public parks and climate change as part of Agents of Change youth artist residency program, funded by the California Arts Council. (Pictured pre-pandemic.)Sarah Arnold Photography/Hip Hop for Change For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis and more, subscribe to Mother Jones’ newsletters.Turning a pandemic into an…
This Moving Song by British Stage Stars Will Help You Keep Calm and (Sniff) Carry On
Two days ago, performers from London’s West End dropped a beautiful, aching, heartbreaking, performance of a World War II classic, “We’ll Meet Again.” Just take a moment and watch it. Then let me give you the back story while you are drying your eyes and blowing your nose and pretending it’s allergies while sharing this…
Superheroes and Accountable Leaders Are in Short Supply. So 4 Kids Decided to Invent Them.
For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis and more, subscribe to Mother Jones’ newsletters.Welcome to Recharge, a weekly newsletter full of stories that will energize your inner hellraiser. See more editions and sign up here. As school closures sweep the world and affect more than 55 million US students, kids are finding creative ways to…