PLANET NOTES
An International Playlist
Animals
This part of the environmental playlist is dedicated to the animals sharing this planet with us. Safe to say, due to our anthropocentric worldview, most animals have not been able to enjoy this beautiful planet. Whether they have been robbed of their living environment, bread for slaughter or gotten sick or hurt due to human impact, the life for animals is not getting easier. Nevertheless, we have the chance to change their situation by actively dealing with the problem animals are facing. How about starting this journey with a few inspiring songs about animals?
I DON'T EAT ANIMALS
Melanie
The artist, Melanie, sings about a meat- free diet. This song originally appeared in 1970, in a time of lesser vegans and vegetarians. Today we can rediscover this song, being vegan, vegetarian or a meat-eater, it reminds us about what we war actually eating when consuming meat and let’s us rethink our ethics when it comes to our personal food choices and consumption.
Lyrics
BLACKBIRD
The Beatles
And what is a playlist without at least one Beatles song, right? Blackbird is a soft classic - so much that many reading this title will already have the tune stuck in their head before the song even starts. This meaningful song leaves much room for interpretation. But have you ever listened to it with an environmental perspective?
APEMAN
The Kinks
“Apeman” by the Kinks, tells the story of a man living in modern times, wanting to escape the city and the human evolution that has lead us to where we are now. The “Apeman” refers to a pre-evolutionary simplicity in life, where humans environmental impact wasn’t bigger than other species. This song criticizes modernization and urbanization by romanticising the “tarzan” way of living.
THE OCEAN
John Butler
This beautiful song called “The Ocean” is an instrumental by the artist and singer John Butler. While having no lyrics to interpret the meaning of this beautiful tune, to me it sounds like a peaceful day out in nature, watching birds and other animals enjoying a sunny summers day with soothing ocean waves in the background. What do you hear while listening to this song?