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We all need a little soundtrack for hope at some point. With the tense political climate of this year, it’s can be difficult to maintain a positive outlook on the world. In these arduous times, it wouldn’t hurt to have a little more peace and love in our lives.
As the saying goes, “Peace, love, music.” Here are five powerful songs about peace to give you hope and inspiration for the rest of the year.
John Lennon’s 1971 message for the world to “be as one” is one the world needs to hear today. This best-selling single encourage listeners to imagine a world at peace without borders or divisions of religion and nationality.
This song has been so powerful throughout history that Jimmy Carter has even praised it, saying, “In many countries around the world – my wife and I have visited about 125 countries – you hear John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ used almost equally with national anthems.”
This reggae classic from 1977 by Bob Marley delivers a similar sentiment to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Marley began working on this song when the political climate of Jamaica was divided. As a popular figure, he tried to stay as politically neutral as he could.
In “One Love,” Marley asks his audience to hear the children crying and to stop trying to “hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs.” Regardless of our differences, we all should just have one love, one heart.
In fact, this is such an iconic song that the BBC has called it song of the millennium.
The King of Pop released “Heal the World” in 1991 with his “Dangerous” album. It’s a song asking to bring change, to create a “better place for you and for me and the entire human race.” The music video is one of the few that don’t feature Michael Jackson himself; instead it focuses on the children living in countries suffering from unrest.
MJ has said that this was the song he was most proud to have created. And with it, he also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to improving children’s lives.
Both the song and the organization encourage people, especially children, to help others and promote “love that’s enough for us growing.”
This 1965 song is a plea to love everyone, a message which is helpful to remember during times of need, trials or discouragement. The most memorable lines from this song are the lyrics, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”
This song was actually first recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon, but it has since been covered by over 100 artists, including Luther Vandross, Judy Garland and Coldplay.
David Roth’s “Earth” from his 1993 “Rising in Love” album begins with a soothing guitar solo to calm your thoughts and restlessness. And as the music becomes more upbeat, “Earth” becomes a joyful reminder that “we’re going to live in peace … and remember what life is worth.”
Singing ‘love is how it all got started,” Roth and his message reminds everyone that, no matter the kinds of divisions exist in society, we all have the power to bring about change.
