United: Music to Inspire Action
One original song. Many unique interpretations. One goal: inspiring action.
7 Billion Actions is connecting people and creating positive change through the universal language of music. Music has the power to break down boundaries between people. Music transcends geographical, political, economic, spiritual and ideological distances, uniting people everywhere as one human race.
To harness the power of music, we are working with Playing For Change, a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music.
Playing For Change has created an anthem for 7 Billion Actions, “United” (see lyrics). The Playing For Change crew is introducing this song to communities around the globe, where talented musicians are interpreting it through their own distinct voices, instruments and musical styles.
To inspire people everywhere, a film crew led by the producer Mark Johnson has been documenting the performances of the song and uploading videos to the web as they are being produced.
Want to be part of the 7 Billion Actions sound track? You can add yourself to the video and remix the track. Playing for Change will make a mash up with the different versions produced around the world.
Listen and watch the behind-the-scenes videos
“United” -- Part 1 New York City, USA
Today was the beginning of a dream to unite the world with the power of music and the human spirit. Playing for Change wrote an original song, titled “United,” to serve as an anthem for this moment intime, when our planet reaches 7 Billion people. Today we started the process with Mermans Kenkosenki and Jason Tamba, musicians from the Congo, who recorded and filmed live in front of the United Nations. We will now travel the world and record other musicians interpreting the song. No matter how many issues and languages and other barriers divide us in this world, nothing is as strong as the shared humanity that brings us together. We are 7 Billion hearts moving forward in a positive way, and the time is now to unite as a human race through the power of music. Join us on the journey.
Mark Johnson
Playing for Change Producer
“United” -- Part 2 Palenque, Colombia
Our journey has just started and already we feel the power of music to inspire and unite us. Playing for Change traveled to the village of Palenque, Colombia, a few hours outside of Cartagena. Palenque was the first free slave colony in South America. Its people have very close ties to their traditional music and culture. The “Palenqueros” are simple people with so much soul and history that when they smile and play music we feel closer to the heartbeat of humanity. In Palenque, we added vocals and percussion to our song, “United,” and are one step closer to creating music that speaks for all of us, one song and one heart at a time.
“United” Part 3 New Orleans, Louisiana USA
It may sound unlikely, but many of the best musicians in New Orleans play on the streets. This was the first thing a great man told me 10 years ago, when we first visited New Orleans to record and film musicians. Today we are working with one the heroes of the streets and a leader in the Playing for Change movement, Grandpa Elliott. He has been performing on these streets for over 60 years and has devoted his life to bringing moments of joy to all those who pass by. There is something special in the air of this city, a magic that can be felt in its music. Europe, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and North America all combine in the musical gumbo of New Orleans and remind us that in all great music we find soul. No matter who we are or where we come from, we are all “United” through music.
“United” Part 4 Ireland / Northern Ireland
"It is in the shelter of each other that the people live". This Irish proverb perfectly describes our visit to record music in Dublin, Ireland and Omagh, Northern Ireland. We walked on the streets of Dublin and within minutes we were running back to the hotel for our equipment to record and film some amazing street musicians. We then headed up to Northern Ireland where we recorded the Omagh Youth Community Choir. They are a group of angels that bridge differences with their harmony, soul and spirit. After hearing them sing I know we are going to make it as a human race.
“United” Part 5 Budapest / Hungary
This is the first time I have visited Eastern Europe and we could not have come to a better place. Upon arrival in Budapest we met a family of Gypsies and where invited into their inner circle where music lives in their veins. We organized a recording session featuring a female vocalist, acoustic guitar, spoons and the water caine drum. They performed with so much soul and the sounds became our soundtrack to Budapest accompanied by a string quartet. One evening while eating dinner we witnessed one of the greatest accordion players we had ever heard and the next thing we know we are pulling out our equipment and recording at an outdoor café. If you listen and keep your heart open you can hear the perseverance and hope in every note.
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