By shelz

Writing a damn good song about protecting the planet tends to get dismissed with the quickness in popular music.  The plight of Mother Earth isn’t a horribly popular subject and many of the songs come out sounding like PSA’s anyway. Folks want to party.  They want to dance and global warming just isn’t ass shaking material. However, a few artists have managed to make a good song and speak on their passion for the planet’s health at the same time.  It isn’t strobe light material, but you can pull a head nod or two out of these selections. So lean back and enjoy the struggle, or if the mood hits you, go hug a tree.

30 Seconds to Mars – “Beautiful Lie”

The debate over global warming has raged for years.  Some say it exists.  Some say it’s just part of Earth’s cycle.  Well, I’m not sure if Jared Leto and company wrote these lyrics with climate change in mind.  However, it took on that meaning after this video was made.  Filmed at ground zero of the climate crusade, the Arctic Circle, it’s one of the most beautifully filmed, aesthetically awesome videos ever. Enjoy

[pro-player width=’425′ height=’344′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yve9-bczQz4[/pro-player]

Mos Def – “New World Water”

Trust your tap water?  Well according to Mos, you shouldn’t.  He covers all the hidden problems with public water here.  The chemicals added. The strange climate changes that lead to drought.  It’s quite the interesting listen if you take the time to do so.  The close drops the issue in big businesses lap as Mos suggests the fat cats are feeding you chemical laden aqua and then charging you for it.  I ask again, do you trust your tap water?

Dead Prez – “Healthy”

This song has more to do with your body’s health than the Earth’s or better yet, how what’s health for the earth is also healthy for you.  There’s nothing ground breaking in this song as it’s all common knowledge.  However, how many of us rebuke pre-cooked and packaged for completely organic alternatives?  Very few. Listen to these cats preach what your mom has been saying since you were knee-high to a beagle.

Deee-Lite – “I Had a Dream I Was Falling Through a Hole in the Ozone Layer”

Groove wasn’t the only thing in this group’s heart. They also had a love for the planet that they presented through this song about apathy and indifference. It’s a sonic smorgasbord of problems as they tackle everything from proper disposal of waste to endangered animals to your gas-guzzling land boat.  Then, in proper Deee-lite style, they made it funky.

Marvin Gaye – “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)”

Of course Marvin’s ode to our damaged land had to be included.  Gordy scoffed at this song when he heard it for the first time, but this song did massive numbers and was written from such a beautifully helpless point of view.  Bemoaning isn’t normally taken well in music, but this song captured the thoughts of people everywhere who knew it was happening, but didn’t know what to do about it.  Marvin doesn’t feign resolution.  He keeps it true and his delivery is impeccable.

Michael Jackson – “Earth Song”

It’s the quintessential Earth song.  That’s why it’s called ummm… “Earth Song.”  It’s a weepy quandary, similar to “Mercy, Mercy Me” except it takes an aggressive stance near the end.  How did we let this happen in a world where sin is already paid for?  Is this what we do with our second chance? What about your kids and the disrupted planet you are leaving them? Possibly the most touching piece Mike ever wrote.

Public Enemy – “Bedlam 13:13”

The ecology concept takes a minute to develop, but once it does, Chuck goes hard to get his point across. And that point is that chaos is going to ensue once “the world don’t work no more.”  The Earth has been raped, greedy money makers have destroyed resources, and people are going to go the way of the dinosaurs if something isn’t done about it.  It’s a fire and brimstone take on the issues, but no less right. I miss Chuck D. I know that’s irrelevant, but I do.

[pro-player width=’425′ height=’344′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-oAc9pSyh8[/pro-player]

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