If you’ve seen any of the Playing for Change videos circulating around the web, you know what an amazing group this is. Their rendition of “Stand by Me,” for example, is perhaps one of the most moving versions of any song played, ever.
According to Mark Johnson, creator of Playing for Change, the concept is “a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music.” It’s like a modern-day, globalized Woodstock that doesn’t end. Using a portable recording studio, Playing for Change records music from around the world, merging different voices from any and every culture and background into single pieces of music that symbolically unify the people of the world. That’s even better than Woodstock!
Johnson got the idea for the movement from two monks playing music in a New York City subway. Mesmerized, Johnson watched as the monks–one singing, one playing a nylon guitar–captured an audience of 200 New Yorkers, who all stopped and stared. They disregarded their train completely, transfixed on the peace and unification created by the music they were experiencing together.
Johnson realized that, in that moment, several dozen strangers were connected through that music.
The “Stand by Me” performance he recorded was the first of many for the group. He traveled from New Orleans to New Mexico, South Africa to Italy and beyond to make this amazing recording that is now taking the world by storm.
And not only does the music Playing for Change impact the world today; the sales from the music benefit tomorrow–specifically, the children of tomorrow. Proceeds from Playing for Change sales benefit music schools all over the globe.
To get involved with Playing for Change, be sure to visit their website.
Tags: mark johnson, music, peace, playing for change