Earlier this week, the US Senate voted in favor of making June 16th Independence Day a federal holiday on June 19th each year to celebrate the end of national slavery. This date has become prominent in recent years and is recognized by many companies and institutions, including the entire music industry.

To commemorate June 16, 2021, Apple Music has commissioned a specially curated collection of 20 songs entitled “June 1, 2021: Song of Freedom.” This compilation features original songs and covers such as Black Thought, HER, Hit-Boy, Kirk Franklin, Madison Calley, Maverick City Music and Willie Jones. In addition, Ghanaian-American visual artist Kwadwo Obeng combined some of the artist’s work with a timeless visualization of Juneteenth’s individual messages. Playlists are currently available on Apple Music.

“2021 was an important moment in black history, and Juneteenth was finally recognized as a holiday by cities and states across the United States,” said Ebroderden, global head of Apple Music hip-hop and R & B. It is stated in. “So far, many people haven’t been taught about the importance of June 19 in public schools and businesses, and the state government hasn’t given them vacations. This is a huge moment in history and a slave. The mainstream accepts and acknowledges the day when the black Africans were released from physical bondage by the U.S. government. This is a painful part of American history that can no longer be a side note. “

Darden went on to say that the Apple Music team not only promoted June’s Black Music Month here in the United States, but also expanded the conversation internationally and was first created by blacks on all the music popular today. Things have roots. “The importance of these perceptions has helped to normalize the truth and trauma of blacks around the world through white supremacism and racism,” he says.

“‘June 1, 2021: Freedom Songs’ is an idea born of the desire to ensure that new sounds are available on this important day,” Darden adds. “Many companies and state governments have approved June 16th, so our idea was to help raise this day higher and raise more awareness. This year, different genres. And black artists from around the world contributed to this moment, sharing all the music the world enjoys today, with black creatives and storytellers sharing talent, soul, joy and pain for centuries. It’s the same way you create it. “

The artists participating in “June 2021 Freedom Songs” were appointed by Apple Music to speak the spirit of the day through the dignity of music. The project spans a variety of genres such as hip-hop, gospel, metal, jazz, R & B and country. In the collection, listeners should reveal the complexity of the black experience against the backdrop of the Juneteenth historic touchpoint. From joy to pain, and from hope to anger, “Freedom Songs” is a journey of sound through new covers of the past and today.

Philly’s own leader in The Roots, Black Thought, delivered “almost free” to the set. This song uses rhyme gifts to educate African-Americans about their ongoing undervalued contributions to contemporary culture.

“Every day is June 16th, and each month must be Black History Month and Black Music Month,” the rapper declares.

This week’s vinyl

Keep an eye out for this place as you see new or upcoming vinyl from different artists each week. It could be a breakthrough recording, a special edition, or a repress of a new collection from a legendary act. This week is the soundtrack to the beloved 80’s movie.

Say anything: “Extended movie soundtrack”

One of the top teen romantic comedies in film history is the 1989 film Say Anything, written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring John Cusack and Ione Skye. It’s full of symbolic moments. Perhaps it’s the character of Kusak’s Lloyd Dobler, who lifts a boombox outside the bedroom window of Diane Court (Sky) while playing Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.”

That song, along with many other songs, is included in the newly released extended version of the movie soundtrack, which defines the essential genre, presented by Mondo and Vinyl Film. This is a must-have 2LP set that includes a list of remastered original 10-track songs, plus an entire additional music disc.

Among the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Replacements songs, the “Say Anything” soundtrack now includes demos written and recorded for the film. Written a pen by Nancy Wilson for Lili Taylor and for her character’s ex-boyfriend. There’s also a demo of the Smithereens hit “A Girl Like You”, Soundgarden, Aerosmith’s bonus track, and a live version of “In Your Eyes”.

Featuring a 16-page booklet with unprecedented photographs and liner notes from the first directors of the time, Crow, Kusak, Sky, Taylor, and Wilson, the set features 180 grams of standard black vinyl. And available in a limited edition pressed in translucent red. vinyl.

The soundtrack extended to “Say Anything” is available at the following URL: mondoshop.com And in stores from all the fine retailers who carry vinyl.

To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, please send an email to: rockmusicmenu@gmail.com.. Also check out his blog. www.thechroniclesofmc.com