The 10 songs I would choose from the Golden Record:
- Beethoven – Symphony No 5
- Navajo Night Chant
- Ugam – Azerbaijan bagpipes
- Blind Willie Johnson – Dark was the Night
- India – Jaat Kahan Ho
- China – Flowing Streams
- Peru – Wedding Song
- Senegal – Tchenhoukoumen
- Australia – Morning Star and Devil Bird
- Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
As I chose these ten songs, I kept thinking about Dr. Smith Rumsey’s (2017) discussion of Carter Woodson, who worked to ensure that the Black community was represented fairly in history. What we include determines who and what is remembered, so I wanted my selection to represent the diversity of life on Earth. My goal was to include music from every continent and a range of cultures to show both our differences and shared human experiences. I included one classical piece and one early rock song to highlight the evolution of musical style over time, alongside traditional pieces that reflect deep cultural roots. I struggled between the Melanesian panpipes and “Dark was the Night” but ultimately chose the latter because it spoke to me on a more emotional level. Narrowing it down to ten was difficult because each song carries meaning, but I believe this list offers a balanced and meaningful representation of our planet.
Reference
Brown University. (2017, July 11). Abby Smith Rumsey: “Digital memory: What can we afford to lose?” [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrahqg9ZMc