Also in this issue:

Stop Bitchin’ And Start Singin’.
The IMAs “Sing Out For Social Action” category provides musicians from all ends of the political spectrum the opportunity to promote their music & views to more than 11 Million music fans.
Whether you’re a Folkie or a Rocker, Liberal or a Hawk – here’s you’re chance to do something more meaningful than complaining.
Deadline July 27, 2007.
 

READ MORE ABOUT THE MAKING OF ‘BUSH IS OVER” HERE…
 

Channeling John Lennon

Last month, the non-profit org, Justice Through Music teamed up with the activist band Op-Critical and the Harmonic Angel’s Children’s Choir to put a new twist on an old song – Peace.

With permission from the John Lennon estate, Justice Through Music and Op-Critical updated & adapted the Lennon peace classic "Happy Xmas, War Is Over". The song & video, "(Happy Springtime) Bush is Over" quickly became an underground/Internet peace hit – garnering more than 75,000 online views in less than 2 weeks.

Adding new lyrics, new sound & new media, the song was released on April 24th as a “viral video” appearing on the Justice Through Music site, on YouTube and on Op-Critical’s MySpace page.

In the first 48 hours the video was ranked #8 on YouTubes favorite political video section. Less than 2 weeks later, it registered more than 60,000 plays on MySpace. At press time, the views totaled more than 100,000.

Those involved in the project were amazed at how quickly it came together, as if Lennon himself were guiding it. Craig Gillette of Justice Through Music stated, “The project was a success because of many ingredients including a good and timely vision by professional people, and the spirit of John Lennon helping us Imagine Peace.

The video was shot in front of a 55 foot “Imagine Peace” billboard that Lennon widow/artist/peace activist Yoko Ono had installed on the side of the Verizon Center in Washington, DC as part of her “Imagine Peace Project.”

Despite its provocative title, the creators say that the record is a non-partisan plea for peace. They used the President’s name as a metaphor for a non-peaceful mindset. According to Gillette “I believe this project was created not only to promote peace but to declare peace. Although there is a mention of Bush in the song, it is not partisan or even “political”. ‘Bush Is Over’ is meant to portray the end of an era of darkness more than an end to the person. It is a song and movement driven by moral values that most people believe in their hearts. Peace, not war. Think of the future, our children, other people. Try to leave a better world behind.”

Amen to that.