Emma's revolution
Emma's Revolution is an American folksinger and social justice activist duo, consisting of songwriters Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow (or "Sandy O").
Emma's Revolution performs at protests for peace, women's rights, labor rights, environmental protection, and other progressive causes. The duo is named after the statement attributed to Emma Goldman that "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution."[1] As a duo, both Humphries and Opatow write songs, sing lead and harmony, and play guitars and percussion, depending on the song. They have performed nationally and internationally, and their songs are now performed by others at protests around the world. They have composed songs for social causes including School of the Americas Watch, CodePINK, the Refugee and Immigrant Women's Network, Black Lives Matter, the Rachel Carson Center, and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.[2] Their songs have also been arranged and performed by choral groups, including church choirs and labor choruses, throughout the country and world.
History[edit]
Pat Humphries had a solo career as a folksinger and songwriter, recording two albums before forming Emma's Revolution with Sandy Opatow. Opatow had been part of another folk duo, Petronella, when the two met.
The NPR program All Things Considered devoted a feature story to the Humphries song "Swimming to the Other Side," calling it "an underground anthem."[3] The NPR story described how, even without standard commercial success, the song became widespread and influential. Pete Seeger told NPR that "Pat's songs will be sung well into the 22nd century." Humphries performed "To My Old Brown Earth," on the Grammy-nominated album "Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3."[4][5] Emma's Revolution later performed many times with Seeger, including at the Unitarian-Universalist General Assembly in 2005, and they were chosen to deliver what The New York Times called[6] a "fervent, heartfelt tribute" at a memorial for Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi at Lincoln Center.
Emma's Revolution has released four albums of their own music between 2009 and 2017, as well as the album "We Came to Sing," with musician and activist Holly Near.[7] They have performed for the Dalai Lama, and at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Salt Lake City.[8][9] Five of their songs are anthologized in the songbook Rise Again (the sequel to Rise Up Singing).[10]
Activism[edit]
The Washington Post featured Emma's Revolution in an article on "new movement music", and "how it identifies deeper streams that seem to link disparate cultures of rebellion in the United States and other parts of the world."[11] The duo is described as being "a part of almost every movement for change in this country."[12] Both Humphries and Opatow are included by American artist Robert Shetterly in his "Americans Who Tell the Truth" portrait series, which travels the country.[13][14]
Peace[edit]
Emma's Revolution wrote the song "Peace, Salaam, Shalom," for a peace march in New York City immediately after 9/11. In an academic paper named after the song, entitled "'Peace Salaam, Shalom': Functions of Collective Singing in U.S. Peace Activism," the author writes that "When asked which new songs have emerged since September 11th as effective group sing alongs, the only song that was mentioned repeatedly was 'Peace, Salaam, Shalom,' written by Pat Humphries and Sandy O (the folk duo known as Emma’s Revolution). Respondents noted that the universal nature of the song’s framing (i.e., appealing to peace in different languages) and its catchy and simple chorus made it a particular favorite during anti-war efforts."[15]
LGBTQ[edit]
Emma's Revolution has recorded music reflecting on their experiences as queer women.[16] Humphries and Opatow married unofficially in 2001, before marriage equality was legal.[17] Curve Magazine interviewed them in 2013 on the "impact that their music is making on changing the cultural view towards LGBT individuals."[18] Humphries and Opatow later separated as a couple, but continue to play together as a duo.
#IBelieveHer[edit]
On the day of the U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee hearing with Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh, Emma's Revolution released a new song and video, entitled "#IBelieveHer." Democracy Now! broadcast the song on public radio and television nationally, just days later.[19] A writer for Daily Kos, in an article about the song entitled "We Have an Anthem, Folks," wrote that "This is the song we need as the battle continues to rage."[20]
Unitarian-Universalism[edit]
Emma's Revolution is an important musical presence nationally in Unitarian-Universalist communities. Their song "Peace Salaam Shalom," is recommended by Unitarian-Universalist music leaders in their "Music for Marches, Pieces for Protest," list.[21] Emma's Revolution wrote the official theme song for the Unitarian-Universalist General Assembly of 2014, "Love Reaches Out."[22] Emma's Revolution songs are included in the Unitarian-Universalist Tapestries of Faith curriculum, and in the Unitarian-Universalist hymnals "Earth and Spirit Songbook," and "Las Voces del Camino."
Awards[edit]
Humphries and Opatow won a 2003 Grand Prize for folk music in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition for their co-written song "If I Give Your Name," about undocumented workers killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11.[23]
They won the Washington Area Music Award (the "Wammie") for Fan Favorite in 2012.[24]
In 2016, they won the first Phil Ochs Award, presented by Phil's sister Sonny Ochs. The awarding organization, A Still Small Voice, noted that Emma's Revolution has "worked tirelessly for social and political justice giving their voices and their hands and hearts to support the environment, gay and lesbian rights, farm workers and American Indians."[25]
Discography[edit]
- Hands (Pat Humphries, solo) 2001
- Same Rain (Pat Humphries, solo) 2003
- Roots, Rock and Revolution (2009)
- Revolutions Per Minute (2011)
- We Came to Sing (with Holly Near) (2011)
- One (2016)
- Revolution Now (2017)
References[edit]
- ↑ Shulman, Alix Kates (December 1991). "Dances with Feminists". www.lib.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ "Ladyslipper Online Catalog & Resource Guide of Music by Women - emma's revolution/Pat Humphries : one x 1,000,000 = change". www.ladyslipper.org. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ↑ Partridge, Marika (22 May 2002). "'Swimming to the Other Side'". NPR.org.
- ↑ Pete Seeger & Friends, Seeds: The Songs Of Pete Seeger, Volume 3, retrieved 2018-10-14
- ↑ "Pete Seeger". GRAMMY.com. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ↑ Jon, Pareles (21 July 2014). "'You're Not Sailing Alone': Saluting the Seegers in a Hootenanny". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Ladyslipper Online Catalog & Resource Guide of Music by Women - Holly Near with emma's revolution : We Came to Sing!". www.ladyslipper.org. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ "Parliament of The World's Religions, With Emma's Revolution". Unity Online Radio. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ Rae Abileah (2015-10-17), Emma's Revolution at Parliament of World Religions, retrieved 2018-10-12
- ↑ "Emma's Revolution | Rise Up and Sing". www.riseupandsing.org. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ Montgomery, David (16 October 2011). "Occupy Wall Street inspires a new generation of protest songs". Washington Post.
- ↑ "Bad Attitudes: emma's revolution — one x 1,000,000 = Change". badattitudes.com. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ "Pat Humphries | Americans Who Tell The Truth". www.americanswhotellthetruth.org. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
- ↑ "Sandy O | Americans Who Tell The Truth". www.americanswhotellthetruth.org. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ↑ Brooks, Jeneve R. (2010-02-15). ""Peace, Salaam, Shalom": Functions of Collective Singing in U.S. Peace Activism". Music and Arts in Action. 2 (2). ISSN 1754-7105.
- ↑ Davis, Mark (2004-11-09). The Advocate. Here Publishing. Search this book on
- ↑ "Quick Q and A with Pat Humphries and Sandy O (emma's revolution)". meandthee.org. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ↑ Minero, Emelina (21 October 2013). "Watch: Our Interview with Dee Meredith, Krissy Krissy and Emma's Revolution". Curve Magazine. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ↑ "Kavanaugh Schoolmate Urges Georgetown Prep Grads to Break Silence on Sexual Assault, Party Culture". Democracy Now!. 2 October 2018.
- ↑ Han, Lao Hong (29 September 2018). "We Have An Anthem, Folks". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- ↑ "Music for Marches, Pieces for Protest - Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network". www.uumn.org. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ Bill (2014-06-27). "Pride Showcase: Emma's Revolution - Love Reaches Out". Pride Showcase. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ↑ "Just plain folk | HeraldNet.com". HeraldNet.com. 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- ↑ "Washington Area Music Association Archive - 27th Wammies (2012)". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ↑ "Awards Etc". A Still Small Voice. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
External Links[edit]
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