Active Bystander Playlist - Spotify

Music has a way of putting words to what we feel, reminding us what we believe, and moving us toward action. Sometimes a song can give us the courage to speak up, remind us that we are not alone, or help us imagine a different way forward. In the spirit of active bystandership, our interns and staff have gathered songs that inspire us to notice what's happening around us, stay connected to our values, and remember that we all have a role to play.

Scan this code on Spotify to find our playlist! You can also search "Training Active Bystanders."

Highlights

• We Are the World (U.S.A. for Africa) - A 1985 hit that soothingly pleads the audience / the world to ‘come together as one’ to raise proceeds for the nonprofit organization USA for Africa. The song had visionary music artists come together, such as Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder – the co-writers, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and Bob Dylan, to further emphasize the importance of the cause. Through its trainings, TAB encourages members to work with their communities, come together, and stand up for what’s right. We can say how important a cause is and passively support it, but both TAB and “We Are The World” encourage active engagement in social issues.

• "My Way" by Frank Sinatra - The lyrics ‘I did what I had to do and saw it through without exception’ and ‘I faced it all, and I stood tall, and did it my way’ connect with TAB’s mission of moral courage, despite inhibitors such as fear and masks that might get in the way. When someone is in a group setting, they may not be fully conscious of why they chose to do something, so by doing it ‘your way,’ you are brave, alert, and aware of your actions. These are characteristics of an active bystander.

• “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders exemplifies moral courage and the importance of a strong community. Overall, the song has a very empathetic tone. You can tell the singer, Chrissie Hynde, truly sees the person and wants to help them. For example, assertions of ‘I’ll stand by you’ and ‘Don’t be ashamed to cry. You have someone supporting you’ assure the addressee that they have someone supporting them. The singer supports the addressee with clear words meant to comfort them in the moment. The singer takes the advice, similar to TAB’s mission, of widening your in-group, empathizing, and expanding your community, helping them eventually act accordingly in instances of harm-doing. It also makes the addressee, or what TAB would call the target, feel important, valued, and heard.

• My Shot (Hamilton Cast) - Lin-Manuel Miranda’s confident tone in this song encourages others to prevail despite challenges, just as TAB tries to do. Set during the American Revolutionary war, the song encourages the American colonies to rise against several oppressions, like special taxes, committed by King George III and the British Empire. This connects with TAB’s pillars of communal empowerment and rising against oppression/acts of harm-doing.