Earth Day Soundtrack (AUDIO, VIDEO): 9 Lesser-Known, Environmentally-Themed Songs

Music has always had a place in fueling the environmental movement, but sometimes a weighty message a la "Heal the World" can lay it on a little thick. For our Earth Day soundtrack, we've tried to steer away from the more overplayed environmental songs, opting for ones where the message doesn't overpower the music. Our selection of songs with green themes ranges from Gorillaz and The Beatles to Talking Heads and Mos Def. These tracks aren't all overtly green, but they all have subtle messages that will get you in the mood to celebrate the Earth, plus they're songs we hope you'd like to listen to anyways. Let us know your favorites, and which lesser-known environmental songs you think we missed!

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Gorillaz, 'Rhinestone Eyes'

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Gorillaz latest release, "Plastic Beach," has environmental threads (and rocking beats) running through the whole album, none more evident than on this track.
"Drive on engines till they weep
With future pixels in factories far away So call the mainland from the beach
All parties now washed up in bleach
The waves are rising for this time of year
And nobody knows what to do with the heat
Under sunshine pylons we'll meet while
Rain is falling like rhinestones from the sky."

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Gorillaz latest release, "Plastic Beach," has environmental threads (and rocking beats) running through the whole album, none more evident than on this track.

"Drive on engines till they weep
With future pixels in factories far away
So call the mainland from the beach
All parties now washed up in bleach
The waves are rising for this time of year
And nobody knows what to do with the heat
Under sunshine pylons we'll meet while
Rain is falling like rhinestones from the sky."

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Top 5 Environmentally-Themed Songs

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Comments

[Badger84]

12:35 AM on 04/23/2010

I hope that the passage of time hasn't made this a "lesser known" song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ97jPY9eJs

[jsaul]

07:23 AM on 04/22/2010

How bout IGY (International Geophysical Year) by Donald Fagen?

[Taj Sandhu]

02:41 PM on 04/21/2010

Saw Gorillaz at Coachella. By far the best performance the whole weekend!

[ReedYoung]

05:18 PM on 04/21/2010

I'm not surprised. I just love 'em.

[Turtuga Blanku]

12:08 PM on 04/21/2010

'Holes in the Poles'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrEs-CH8uG4

"Even more than Al Gore could predict is in store
Even more than before will be delivered at your door
Full screen presentation goes beyond imagination
All the special effects dramatic realistic acts"

Cheers,

Turtuga Blanku

* Solar Power Music at: http://www.TurtugaBlanku.com *

[Thirdcoastkites]

11:18 AM on 04/21/2010

Mos Def always always brings the political perspective sprinkled with healthy doses of freshness...one of the best lyricists in hiphop

http://www.thirdcoastkites.com - we support Michigan Wind Energy

[spilkus]

09:13 AM on 04/21/2010

The eds. don't seem to get that Nothing But Flowers is a lamentation by someone after returning to a garden paradise. He wants a lawn mower. He wishes for a return to the "good ole days" when he could go to the 7-11. He's saying that if we did return to an agricultural utopia he would miss Pizza Hut.

[SDZ1]

08:01 AM on 04/21/2010

Rush - "Red Tide"

[daikon86]

04:33 AM on 04/21/2010

this is for the bay area
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kTe7QUmyRs

[daikon86]

04:30 AM on 04/21/2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPrAuF2f_oI

[Planet Express]

11:30 PM on 04/20/2010

Ii think Bob sang it best..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFGgbT_VasI

Happy Birthday Mother E.

puff puff pass.

[KIVPossum]

03:31 AM on 04/21/2010

Thanks for the link

[rboelzle]

07:30 PM on 04/20/2010

You should check out the People Power Band who just played on the National Mall in Washington DC for Earth Week. As the world’s first “Green” band focused on energy efficiency, the People Power Band mixes a message of sustainability. Featuring originals such as “Happy Birthday Mother Earth” & “My Good Friends”, the People Power Band is sure to get you to “cut a rug” & recycle it too.

http://www.peoplepowerco.com/press/happyBirthdayMotherEarth.mp3

[Dredd]

04:38 PM on 04/20/2010

Perhaps someone should do a "Civilization Day" because civilization needs more help than the earth does.

We can be sure which one will be the last one singing.

http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2010/04/confusing-civilization-with-species.html

[sphoto]

04:20 PM on 04/20/2010

"plus they're songs we hope you'd like to listen to anyways"

More and more of these little grammar/spelling "oops" moments on HP lately. ARGH!!

[dapperd72]

03:58 PM on 04/20/2010

I'm surprised I saw no reference anywhere among these 10 songs to Midnight Oil. Their song, "How Can We Sleep?" hits the nail on the head. "How can we dance when the Earth is turning? How can we sleep when our beds are burning?" I've never been a major fan of MO but I first heard this song as a college freshman from my original roommate who was a huge fan & in retrospect they might grow on me. They've long been known as a hard-core environmentally oriented rock band to their credit.

[AjaStrandski]

01:26 PM on 04/20/2010

The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in. Engines stop running and the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear Kansas is drowning-and IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII live by the river.

JOE STRUMMER FOREVER