The Unforgettable Fire: A Playlist for Our Neighbors and Firefighters as They Confront the California Fires

Living in the Hollywood Hills in recent days has felt like being heartbreakingly close to some surreal 24-hour disaster movie set. You turn a corner on Mulholland Drive and see crowds gathering with cameras around their necks and expressions of shock on their faces. Instead of "photographers" seeking to grab a shot of Britney Spears -- as many were doing here not so very long ago -- these photographers appear to be concerned citizens attempting to capture images of the surreally ominous yet strangely majestic-looking clouds of smoke coming from fires on nearby mountains.

This playlist goes out to all of our neighbors who are being impacted by the raging California wildfires -- and to heroic firefighters everywhere.

"The Unforgettable Fire" - U2
"My Hero" - Foo Fighters
"Who By Fire" - Leonard Cohen
"Shine Your Light" - Robbie Robertson
"Fire On The Mountain" - Rob Thomas
"Heroes" - David Bowie
" Cinder and Smoke" - Iron & Wine
"Brave & Strong" - Sly & The Family Stone
"Into The Fire" - Bruce Springsteen
"Walk Through The Fire" - Peter Gabriel
"Smoke" - Ben Folds Five
"Fire Escape" - Diane Birch
"Jump Into The Fire" - Harry Nilsson
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" - Neil Diamond
"Smoke & Ashes" - Tracy Chapman
"No Smoke Without Fire" - James Hunter
"Smoke Detector" - Rilo Kiley
"Lyin' In A Bed Of Fire" - Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul

Follow David Wild on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic

Comments

[BlackJAC]

01:09 PM on 09/01/2009

If we're joking: "I'm On Fire" by Springsteen, "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash, "Some Like It Hot" by Robert Palmer, "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter

If we're being serious: Jeff Healey's cover of "Shapes Of Things" by Jeff Beck

[tuckgraph]

10:58 PM on 08/31/2009

The Heat Is On - Glenn Frye

Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin

Feels Like Rain - John Hiatt

I'm The Fireman - George Strait

Tracks of My Tears - The Miracles

[kathy001]

01:49 PM on 09/01/2009

Love your choice of "Tracks of My Tears."

[ComingandGoing]

09:32 PM on 08/31/2009

Here are links to two songs which probably capture the current mood of Californians (and the rest of the country), although they don't mention fire or burning:

"A Real Mother for Ya," by Johnny "Guitar" Watson
http://jenesaisrein.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-with-passion-made-and-makes.html


"I Need Some Money," by Chuck Brown
http://jenesaisrein.blogspot.com/2009/04/taxman-cometh-and-goeth.html

[David Wild]

09:49 PM on 08/31/2009

Soulful songs for times that try men and women's souls

Thanks for those

[Daniel Brooks]

07:18 PM on 08/31/2009

I Wish It Would Rain - The Temptations
You Can't Go Home - The Statler Brothers
Strange Days - The Doors

[David Wild]

07:42 PM on 08/31/2009

I Wish It Would Rain too.

PS Open question: what can we be doing to support our firefighters?

[mikefina]

08:20 PM on 08/31/2009

Move to Oregon.

[RenoSage]

09:29 PM on 08/31/2009

Will the storm off Baja help?

[waynedale]

03:37 PM on 08/31/2009

I think it's going to rain today.-Randy Newman

[David Wild]

05:01 PM on 08/31/2009

As I have written before here, my favorite song
Sadly, I hope but do not think it's going to rain
Thanks waynedale

[Sirenissima]

12:52 PM on 08/31/2009

"I'm On Fire" - The Boss

While I'm working 8,000 thousand miles away in Paris, I'm burning with worry (there, just coined a new expression) about my family, my house, my everything. And this Springsteen song has a very melancholic melody that reflects my mood right now.

RIP to the 2 firefighters.

[rockgolf]

10:28 AM on 08/31/2009

"Burn Down The Mission" - Elton John
"My City On Fire" - The Pretenders

[David Wild]

11:06 AM on 08/31/2009

Thanks rockgolf, but it is "My City Is Gone," right, and let us all hope that our heroic firefighters can stop that from coming to pass.

And now it seems two of those firefighters lost their lives yesterday. Here's hoping they are getting all the support they need to get this incredibly difficult job done on our behalf

[nsj2103]

07:56 AM on 08/31/2009

Streets Of Fire - The New Pornographers
A Church Is Burning - Simon and Garfunkel
The Sun Is Burning - Simon and Garfunkel
Ignition - R. Kelly
Kiss The Flame - Jewel
Burn This Disco Out - Michael Jackson
Heat Wave - Martha and the Vandellas
Anything from The Louvin Brothers' "Satan Is Real" album: http://ledonnarama.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/satan-is-real-tee_lrg9.jpg

[David Wild]

09:35 AM on 08/31/2009

Wow, nsj2103, I am very impressed with your range -- literally R Kelly to Louvin Brothers.

[joelaf]

05:46 AM on 08/31/2009

"Motel Matches" Elvis Costello

"Come around" Counting Crowes (for the little pieces reference)

[David Wild]

09:36 AM on 08/31/2009

Both songs that have meant a lot to me.
Here's hoping so better weather comes around for our firefighters today

[joelaf]

05:40 AM on 08/31/2009

"Burning Sky" Bad Co

[David Wild]

09:37 AM on 08/31/2009

Very fitting song, although it should be said our fire department appears to be made up of very good companies.

[Dennis]

02:01 AM on 08/31/2009

"Beds Are Burning" - Midnight Oil.

"A facts a fact. It belongs to us all. Lets give it back."

[bluize]

09:24 PM on 08/30/2009

Smoke On The Water Deep Purple

[David Wild]

11:55 PM on 08/30/2009

Wish there was more Water on that Smoke right now, but thanks

[learntofly]

07:15 PM on 08/30/2009

The Beatles - Help!
Tony Bennett - I Want to be Around
U2 - Love Rescue Me

[David Wild]

11:14 PM on 08/30/2009

Three great songs
Here's hoping for a surprise rain storm.

[JohnFromCensornati]

06:08 PM on 08/30/2009

I hate to have to be this obvious.

Fire - Ohio Players

[David Wild]

07:48 PM on 08/30/2009

Obvious, but still funky

[tmay]

05:02 PM on 08/30/2009

"Cold Missouri Waters" by Cry Cry Cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgQNeGPJdcQ

This song is about the Mann Gulch Fire in Montana.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Gulch_fire

See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Canyon_Fire
which had tragically similar consequences some 40 years later.