click here for “Love Is Love” Official video
“On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man, killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in a mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando Police officers shot and killed him after a three-hour standoff.” (excerpt from Wikipedia)
Today it is far too common in our country to be dealing with the aftermath of a mass shooting. The tragedy mentioned above was especially brutal and terrifying, because it was one of those targeted specifically and wholly at the LGBTQ+ community by the mass murderer. I have no earthly idea how someone deals with the loss of a family member or loved one or friend to such a senseless and diabolical act, but I was particularly struck by the award acceptance speech by Lin Manuel Miranda the very next night at the Tony Awards, in which he recited a sonnet he wrote. Near the end, he seemed to almost break down and spoke the words I used to hear from old hippies when I was a much younger man that went viral to the world at large.
“And love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.”
I wasn’t watching the Tony’s. I have nothing against them of course I’m just more of a “Singin’ In The Rain” kind of a guy. But when you see the video, and listen to the words, I find it hard to comprehend someone not being moved. You could see it as the camera panned around the audience.
It was at that moment I wished we (I and anyone I was playing for and/or with) could sing, “love is love” in a song. I looked for one to play at our multi and/or non-denominational “gospelish” brunch. Nothing. It took me a while to find words and a melody to write my own. I played it at ALL my gigs, and felt rooms of people singing along. I even had a father come up to me after a show in California and say, “I haven’t spoken to my daughter in years, but your song has made me want to call her and say I’m so sorry.” I never imagined such a thing. I just wanted to sing in solidarity with all my friends. Patty Griffin said somewhere that when you release a song to the world it is no longer yours. You don’t know and have no control as to how your audience or anyone else will receive it, or what meaning they will attach to it. I agree with that. That resonates with me, and I prefer thinking this way about my songs in the incubation period.
“Love Is Love,” was played on Americana stations around the US but never really caught on nationally. At my shows, it is still requested often (to say the least). I love performing it. I’m proud of the video I made by putting a call out to my friends, family, and friends to send me pictures of love, creating a collage of what the world is full of - MANY kinds of love. I purposefully did not mention sexual orientation in the song literally to try to drive home that love’s worth or meaning has nothing to do with who you chose to love. All I said was, “you can’t choose with whom you fall, I think it’s better that way.”
I have recently heard chatter online that my “radical leftist” views have turned a very small handful of folks away from my shows. I don’t know what views I have that are radical or leftist, but I strongly believe that everyone has the right to love whomever they want. Period. Call me radical. If you feel the need to tell someone their “love ain’t cool” then frankly I don’t need you at my show. Sorry/not sorry.
I also recently was on a phone call with someone who wanted to use the song for commercial use and this person in all seriousness said, “I like your music but we certainly couldn’t use one of your more political songs.” I paused and took a breath before asking, “what songs of mine are political?” “Well, I agree with you but your views on LGBT issues.” “Oh, I don’t see that as political. I think it’s just about human rights.”
I’m all for listening to someone who disagrees with me. We have far too little discourse in the public sphere. It’s all yelling and shouting and terribly boring. I’m all for you sharing your opinions, and normally I will keep mine to myself. But not as far as injustice is concerned.
LGBTQ+ rights, are HUMAN rights. It’s not political.
Love IS love, and it’s not a political song.
3/10 - Peggy’s Porchy Party | Austin
3/11 - Inspirations Gallery | Rockport
3/12 - Burlinghall House Concert | Houston (SOLD OUT!)
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