is life still good
even with another body down?
Meet Gideon Greer
Another Body Down
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Progressive-Caribbean-Reggae
Gideon Greer is a singer/songwriter with a strong desire to help heal a broken world and, along the way, say "yes" to life in its goodness, even as bodies fall around him. To get a sense of his context, listen to Another Body Down. They can paint it blue, or paint it brown, another body down They say it's drugs and gang related, I feel so frustrated I respect you, you respect me, we value life, not SUV's What's the genre? I'd call it "progressive-caribbean-reggae" born from a situation of social neglect and ecocide. His hope is one I share: that we help build local communities that are creative, compassionate, participatory, egalitarian, good for the earth, and spiritually satisfying, with no one left behind. And without having to say another body down. A Little about Gideon Greer's Life You will not hear him on Top Forty Radio or see him written up in Pitchfork or Rolling Stone. He is among the thousands upon thousands -- indeed the millions -- of local musicians who make use of digital media to share their music. He was born as a premature 7 months old baby on July 7th 1963 on the twin islands Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. He knew suffering from the outset; he was constanstly sick as a child. He learned to play the guitar at around 12 years and performed in various school shows and concerts with friends. He knew the power of music, and began to discover that he, too, could create it. Around 1980 he helped form the band Alpha and Omega, and they procured a recording contract with Island Records. Reggae for the Common Good Over the years Gideon has released many songs oriented toward social and spiritual awareness. He is a powerful proponent for sustainable, environmentally friendy lifestyles. Some of his titles include the four videos you find on this page. Gideon knows that music is a powerful force and medium, that it should not be use for entertainment purposes alone. It should be used to help educate and inspire us to be change agents. "It is the food for our souls." In early 2000's Gideon escaped a brush with leukemia when his white blood cell nearly overtook his body. He underwent a 3 year weekly treatment recovery. He also witnessed the passing of many friends and colleagues through illnesses and incidents. It is from these experiences that he found himself asking: Is Life Still Good? His answer, as seen in this video, is Yes. Life is still Good is his mantrum. Those of us in more affluent and protected settings -- those of us with SUV's -- should bear witness to the sheer courage of Gideon, his drive, his music, his priorities. Let us not be "entertained" by his music. Let us proclaim his mantra, simplify our lifestyles, get on board, and help build beloved communities where life is good for all, wih no more bodies falling. |