by Tysa Banks
In 1997, Sarah McLachlan convinced some of the most powerful women in music to get together and sing for the Lilith Fair (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube). They sang for three years because they wanted to entertain but most importantly, they sang to raise money for national and local charities. One and a half million fans showed up to witnesses this memorable experience and helped raise money by paying over $10 million dollars combined to be a part of it. Artists like Sheryl Crow, Christina Aguilera, Erykah Badu, The Dixie Chicks, Missy Elliott, The Pretenders, Nelly Furtado, Jewel, Queen Latifah, Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara, and of course, Sarah McLachlan were all there to make this the only tour of its kind and perhaps one of the most thrilling of all time.
Now, thirteen years later, in 2010, these same artists as well as tons of new artists from the millennium are back together to sing for us. Sarah McLachlan has been living her own life and making her own music for awhile. This year, however, after going on hiatus for seven years, she has come back from the dark and is ready to put some light and soul into her life and everyone else’s around her. She knows it’s been a rough decade for all of us and we need music to fill us up so we can feel good again. She’s putting the happy back into us.
Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to make it to the big show but for those of you who can’t, you’re still in luck. There has been an astounding album put together by a lot of the artists for this tour, the Lilith 2010 Tour Compilation. The first song by Sarah McLachlan, “One Dream” basically sums up the entire reasoning behind putting together another tour with opening lines like “We can feel a change is coming / Like a kiss upon the tide/ Breathing life into every heart/ A hope for kinder times..” Sticking with the same theme, Tegan and Sara’s song “Hell” with lyrics like “Four ways remove all the bad that we do/From the heart and soul of the city, sad and cold / Four ways to collect what we say and what we save / To discard and discover a brand new way…”
Of course, there are a few fun, but less meaningful, songs on the assemblage from artists like Kei$ha’s hit “Tik Tok.” I especially like Ash Koley‘s song, “Brighter at Night.” I admit this is my first time hearing this song and it has such a great hook: “We can speed in my car, run the traffic lights with no sun in our eyes/We can do what we like if you don’t mind/We’re much brighter at night…” There are sixteen tracks in all and it’s a very eclectic mixture of new artists versus classic artists.
Ms. McLachlan has invited too many artists for me to even list for the Lilith 2010 tour, but I’ll give you a sneak peek: Kelly Clarkson will be there. Martina McBride, Colbie Caillat, and Kei$ha will be there. Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile, Chantel Kreviazuk, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, and also…wait for it. Wait for it….Rihanna will be in your town, Sugarland, Queen Latifah, Mary J Blige, Miranda Lambert, and of course the founder herself, Sarah McLachlan will ALL be there. That was more than a peek but I couldn’t resist. Why wouldn’t you want to go to this concert? I think even hundreds, if not thousands, of men will want to come to this festival. That’s not to say they’d ever admit it. There will be so much talent in one place it will be like having an ear orgasm. Or more appropriately, an “All you can eat” buffet only with music for your ears. Music is food for the soul. Eat it up!
(Out Impact has an gay online radio station!: Out Impact Radio - click here to listen)
