Emma's Revolution

Emma's Revolution is an American folk music and social justice activist duo, consisting of songwriters Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow (a.k.a. "Sandy O"). Named after activist Emma Goldman, the group has performed at protests for peace, women's rights, labor rights, environmental protection, and other progressive causes. Their songs are also covered by various choral groups, including church choirs and labor choruses.

Emma's Revolution
OriginOakland, California, US
GenresFolk
Years active2001 (2001)–present
LabelsMoving Forward Music, Appleseed
Associated actsHolly Near
Websitewww.emmasrevolution.com
Members
  • Pat Humphries
  • Sandy Opatow

History

Pat Humphries had a solo career as a folksinger and songwriter, recording two albums before forming Emma's Revolution with Sandy Opatow. Opatow had been part of another folk duo, Petronella, when the two met. The duo is named after the statement attributed to Emma Goldman that "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution."[1]

The NPR program All Things Considered devoted a feature story to the Humphries song "Swimming to the Other Side," calling it "an underground anthem."[2] The NPR story described how, even without standard commercial success, the song became widespread and influential. Pete Seeger told NPR that "Pat's songs will be sung well into the 22nd century." Humphries would later perform "To My Old Brown Earth" on Seeger's album Seeds - The Songs Of Pete Seeger: Volume 3"[3] Emma's Revolution later performed many times with Seeger, including at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in 2005, and they were chosen to deliver what The New York Times called[4] a "fervent, heartfelt tribute" at a memorial for Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi at Lincoln Center.

Emma's Revolution has released four albums of their own music between 2009 and 2017, as well as the album "We Came to Sing," with musician and activist Holly Near.[5] They have performed at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Salt Lake City in 2015,[6] and have been involved with Charter for Compassion[7] Five of their songs are anthologized in the 2016 songbook Rise Again (the sequel to Rise Up Singing).[8]

They have composed songs for social causes including: School of the Americas Watch; Code Pink, the Refugee and Immigrant Women's Network, Black Lives Matter, the Rachel Carson Center, and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.[9]

Activism

Emma's Revolution performed the night before Occupy D.C. began in 2011. David Montgomery of The Washington Post noted how "new movement music" such as Emma's Revolution "identifies deeper streams that seem to link disparate cultures of rebellion in the United States and other parts of the world."[10]

Both Humphries and Opatow are featured in American artist Robert Shetterly's Americans Who Tell the Truth portrait series, which travels the country.[11]

Peace

Emma's Revolution wrote the song "Peace, Salaam, Shalom," for a peace march in New York City following the 9/11 attacks. In the journal Music and Arts in Action, Jeneve R. Brooks of Fordham University wrote that the song was mentioned repeatedly as an effective group sing-along. "Respondents noted that the universal nature of the song's framing (i.e., appealing to peace in different languages) and its catchy and simple chorus made it a particular favorite during anti-war efforts."[12]

LGBTQ

Emma's Revolution has recorded music reflecting on their experiences as queer women.[13] Humphries and Opatow married unofficially in 2001, before marriage equality was legal.[14] In an interview with Curve in 2013, Emma's Revolution talked about the "impact their music is making on changing the cultural view towards LGBT individuals."[15] Humphries and Opatow later separated as a couple, but continue to play together as a duo.

#IBelieveHer

In 2018, in response to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination, Emma's Revolution released a song and video entitled "#IBelieveHer" in support of Christine Blasey Ford, who spoke out against Kavanaugh for allegedly sexually assaulting her 36 years prior. The song was publicized on the news program Democracy Now.[16]

Unitarian-Universalism

Emma's Revolution has participated in many activities for the Unitarian Universalist church community. Their song "Love Reaches Out" was the official theme song of the congregation's General Assembly in 2014.[17][18] Emma's Revolution songs are included in the Unitarian-Universalist Tapestries of Faith curriculum, and in the Unitarian-Universalist hymnals "Earth and Spirit Songbook," and "Las Voces del Camino."[19]

Awards

Emma's Revolution won a 2003 Grand Prize for folk music in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition for their co-written song "If I Give Your Name," about undocumented workers killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11.[20]

In 2012, at the 27th Washington Area Music Awards ("The Wammies"), Emma's Revolution received nominations for Folk – Contemporary Duo/Group, Folk – Contemporary Recording, and Artist of the Year; and was given the 2012 Special Award for Fan Favorite.[21]

In 2016, Emma's Revolution was given the inaugural Phil Ochs Award by the organization A Still Small Voice 4U, noticing that the group has "worked tirelessly for social and political justice giving their voices and their hands and hearts to support the environment, gay and lesbian rights, farm workers and American Indians."[22]

Discography

Albums
  • One x 1,000,000 = Change a.k.a. One (2004)[14][23]
  • Roots, Rock and Revolution (Moving Forward Music, 2007)[24][25]
  • Revolutions Per Minute (Moving Forward Music, 2011)[10][26]
  • Revolution Now (2017)[27]

Collaboration albums
  • We Came to Sing by Holly Near with Emma's Revolution (Burnside, Calico Tracks Music, 2009)[28][29]

References
  1. Sands-Boehmer, Kathy (September 19, 2012). "Quick Q and A with Emma's Revolution". No Depression. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  2. Partridge, Marika (22 May 2002). 'Swimming to the Other Side'. All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  3. Pete Seeger & Friends. "Seeds: The Songs Of Pete Seeger, Volume 3". Retrieved 2018-10-14 – via Amazon.
  4. Jon, Pareles (21 July 2014). "'You're Not Sailing Alone': Saluting the Seegers in a Hootenanny". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  5. "Holly Near with emma's revolution - We Came to Sing!". Ladyslipper Music. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  6. Kristin Powell (November 11, 2015). "Parliament of The World's Religions, With Emma's Revolution". Soulstream (Podcast). Unity Online Radio. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  7. "Religion & Spirituality: Reports and Documents". charterforcompassion.org. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  8. "Emma's Revolution – Songs Performed, Recording/Performances by this artist". Rise Up and Sing. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  9. "Ladyslipper Online Catalog & Resource Guide of Music by Women - emma's revolution/Pat Humphries : one x 1,000,000 = change". www.ladyslipper.org. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  10. Montgomery, David (16 October 2011). "Occupy Wall Street inspires a new generation of protest songs". The Washington Post.
  11. Americans Who Tell the Truth profiles:
    • "Pat Humphries". Americans Who Tell the Truth. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
    • "Sandy O". Americans Who Tell the Truth. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  12. Brooks, Jeneve R. (2010-02-15). ""Peace, Salaam, Shalom": Functions of Collective Singing in U.S. Peace Activism". Music and Arts in Action. 2 (2). ISSN 1754-7105.
  13. Davis, Mark (November 9, 2004). "Music Reviews – Unsigned on the dotted line". The Advocate. Here Publishing. pp. 64–65.
  14. Sands-Boehmer, Kathy (May 1, 2008). "Quick Q and A with Pat Humphries and Sandy O (emma's revolution)". Me and Thee. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  15. Minero, Emelina (21 October 2013). "Watch: Our Interview with Dee Meredith, Krissy Krissy and Emma's Revolution". Curve. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  16. Kavanaugh Schoolmate Urges Georgetown Prep Grads to Break Silence on Sexual Assault, Party Culture. Democracy Now. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  17. Bill (2014-06-27). "Emma's Revolution - Love Reaches Out". Pride Showcase. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  18. "Emma's Revolution - Kate Wolf Music Festival". katewolfmusicfestival.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  19. Herman, Ken, ed. (2009), "Hymn Number 28, Vamos todos adelante / Sin volver atrás", Las Voces del Camino:  Un complemento de Singing the Living Tradition (Softcover) (in Spanish), Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, ISBN 978-1-55896-553-9
  20. Wootton, Sharon (February 29, 2008). "Just plain folk". The Herald. Everett, Washington. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  21. Washington Area Music Association (2012). "27th Wammies (2012)". Washington Area Music Association Archive. Retrieved 2018-10-14 – via Google Sites.
  22. "Awards Etc". A Still Small Voice 4U. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  23. "♫ One - Emma's Revolution. Listen @cdbaby". cdbaby.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  24. Rice, Cheryl A. (May 8, 2008). "Dancing at the revolution". Hudson Valley Times. Ulster Publishing. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  25. "CD - Roots, Rock and Revolution - Emma's Revolution". Syracuse Cultural Workers. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  26. O'Connor, Keith (January 10, 2012). "emma's revolution mixes politics, music and humor". MassLive. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  27. Geduldig, Lisa (February 22, 2017). "Emma's Revolution "Revolution Now: CD Release Concert at The Freight" (Press release). Retrieved 22 November 2018 – via Mad Mimi.
  28. "Holly Near with Emma's Revolution – We Came to Sing (2009)". Goldenrod Music. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  29. "We Came To Sing! - Emma's Revolution, Holly Near - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
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