With the amount of music being made today, even with the platform afforded to you via modern media, you, your record, and the message you are broadcasting are just a voice in the wilderness. But such voices can travel far and wide. And that is the phenomenon behind the latest release from Clay Joule.
The dream of the title is one of a peaceful and free Ukraine, and as the war rages on the edge of Europe, it is a dream that many of us have. It is also a “Song of Prophecy”, a foretelling of different times when its people were free to live their everyday lives untroubled by the horrors of war surrounding them.
Musically, it is Clay Joule doing what he does best, a blend of pop infectiousness and rock integrity, a song writ large across the sonic skies but never feels unwieldy or pretentious. More understated lyrics move the song into powerful sentiments and anthemic soundscapes, and the musical dynamics are both powerfully delivered and perfectly executed. It does everything as it should when it should and does so seemlessly. But if the music is excellent in its own right, its message is the poignant element here.
A call for peace and justice, a call for unity, for the west’s continued and increased support for this nation which lies on the eastern flank of western culture. And if the lyrical message might seem to advocate peace and calmness in a more general sense, the video accompanying it makes no bones about what is being posited here.
The video is a beautiful array of images, both from before the war and now, showing the grace and grandeur of the country and the horrors that have befallen it, of mass demonstrations and visions of what those marches and protests hope to achieve.
It is a song in three parts. Rousing music, meaningful lyrics, poignant images. Each is effective in its own right. Together unstoppable. It is also a reminder that even though we might sit here in the safety of our peaceful lives, we can be part of the cause if we want to be. Only some have the tools or skills to write songs, but we can all donate, attend marches, and show our leaders that this is something that we care about. And we can all contribute to the worthy causes that this song advocates. Fight 4 Freedom is a united front in which anyone can get further involved.
Voices in the wilderness can cause ripples, avalanches, and tsunamis; they can shake the foundations of the buildings in which our leaders and lawmakers sit. And if you want to see that in action, watch this space!
Donate to Red Cross
Donate to World Central Kitchen
