Songs to See Us Through: Responding, with music, to the coronavirus crisis

CINDY STAGOFF

NJArts.net’s Songs to See Us Through series is intended to support artists and spotlight songs relevant to the coronavirus crisis.

Launched on March 14, 2020, NJArts.net’s Songs to See Us Through series is intended to help keep music alive during this stressful, fearful time.

Some performances will be created especially for the series; others will have previously existed. (We would like to feature newly recorded songs, as much as possible). We encourage artists and fans to email us with submissions and suggestions at njartsdaily@gmail.com.

We ask that the song be related to the current crisis in some way. It can be a new song or an old song. It can be a cover. It can be about sickness or healing or isolation. It can be an angry song about politicians screwing up. It can be connected to the crisis only indirectly. But it must have some connection.

We hope this will help with the isolation that many will be feeling in the weeks or maybe months to come. We also want to draw some attention to artists who won’t be able to perform concerts, as they usually do. And so we encourage anyone reading a post in this series to buy a CD or some other piece of merchandise from the spolighted artist, to make up for income lost from cancelled gigs.

The Doobie Brothers’ 1974 “Song to See You Through” inspired the name of the series, which will last as long as the coronavirus crisis lasts.

Here is a list of the songs that have been featured in the series, with links to their posts. It will be updated regularly, as new songs are added.

“Don’t Let Us Get Sick,” Jill Sobule
“Bravery’s on Fire,” Rachael Sage
“Hold On,” Joe D’Urso with Vini Lopez and Ben Arnold
“Sister Morphine,” Tammy Faye Starlite and Keith Hartel
“Worried Man Blues (Worried Town Blues),” Demolition String Band
“Four Long Years,” The Nathans featuring Rob Norris
“April Fools,” Lily Vakili
“Violet-crowned Hummingbird,” Stephanie Seymour with Bob Perry
“All You Need Is Love,” The Weeklings
“Get Off the Stage,” Chuck Prophet
“Don’t Get Me Started,” Emily Duff
“Life During Wartime,” Talking Heads
“You Are the Light,” Rebecca Turner
“Blue Fall Day,” The Campfire Flies
“Genuine Reflection,” Eddie Skuller
“Songs of Social Distance” series, Susan Werner
“Out of Work,” Gary U.S. Bonds
“William Shakespeare and Me,” Mary Lee Kortes
“You and I,” Stacia Thiel
“Breathing Together,” Flowers of America
“Atlantic City,” Originaire
“Theater Marquee,” Walter Parks and Rob Curto
“Clouds Over Eden,” Richard Barone
“Only Love Remains,” Ed Seifert & the Stimulus Package
“Cracks in the Wall,” Morgan Fisher
“Til the Quarantine Is Thru,” Dan Bern
“Don’t Be Afraid to Love,” George Usher
“Sooner or Later,” Glenn Mercer
“Save the Planet,” Remember Jones
“Diamond,” Eric Ambel
“Dear Leader,” Deena Shoshkes
“Crystal Blue Persuasion,” Tommy James
“The Tower,” Karyn Kuhl
“Holed Up,” Nova Social
“Out of the Garden,” Jack Skuller
“Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” The Asbury Park Love Contingent
“For Pete’s Sake,” The Grip Weeds
“Olde Store Fronts,” Rogers & Butler
“Mary,” Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche
“Ten of Swords,” Lily Mastrodimos
“Afraid of It All,” Steve Addabbo
“Better Times Will Come,” Janis Ian
“Soap Opera,” John Gorka
“That’s How It’s Done,” Eddie Testa and Friends
“A Heart Needs a Home,” Richard Thompson and Zara Phillips
“This Is My Life,” Mike Daly & the Planets
“Amazing Grace,” Judy Collins & the Global Virtual Choir
“Surrender,” Paul Beaubrun with Jackson Browne
“Do It,” Emily Duff
“These Days,” Tammy Faye Starlite
“Once,” Speed the Plough