First posted in September 2016
We all seek comfort in music when tragedy strikes. One of the things I remember most about that day was going to Borders to buy the new Bob Dylan album,
"Love and Theft" in the late afternoon. 9/11 was a Tuesday, which back then was New Release day, so I did what was normal for me and go to Borders (or Circuit City) and check out the latest CD's. It was odd that inside this big store people were going about their daily business of browsing books, magazines, CD's, etc., while over the store's speaker system was a newscast of 9/11 events.
The comfort of entertainment in times like that can't be denied. For some it's as much needed as family, faith. On September 21 the first benefit concert was broadcast,
America: A Tribute to Heroes. An unplugged/acoustic show, which featured many notable performances. On October 20, a bigger even was staged,
Concert For New York City, which had many powerful moments.
There were also patriotic songs post 9/11, mostly from the Country field: Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" and Aaron Tippin's "Where The Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" were the most played in the latter part of 2001.
Many people have noted Clear Channel's now infamous
banned or not banned songs, which came out a week after 9/11. In the end, it's memo didn't say stations couldn't play, say "In The Air Tonight" or "Free Fallin'", but suggested use their own judgment. Banned or not?
Music has always played a part in my life. In times of stress and personal pain, music can soothe you. We always go back to the songs we love.
