Orphan Songs

This song speaks for itself, but I couldn’t resist writing a long blog post about it. Enjoy!

I got the idea from my wife when she posted the following on facebook: ”There are discussions about a new package to save the European banks. I’m soooo looking forward to the fundraising show on TV…”
Brilliant I thought, and got inspired to write a mock charity song and put together a supergroup of artists to sing different parts of the song and all join in on the chorus. That evening I wrote ”Save the banks”. However, I quickly realised that a supergroup project project would take a long time to finish– and time I don’t have a lot of. I then decided to record a full version myself first. I’m still up for the joint effort though if people are interested. And if you feel like doing your own version without me, please go ahead. There will be an instrumental version available on the download page soon. You will also find the chords and lyrics here on the website.

So why did I write and record this song?

The global finiancial system is failing. One way to restore trust in the system is to prop up the banks by printing a lot of new money and give them to the banks. But people are not buying this scheme any more. Pumping more money into the economy though bank bailouts and stimulus packages to corporations will hardly solve the debt crisis – only create more debt. Sadly, as the current system seems about ready to collapse, there is still hardly any public discussion about alternatives to the current system. The market, banking, GDP, economic growth and money itself is all pervasive in society today. Stick out your neck and criticise the monetary-market system and you will probably be labelled a communist, a freedom hater or a kook by the establishment and its henchmen. ”Go live in North Korea, see how you like it!” It’s ridiculous. It’s time we dare imagine a world beyond the monetary-market system.

Please note that the message of this song is not that bankers are evil. I believe that the behaviour of banks and other financial institutions only reflects the system we have. Thus, corporate greed, inequality and environmental destruction are merely symtoms of the monetary-market system we have agreed to live in. For example, people entering the world of finance will adapt a behavoir according to the established pattern within that sub culture – they are not bad people. Our environment shapes our behaviour. To get rid of unacceptable behaviour the system itself should be targeted, not the individuals. Thus, going after bankers is pointless. Instead, we should come up with fun ways to make more people understand how obsolete and insane the current system really is and then focus on discussing and supporting new and exciting ideas for a better system.

High finance of today is a perfect illustration of exactly how depraved the montetary-market system has become. This can be utilized as an entry point so that people themselves can realise the need for change. You can’t force your views on people. The whole point of ”Save the banks” is to give you a glimpse of the absurdity of the system – all in a playful manner.

It might seem as if I’m putting much of the blame on ”the system” here. Well, we’re all in this together and I’m trying not to blame anyone or any thing. I admit it’s difficult to refrain from pointing fingers. Just like everyone else I have been conditioned to assign blame to people or events outside myself whenever something upsets me or seems to go wrong. But like I said, I would like for humanity to move beyond the current paradigm – not necessarily fight the current one. What is happening right now is more of an evolution than a revolution. I believe in focusing much more on what WE are doing instead of what OTHERS are doing to us. We will change the system eventually, not because it is ”wrong” but because it doesn’t reflect who we are anymore. It does not reflect the way we want to be with each other. As we change, so will the world.

Peace to all,
Carl-Otto

PS. If you still haven’t got a clue why we need to move beyond the monetary system, I recommend you watch these clips:

”Fiat Money” (4 minute clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm7Z3sOqE84&feature=player_embedded

”The Monetary System” from Zeitgeist Addendum (10 minute clip).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_YxNG3nUUk

Occupiers, please read this. It’s good:

http://www.thevenusproject.com/en/component/content/article/245-response-to-occupy-wall-street

“Save the banks” is a totally free piece of music under a Creative Commons Attribution license (CC-BY). That means you can download, share, re-work, re-mix, make videos or whatever, but remember to credit Orphan Songs and also link to www.orphansongs.com when possible. And please let me know if you build upon my work. I’d love to hear about it.