Ok, so this is from NY, not DC, but I had to share – if you haven’t heard about the P.S. 22 chorus, from Staten Island, check out this article from New York magazine, then make your way over to the P.S. 22 You Tube channel (they also have a blog – yes, a public school chorus with a blog). I don’t usually go in for cute kids stuff – but the contrast of their young little voices and the adult lyrics they sing is really something, especially realizing that, given their socio-economic status, their futures are so uncertain. For example: “When you gonna make up your mind? When you gonna love you as much as I do?” (Tori Amos, “Winter”) or, from “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac: “…time makes you bolder, even children get older – I’m getting older too.”
They’ve gotten a ton of media exposure, so maybe they’re old news to you, but I just discovered them this week, and wanted to share. Here’s their rendition of “Landslide”:
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Wow – I’m not easily affected, but that hit me in the gut.
I love that they do stuff by Crowded House and the Cure. It’s like the chorale program I would have made up from my high school favorites.
They’re also featured really heavily on the Passion Pit – Manner album that dropped last month. You can see them recording it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1xOxPBzMC0
I do love these kiddoes.
This reminds me so much of the kids at Cap City where I work. I just sent this link (your blog, Amanda, not the You Tube) to our music teacher. He does such great music with our kids. Every Wednesday morning, all students in preK through 8th grade gather in the Commons and have a short program. It includes a lot of singing – most mornings I arrive to work to hear 200 children singing “You’ve Got a Friend” or “The Rattlin Bog” or “Lean On Me”. I hear it every week and it still brings a sizeable lump to my throat. This was great, Amanda, thanks! Maybe I need to invite CreativeDC to Capital City when school starts again!