Toast to Freedom
"Toast to Freedom " is a song that Amnesty International is dedicated. It was written by Carl Carlton and Larry Campbell, taken with the participation of about 50 musicians from around the world and published by Amnesty International on 3 May 2012 worldwide.
History
Amnesty International concluded on 3 May 2012 officially launched the celebrations of its 50th anniversary with the release of "Toast to Freedom ", an exclusive for Amnesty International composed and recorded song. Music and lyrics written by the two guitarists and producers Carl Carlton (Robert Palmer, Eric Burdon, Keb 'Mo' and others) and Larry Campbell ( Levon Helm band, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, among others ). The idea for "Toast to Freedom " came from Carlton and the Entrepreneur Jochen Wilms, who presented in collaboration with Bill Shipsey, founder of Art for Amnesty, this project off the ground. Art for Amnesty is a global organization working musicians, actors and artists from all over the world brings together to support Amnesty International in many ways.
"We had the idea for this song, as we sat outside on a day in November 2010 in my garden outside of Dublin, " Shipsey told the British Observer. " Carl Carlton had visited me and said that he would like to do something to the fiftieth anniversary of Amnesty International to celebrate. "
The title "Toast to Freedom " goes back to a toast to freedom (English: toast to freedom ), the two students in 1961 spoke out in a pub in Lisbon and were thrown for seven years in prison. When the English lawyer Peter Benenson learned about this, he wrote in May 1961 in the British newspaper The Observer the " Appeal for Amnesty 1961", which was published by newspapers around the world, and thus laid the foundations for a worldwide movement with more than three million supporters, members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories.
The recordings
In spring 2011, Carl Carlton and Larry Campbell wrote in five days in a New York hotel "Toast to Freedom ". The basic tracks were recorded by Carl Carlton's band The Song Dogs and internationally known musicians such as the Steely Dan keyboardist Donald Fagen and Levon Helm and others in Helms Studio The Barn in Woodstock, NY. Wilms was also Bob Clearmountain, who has also already worked as a producer for The Who, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and many others win for this project as a producer.
When the base recordings were finished, Wilms, Carlton and Campbell recruited almost 50 different singers and singers from different continents, countries and genres - from Taj Mahal to Marianne Faithfull, by Carly Simon to Kris Kristofferson and actor Ewan McGregor and many others.
The host in the studio The Barn, Levon Helm, the release of the song did not live. He died on 19 April 2012 after a long illness. Levon Helm was, as Jochen Wilms formulated in a press statement by Amnesty International on May 2, 2012 was probably the biggest inspiration for the musicians and the entire team: " The song, Toast to Freedom ' is of course dedicated to Amnesty International, but he could just as well, toast to Levon ' hot to honor this man, whose name is synonymous with the terms truth, heart and soul, as well as Amnesty International and our, toast -To- Freedom' project. We very much and will never forget him miss him. "
Bill Shipsey of Art for Amnesty also commented on Levon Helm and his role in this project: "For the millions of members of Amnesty Internation over the world, I would say that we are Levon Helm eternally grateful for his artistic contributions and his generous support. They will change our important, often life -saving work around the world forever and we are deeply in his debt. The best way to repay this debt, the continuation of our work will be. Levon Helm and nearly 50 international musicians have selected a piece of magical music created - for Amnesty. This happens when kindness and love with kindness and art are combined. Then creates beauty and power and leads to a truth without weapons - still the most powerful phenomenon of this universe. "
Publication
"Toast to Freedom " was posted on Thursday, May 3, 2012 published - on World Press Freedom Day - with an innovative, global campaign, in which the message of the protection of human rights is the focus of widespread. A special "Toast to Freedom " - Web page and links to the social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been created - with links to the websites of Amnesty International and all the participating artists. The song "Toast to Freedom " is available from the usual online sources around the world, the profit comes Amnesty International benefit.
In addition, "Toast to Freedom " is available in a wide range of different audio mixes for both the unabridged and the shorter radio version. Also planned are more mix versions for the various regions of the world - for example, for South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe and USA.
Each section of this international production was by filmmaker Natalie Johns, who is known for her work for example with Jay -Z, Peter Gabriel and The Rolling Stones, and their team of Dig For Fire captured. Your video clip "Toast to Freedom " and a " make- Of " documentary appeared parallel to the release of the song.
Contributors
Amy Helm, Angelique Kidjo, Arno, Axelle Red, Bertha Blades, Blind Boys of Alabama, Carl Carlton, Carly Simon, Christine & The Queens, Christophe Willem, David D'Or, Donald Fagen, Emmanuel Jal, Eric Burdon, Essie Jain, Ewan McGregor, Florent Pagny, gentleman, Jane Birkin, Jerry " Wyzard " Seay, Jimmy Barnes, John Leventhal, JP Nataf, Keb Mo, Kris Kristofferson, Larry Campbell, Levon Helm, Mahalia Barnes, Marianne Faithfull, Matthew Houck, Max Buskohl, Moses Mo, Nacho Campillo, Pascal Kravetz, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Mullins, Sir Samuel, Sonny Landreth, Sussan Deyhim, Taj Mahal, Teresa Williams, Vida Simon, Warren Haynes, Wayne P. Sheehy, Zackary Alford
Production Manager: Bill Shipsey, Jochen Wilms Producer: Bob Clearmountain Co - producer: Carl Carlton, Larry Campbell Sound engineer: Justin Guip
Dissemination
"Toast to Freedom " was also presented in parallel on the same day of publication (May 3 2012) in U.S. and Russia live. While in Russia in the late-night show "Evening Urgant " Pavel Artemiev and Jenia Lubich their " Svoboda " (Russian for freedom ) version called aufführten together with the A Capella / Beatbox group The Jukebox Trio, joined the show in "Tonight with Jay Leno " a all-star " Art for Amnesty "band on. Led by the composer of the song, Larry Campbell and Carl Carlton, artists such as Kris Kristofferson, Shawn Mullins, Theresa Williams, Essie Jain and Jonny Lang were part of the cast.
"Toast to Freedom " learned since then worldwide very good reviews, including the New York Times praised the song as " heartwarming Single" and the British The Sun nominated him as " Single of the Week ". Is on websites known musician "Toast to Freedom " is also mentioned favorably, particularly among artists who have long Amnesty International stand to the side, such as U2, Peter Gabriel, Sting and REM.
"Toast to Freedom " was also listed as part of the musical evening program of the event "Electric Burma " in Dublin, in which was awarded Burmese freedom fighter Aung San Suu Kyi, the Ambassador of Conscience Award on June 18, 2012 at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. With this award, Amnesty International honors people who did extraordinary struggle for human rights. Aung San Suu Kyi was released in 2010 from her 15-year house arrest. On the performance round the award ceremony celebrated artists from the worlds of music, film, art and dance were involved, among them Bob Geldof, Bono, Damien Rice, Angelique Kidjo, Lupe Fiasco, Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Gleeson (of HBO's Game of Thrones ), singer / songwriter Yungchen Lhamo from Tibet, violinist Sarah Nemtanu, cellist Vyvienne Long, pianist Romain Descharmes, Riverdance from Ireland and others. Carl Carlton, who was next to Bono Musical Director of the event, is quoted as saying: "It is a great honor, ' Toast to Freedom ' just to play for Aung Saan Su Kyi for me. It stands for everything that I believe in and what I'm fighting and write. She is not only a shining light for themselves, but also gives every soul in this universe their voice on behalf of human rights. Especially, it embodies the spirit of ' Toast To Freedom ' like no other person. "
Cover versions
In several countries around the world cover versions have been created by "Toast to Freedom ". Jochen Wilms, is quoted in the press release, which Amnesty International had published on May 22 with the words: "I am surprised how many musicians have in contact with me to come up with their own version of" can toast to Freedom " part of this initiative. " Among them was the Russian hip- hop musician Vasily Vakulenko, currently one of the most successful musicians ever in Russia and is known for his socially critical lyrics. As alter - ego Basta he published in May 2012 " Svoboda " (Russian for freedom ) and merged in their own texts with samples of the original from "Toast to Freedom ". In addition to prominent Basta, young Russian musicians have participated in the audio and video recordings of " Svoboda ", among others Tati, Billy Novik and the rapper Smoky Mo and Slovetsky. The renowned Russian music journalist Boris Barabanov and Bill Shipsey of Art for Amnesty produced with " Svoboda ", the latter is cited by Amnesty International with the statement that " the hunger for freedom and human rights in Russia is more tangible than we can imagine that from a distance. "
Also in May took students from the University of Osnabrück another version of "Toast to Freedom " on. Inspired by the musician / journalist Heinz Rebellius and organized by the Head of the Department of Music, Martin Behrens, were in addition to the music students also known Osnabrück musicians like Heaven ( The approached school children ) and Toscho Todorovic ( Blues Company ), but also the Osnabrück Symphony Orchestra and professional musicians such as Thorsten Haze Haas and Wolf Simon involved in the recording. In addition, several thousand Osnabrueck of Folsom " Week" were recorded, as agreed in the chorus to this song. The Osnabrück version of "Toast to Freedom - The Freedom City Mix" was published in December 2012, together with a similarly prepared by the student videos.
In parallel with the release of " Toast to Freedom " Amnesty International in May 2012 in a competition called musicians worldwide to send in their own interpretations of human rights anthem. From the many submissions, the jury in October 2012 chose unanimously "Toast to Freedom - the Berlin Mix " of the young Berlin artist Luca as winning article, in which accompanied the singer only by her sister Maria on cello and rudimentary acoustic guitar and bass fragments will. "The message of the original, which was for the freedom of each individual and the protection of human rights going on worldwide that teaches Lucas version of ' Toast to Freedom ' in a very personal way, " reasoned composer Carl Carlton in the press release of Amnesty International the jury's verdict and continues: " at that time we designed the original of this song through the use of many musicians powerful and colorful to be the multicultural claim to freedom and human rights justice. In contrast, Lucas version appears vulnerable and sensitive, but in its message yet very concrete. There is a young woman who wants to say alone the great world that the fight for freedom and human rights is taking place right outside our front door, day after day, " And also in the press release of Amnesty International Jochen Wilms is quoted saying ." Lucas, Toast to Freedom ' enriches the, toast -To- Freedom' - artists' initiative to a new dimension. The musician has recorded her version alone in Berlin and in addition produces together with the young Berlin cameraman Daniel Devecioglu and co-director Tom judge nor a private video. An equally professional as touching production! "
The punk band Anti-Flag, Donots, Bernd published by the Beatsteaks and Ian from Billy Talent in February 2013 another cover version of Toast To Freedom.