If you could represent Humanity with music to the Na'vi, what songs would you choose?

[Rainbowhawk1993]

I know this thread maybe out of place but it's worth a shot. I also know that the survival guide said the Na'vi would never understand Human music, but lets say they understood for a moment. What Music would you play to them to represent HUmanity?

I personaly would choose one album:


I've been listening to this album frequently and I belivie the songs have alot of meaning. I believe that the gist of this album is:

"Yeah, us humans screwed up. But we won't give up on ourselves and we can believe in a better future for ourselves."

I choose this because it was like how the Na'vi met the humans. They recieved a bad example from humans but it also came with a sample of the good part of humanity.

What music would you represent humanity to the Na'vi?

[Icu]

YouTube - Beethoven -5th Symphony, 4th movement: Allegro; Presto

That's right, I went there.

[Fosus]

Once when we were returning from a battle,
And we got lost in a gloomy forest.
In the middle of the woods we saw an old house,
With tired minds we knocked the door very loudly.
Old woman opened the wooden door, she asked us to come in with kind words.
From her pot arose a scent so weird.
Stunning and bitter but very summoning.

Bring me a magic potion; it will heal my achin wounds.
A taste so bitter that makes my bleeding soul feel so good.
It will make us sing and dance in our endless feast.
Or it might even unleash the beast in me!

She filled our pints with the devils beverage.
And served another round with a hideous grim.
The world was spinning in a new light I saw,
Everything and everyone was singing this song!

With nature, trolls and spirits of the forest.
We are on; let our singing rise up into the stars.
The Witch's magic drum was still beating hard.
When a goblin brought me a new pint and together we roared!

Drink and dance!
People of the forest sing with us!
Who wants to brawl with me?
Who can shape a kantele from a pike's jaw?
Like the great One once did!

Close your eyes.
Calm your mind and drift away from the pain.
Beyond dreams.
Into the depths of the cauldron.

Like a rain it falls.
And mirrors natures healing powers.
Surrender this time.
And relife you shall find.

Catcher of souls.
Hunter of spirits.
Grant us a drop from the life's elixir.
I want to drawn all my misery.
Into the green trolls blood.
And brown swamp drink.
Fight against diminishing time.
Burden of a solitary warrior's life.
So catcher of souls.
Hunter of spirits.
Grant us the final drop from the life's elixir.

Bring me a magic potion; it will heal my achin wounds.
A taste so bitter that makes my bleeding soul feel so good.
It will make us sing and dance in our endless feast.
Or it might even unleash the beast in me!

EDIT:

Oh, and Ayreon has some good songs about humanity. Might just play them all

[Grif]

Well I've actually had a similar opportunity to this. I was on a trip with some friends and we stayed in an aboriginal village, and some of the elders played traditional music for us. They asked us to sing a song from our culture and we sang "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.

[Ashen Key]

I also know that the survival guide said the Na'vi would never understand Human music

Wait, WHAT?

They'd never understand our music? Why? It's not that different! I think I'd shove Dead Can Dance or Afro-Celt Sound System or folk music or church music at them.

Cantara, by Dead Can Dance - includes at the end an interview with Lisa Gerrard, on why she sings without actual words. (and I fail at trying to embed it)

They wouldn't get that? Or all the related links? Or Afro-Celt Sound System?

The inspiration behind the project dates back to 1991, when Simon Emmerson, a Grammy Award-nominated British producer who would become the group's guitarist, collaborated with Afro-pop star Baaba Maal. While making an album with Maal in Senegal, Emmerson was struck by the similarity between one African melody and a traditional Irish air. Back in London, Irish musician Davy Spillane told Emmerson about a belief that nomadic Celts lived in Africa or India before they migrated to Western Europe. Whether or not the theory was true, Emmerson was intrigued by the two countries' musical affinities.

In an experiment that would prove successful, Emmerson brought members of Baaba Maal's band together with traditional Irish musicians to see what kind of music the two groups would create. Adding a dash of modern sound, Emmerson also brought in English dance mixers for an electronic beat.

Oh, ASG, you do occasionally make me want to throw you across the room *rolls eyes* But the thing is, you can't 'represent humanity' with just one song - you need many songs, many kinds of music, because humanity is nothing if not varied and multi-cultural. You'd need all kinds of Indian music, both ancient and modern, all kinds of Chinese, all kinds of Russian, all kinds of Egyptian, all kinds of Australian (Aboriginal, colonial, modern-fusion), and then we can say 'here, this is humanity. Understand us now?'

It's not going to happen in ONE song, and certainly not just one song from one culture and one time in place.

[ISV Venture Star]

Represent humanity... that's a tough one. I assume everyone here has heard of the Voyager Golden Record?

Contents of the Voyager Golden Record - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[misstammie]

I know it's probably cliche and possibly corny but I would say anything from ABBA. Its just well known, feel good music with character and simplicity

[josie20]

May it Be- by Enya. Perhaps one of the most beautiful songs. Other than that, any outstanding classical music. I wouldn't choose anything modern because they wouldn't understand the lyrics, at least not the social meaning behind them. Plus, most of it just isn't any good(there are exceptions, however). I think they would be pleasantly overwhelmed by an orchestra and choir.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by josie20

I wouldn't choose anything modern because they wouldn't understand the lyrics, at least not the social meaning behind them.

And? Humanity sings in many, many languages, both past and presents. Lyrics are just as much us as instrumental pieces. I don't have to understand Latin (or indeed be a Christian) to be moved by old church music, I didn't have to understand Russian to be in tears by Russian music (multiple times when I was in Russia).

(am also somewhat amused that people keep suggesting Western music to represent humanity...)

[josie20]

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

And? Humanity sings in many, many languages, both past and presents. Lyrics are just as much US as instrumental pieces. I don't have to understand Latin (or indeed be a Christian) to be moved by old church music, I didn't have to understand Russian to be in tears by Russian music (multiple times when I was in Russia).

It might help if you read the part where I mentioned the choir. It's just my opinion that modern music wouldn't make the best representation. I think it would just be noise to them. No one had to agree with me.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by josie20

It might help if you read the part where I mentioned the choir.

I did. Modern lyrics are still us. I think if modern music is just noise, then ALL our music is just noise, which...doesn't speak much for the Na'vi, I gotta say, given we can understand their music fine.

[josie20]

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

I think if modern music is just noise, then ALL our music is just noise, which...doesn't speak much for the Na'vi, I gotta say, given we can understand their music fine.

As I said, no one has to agree with me. However, people from different generations *sometimes* think of new/different music as noise as opposed to the music they're accustomed to. The Na'vi could very well be the same way.

[Empty Glass]

Originally Posted by Icu

YouTube - Beethoven -5th Symphony, 4th movement: Allegro; Presto

That's right, I went there.

When I first saw the thread title, one of the first things that came to mind was almost the same thing. I was thinking of the 4th movement of the 9th symphony. I thought its lyrics pertaining to universal brotherhood would make it a nice piece to share.

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

(am also somewhat amused that people keep suggesting Western music to represent humanity...)

Well, do you have any suggestions that are exclusively non-Western? I'd love to hear them. And true, you can't represent all of humanity with one song but I still think its fun seeing what people list here.

[Advent]

Well I can't really think of anything with lyrics, but for music that generally fits the story of Humanity, I'd say:

Myst 3: Exile, main theme. I've posted this before, but it is quite marvelous in my opinion.

Inception, Mind Heist. Quite fitting music for our timeline.

Inception, Time. Great music for reflection. What we've become.

Avatar, Becoming one with the People, Becoming one with Neytiri. Goes without saying.

NxSG Legend of Zelda 2010 Soundtrack (Fortuna). Rather interesting music for our story.

Thomas Newman & Peter Gabriel: Define Dancing, from WALL-E. Excellent music about love, and the simpler parts of life. The actual scene is even nicer.

Empire Earth: Rivers. Fitting music for the wars we've endured, and the violence from thousands of years of history.

And Supreme Commander: The future battlefield. Good music if you consider the future ahead of us.

My work here is done.

[Pa'li Makto]

I would use Bjork.

And of course, Jethro Tull