Classic Songs Address Social Justice 1980s birthed hot anthems and Canton Food Bank
By Bruce Deckert Today Magazine • Editor-in-Chief
THE CANTON Food Bank is celebrating four decades of being there for local residents hit by difficult life circumstances. Founded in 1983, the food bank originated in a melodic 1980s decade distinguished by three iconic songs that address the time-honored human desire and responsibility to help neighbors in need: Another Day In Paradise, Man In The Mirror and Under Pressure. As we honor the food bank’s 40th birthday, let’s look more closely at the origins of these three timeless charttopping tunes — here are some relevant song facts: • In chronological order, the three songs were released as follows — Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie: 1981 and 1982 — Man In The Mirror by Michael Jackson: 1987 and 1988
— Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins: 1989 • • All three songs soared to #1 on a high-powered popular music chart • • Befitting the publication timing of this story — that is, just after Thanksgiving and shortly before Christmas — the dates when these songs reached #1 were near holidays: • Under Pressure — five days before Thanksgiving in 1981 • Man In The Mirror — nine days after Saint Patrick’s Day in 1988 • Another Day In Paradise — two days before Christmas in 1989 • The serendipitous twists, turns and backstories connected to these compelling anthems comprise some fascinating intel — enjoy the following musical roller-coaster ride.
ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE
Album — But Seriously • Phil Collins Songwriter — Phil Collins
SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS Year Released — But Seriously album: November 1989 Chart-Topping Date — #1: Billboard Hot 100 • December 1989 Tune Tidbits — Regarding how he wrote the lyrics, Phil Collins told the British publication Radio Times part of the story: “Sometimes I write because things like this are bothering me, but at other times the songs just creep up behind me and write themselves. Another Day In Paradise wrote itself — I didn’t have to sit down and say: Let’s write a song about the homeless. I sat down at the piano, started singing and those words came out.” He told The New York Times another part of the songwriting story: “It was begun at the piano. I started playing and put it down on a tape so I wouldn’t forget it. Then I decided to
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DECEMBER 2023 – www.TodayPublishing.net – TODAY MAGAZINE