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A play lists is the open symphonies new series that features songs curated by today's leading thinkers the series kicks off tonight with songs picked by Bella Berkeley based comedian writer activist and host of cnn's United States of America thanks for coming in thanks for having me thanks for playing songs that you know I asked you the billboard how you were feeling about tonight show because I was just thinking personally I would I think music is such a such an intimate thing that reveals a lot about shoes so then being asked to put together a whole playlist strike I wondered if that was intimidating for your 1st it was intimidating because it's the Oakland symphony it's a kid sister my friends band and it was at the Paramount so it's not like it's I can't I wouldn't I can't solve perma by myself so the whole thing was written to me because I think at 1st when Michael Morgan the maestro asked me to send songs I was pretty shy and also do I think are trying to sound smart and smart sounding songs yeah what did you send him for you know I think a very star like Well I think mostly John Coltrane you know like you know he's part of even of all because I love John Coltrane but also with him which sounds more. And eventually I was like also I like Tears for Fears you know like you know sowing the seeds of love is one of my power moves songs to like get out of bed in the morning so yeah well it's also kind of it's a very hopeful So yeah and I think as I very quickly I sort of thought about what are songs that are important to me what are songs that I think people should connect. When the current moment so those are 2 things are happening at once you know some of the songs that have been important to me from a lot for a long time some of the more recently but I also like thinking about the power of the Oakland symphony and in the Paramount Theater I've seen many shows like what I like to hear reverberate through that room what I like people to be in that room with you know right and well that's interesting so it's not like you there necessarily your favorite songs there I mean there are different songs you know there are a lot to you know they these are these are some of I mean I have a lot of favorites I mean I think I said Well more than the were quiet amount of songs I had but I listen to a diverse a I like to listen to a lot of different types of music so I don't see diverse but a lot of different types music so these are certainly songs that I return to that I need you know yeah these are there's no song on here that I was like that I'm like I think you should listen to this like it's all things that are like that represent different parts of me it's just that it would be very easy for me to send like like 10 Living Color songs or something you know just to be like you because that's my favorite bad you know but when I think about it from from a performer standpoint I was like Ok let me explain you think about my favorite songs in a way that's not just specific to one John or so what does what does feeling good that we just heard from Nina Simone when do you need that song. The great thing about Nina Simone over all but specifically in that song is that's a very like hopeful song and yet you can feel the pain inside of it which to me is like very few performers can pull that off like that but it's not the blues you know I mean like it's like but it's powered by the feeling of being blue you know and so Nina Simone that song is not a song I ever decided to like you just hear the 1st time you go oh this is one of my favorite songs now like it's not that we haven't done it in an intellectual level to the motional level of like it's just that song takes you by your spine and sort of and hold you for a 2nd goes Listen to this and so for me I probably listen to that song too much because it's such a like it's such a powerful statement especially as a black woman who lived during that era I mean she was round and so right there certainly lived into the current era. A bit but like for that era of song to be like I did I mean vocal that I'm feeling good even though I'm feeling bad and yeah well it's it's interesting when she says it's a new day it's a new dawn and I wondered if she was that song that you went to in those moments when you're like my life is really going to change. I think that song is a song I went to when I was like. I would need my life to change you know like I need this it can't be like this forever which was when coming. On the couch. I mean you know this much is me why I thought of this all the time like it's 20182012 is when I got totally biased so 2011 I was like maybe it's never going to happen I mean you know you talk about like you know about 18 months time I went from. Creating good work I was doing the bell curve my solo show I feel happy about it it's not going to be a big mega $1000000.00 hit thing it's not going to be on t.v. Anyway it's not going to make a movie so but I'm doing good work and I'm paying my rent maybe this is it and I'm feeling good you know sort of like you know being in the you know there's times you know it's like it was a lot of time and I wanted to quit being a comedian because I can figure out how to make it happen and that's when songs like that make me sort of go it's it's going to be Ok yeah and totally biased is the show that you had on Comedy Central Rafiq fact that doesn't matter now it's cancer but still I remember you know one of the we had Hari Kondabolu on not that long ago and he had done that whole segment out of Hoover preceding his documentary and I remember that that you know if that's all they care if all that came out of it was Hari's documentary about the problem with a pool Mission Accomplished Well there are 33 little birds by Bob Marley we played that in the billboard Well when do you play that song you know that's a song that when I 1st I listen to Bob Marley when I when I went to college that's that was around the time that people started listening to Bob Marley back in the day now kids do it earlier but like Bob Marley legend to just come out the cd of the greatest hits and that song stands out on that cd so much because it was such a like such a fun bouncy song that like in the midst of a lot of the hot like the intense political things about our lives talking about and so it's such a perfect song it's such a public song and so that's another song that like I mean when I was dropping out of. Don't worry about a fig like of the song I just listen to to invoke the fact that every little thing is going to be alright even if I really don't have any evidence to support that and now the thing about that song it's become important because I was like my kids are going to listen to Bob Marley way before they get it so I played Bob Marley so much in the house that they so shit Bob Marley with me that when I'm out of town they played Bob Marley to remind them with me you know and that's the song that they like that's the 1st song I think I played for them was that song as if it almost sounds like kids' music like you know because it's such a simple reply such an ear worm and it's also did not not saying anything it's like don't worry about thing everything will thing's going to be right which is what I want my kids to feel like sometimes so I'm happy for my kids to be there tonight at the playlist and hear that song well we also asked our listeners to share songs that they get them through intense times and so if you have some you want to share Feel free to post them on our website k.q.e.d. Dot org slash forum on Facebook on Twitter we're at k.q.e.d. Forum you can email them to us as well for me k.q.e.d. Dot org We're talking with Bay Area based comedian writer and t.v. Show host w. Kamau Bell about the songs he chose for tonight's Oakland symphony performance titled w. Kamau Bell playlist it's a new guest curated playlist series for the orchestra and you are kicking it off come out Bell Have you actually heard the simply perform any of the pieces on your playlist I have not heard one night you'll be hearing them for the 1st time yeah I mean apparently I'm sitting on stage in the throne because that's my I requested a throne skating that they probably have a giant chair for me to sit in so I have not and I like it that way like to me then you get to we all get to have the same reaction to this thing so I have not heard one I mean this is the easiest gig I've ever had I just sent my favorite songs to Michael Morgan the maestro and then I didn't hear from them for months and then eventually they sent me a list of what they were doing I can get an easier job Well our listeners have weighed in with their songs Liz says good as hell from Liz and actually the. Whole coconut oil you pee on repeat pretty much another listener tweets raise a glass to freedom from Hamilton. Whenever Trump comes on the news I change from m s n b c coverage to my Broadway playlist this song is always the 1st one to play and it helps that's what music is for this era to like to sort of shake you out of the doldrums of like what is going on is this ever going to make any sense I think you know songs like that like raise a glass to freedom which I know too is like a way to go we're going to figure it out but we have to be active in how we figure out we can't sit back and get relaxed or get a good sort of bogged down in the sadness so you have songs on here like Living Color Prayag you have you have other songs that I when I 1st saw them I think Todd Lundgren I don't write my life I'm not running grin in. You know these aren't songs that say that you'd expect a symphony to place a did they have to make some adjustments you know you want to perform I mean to be clear let's be clear that they had to put a lot of resources in to figure out how to like arrange these songs like in and I said a lot of songs they probably worked on some songs that didn't work out like there was a Rage Against The Machine song. Also the language of prior firebrands Mike Yeah but so I think they did have to do with a challenge so I think we have to give credit to the Can 70 not all symphonies are willing to challenge themselves this way and to really put the resources end of this and that and I hope it goes well so I can do more of this but you know I would encourage everybody to support the Oakland symphony. You know support the Oakland symphony because they are doing a lot of great work like this where they're trying to bring symphonies well into the 21st century and not just sort of do this play the same Beethoven songs which are great but play the same songs over and over again well I think we've got I love my life from Todd Rundgren So let's hear a little bit of that and kind of imagine it as an orchestra playing. Just. Come on there are none at all what's wrong with that you know you don't need coffee down. That's the really overdoes we've built up here let me think it's available you better get those tickets so then was the symphony like so excited when you sent them songs like Flight of the bubble be there. For an orchestra yeah well Michael well because if you have any classical songs that you would that you could also throw in here I was like I think I could throw in a couple so flight of the Bumblebee and also the Saber Dance or 2 songs that like classical music that I that I was walking along here spite of the movie. Going. Why that song people ask me when they watch me on United States like how do you stay so calm when you're talking to like white supremacists or Richard Spencer That's literally the sound that's in my head. That's what it's like I'm like so there's the the My wife knows this to be true that that's really how I am how I am like the outer shell is what's like kids talk but inside of Michael you know none of it is. So that's kind of saying it's about how you balance it like you're totally giving you know yourself permission to have that crazy yeah like it's inside it's a it's a it's it's madness but and then I sort of sort of all that through this outer shell of like I don't keep talking about once per se it's interesting here when you got some flak for giving Richard Spencer Yeah dinner with it for I mean he had about you had like I don't know I didn't accept the flak I return the flak to sender and you have what did you say about you know complaints that he was getting a platform through your show I think though I think platform and normalize were 2 words that were over used in the 1st days of the President Trump White House people funny time they saw Trump on t.v. We're normalizing him. Well he's the president here we have to put the president t.v. . I think there's not that I criticize I do think there's ways we do normalize that I think is dangerous but the platform thing was I felt it was for people who had watched the whole episode if you saw the commercial Maybe you thought I gave them a platform but the episode was about immigrants and refugees and mostly it was about enriching refugees and me saying I think this our country should support and with the refugees and a lot more in richer Spencer was the other side of the issue which is a real other side in this country that we need to be aware of and if and if I gave him a platform I think that would have been like tonight on United shades Richard Spencer is hosting the show I'm going to take the week off whatever you do Richard it's up to you and I also think even in the years those that have sort of fared Where's Richard Spencer now. I just think that you know like this is a person who seemed to be at some point like ascending to some position of power and I think the work I did and work other people did to sort of expose this these this way of thinking has helped sort of like compartmentalize it and you know one of the shows that I like that you did was the one you did on Muslims in America Muslims from small town Michigan you want to talk a little bit about why that one was meaningful to you because I think you've mentioned it in other interviews yeah I mean when we fly 1st got you know that shades that was an episode I was wanted to do and I'm really happy that we waited to the 2nd season to do it so I could get some I could get I could figure out how to do the show but you know I have a lot of Muslim friends I have grown up around with its words of people some of my best ends and as a kid Muslims were like sort of an aspirational goal with Muhammad Ali and Malcolm x. This was there was nothing scary about Muslims in my life and so to see the country specifically post it to 911 and then post Trump sort of turn against Muslims it was just something felt like if I'm going to have a t.v. Show that's going to talk about uplifting voice of the people need to be uplifted then this is what the work is it's like it's not about ratings it's not about like is this the right call it's about this is the kind of work I have to be doing and then I had my friends are nor bashers of Barry made of who was on the show who got to speak directly to feeling what it was like he was in the trunk there well one of the things that struck me about the message in that show that you were trying to share was that when you're a member of an oppressed group it's not enough to show people that you're a good person like you actually have to every single day deconstruct this narrative about you that has been imposed upon you yes and no you don't get extra credit or bonus points or a salary bump for doing that it's just the work that oppressed people have to do and I think that that's the one that's a big important when you talk about this areas like no we have to get people have to be aware that that the way that people of color. Or that people walk through the world that that disabled people move through the world they're doing a lot more work to just get through the day than people who don't who have the who have the privilege of not having those things well we've got more listeners writing in with their their songs and music that get them through tough moments one listener says sorry not sorry Demi Lovato I say it's all about that you believe in with. There to see the thing we should do we'll talk about our favorite not the judgment of other people's favorite music I think sometimes it's easy to mess with pop music to be just metal and not that we were being judgmental but I think like sometimes people get a little bit like I like Demi Lovato even though I'm supposed to be a pro you know you like what you like celebrate it share with the world and that sounds like the process the you went through to with coming up with his playlist yet because you know to be a you know 44 year old black man in Oakland saying I like sowing the seeds for love but for fear so you know I mean I'll the interview well with that but I certainly had to be like I'm going to own this and give and also be excited to hear it with a place Ok we've brought up that song twice now so I think we should hear it actually you know I'm getting way. Producers like it's not ready yet I was ready to go but you know there will be no sowing the seeds of love. You did out here it is. Sowing the seeds of love it's kind of amazing how much love and referencing love has become a political act I mean you hear this so you have songs on here like Mississippi Goddam from you know you get to songs with yeah she gives you and I will try to hear that some of that a little bit later but sowing the seeds of love while it's this very hopeful song it also feels like you are making a statement about the times we live in right now and this one too yeah I mean I think that I can my my favorite art. To create is art that is relevant to the world and what's going on right now and you can't top be relevant to the world's going right now without directly speaking truth to the power you know and one way to do it is to go directly at it like an Mississippi Goddam spiel like I'm talking directly about the what's wrong in the country and I'm blaming people another way to do it is go while you're creating nonsense and pain out there I'm going to send some in by you you're talking about your president doesn't go in and so you this is a statement against division and divison Yeah I'm basing Yes What is it that that there is a and I travel around the country I'm just sitting back yesterday I was in Bloomington Indiana you so I see a lot of different parts of this country and there's a feeling out there of like from people who like what are we going to do what happens next there's a feeling of like and sometimes I make people want to like turtle up and go I'm going to go inside and so when you use when you create a song a playlist when you say things like no come outside see the feel good so the seeds of love you know like I mean like it's sort of gives you an engine with which to go against the forces of the past well we've got to miss to be goddamn playing under arrest let's pull it up here somewhere and the man we all gonna get it. I don't belong here I don't belong. He. Got. Me In My people just. That's Nina Simone Mississippi Goddam We're talking with Barry a bass comedian writer and t.v. Show host w. Kamau Bell he's chosen songs for a special performance tonight by the Oakland Symphony which is titled w. Kamau Bell play list and it's a new gas curated series for the orchestra and we're also talking with them about politics culture as well as music so what are your questions for. Kamau Bell give us a call at 866-733-6786 again 866-733-6786 also what song has been getting you through intense times you can post them on our website k.q.e.d. Dot org slash forum you can post them on Facebook on Twitter we're at k.q.e.d. Farm or you can e-mail us at Forum a k.q.e.d. Dot org Tell us set Tell us what songs mean to you and why this listener sends this note White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane politics makes me think the hook a smoking caterpillar would get more done in a day compared to these people on the Hill. You know we are facing some really intense and interesting times I was we just had a segment in the 1st half of the show about. About the impasse over over the budget right now and you were tweeting a lot about one of the major events that have hardened Democrats against the president and that was the whole I'm referring to African nations with a really vulgar slur. Kind of wondering where what your reaction was to that and where you're at with there right now 1st of all I think we have to be clear that like many of the people in power probably say things like that when they know that they're not being when the when they when they feel like they're in safe spaces to to ironically use that so I don't I don't think that President Trump is the 1st person to say something like that behind closed doors I do think that. That that it's good that we know that now and it's good that we rally that we rally together and figure out a way to address that but I also think that it is indicative of the political moment where now that so many Republicans who are in the room who heard it are now trying to figure out a way to move around it instead of confronted directly because you know there's even a way that somebody said he didn't say he didn't say asshole he said s. House and you're like is that really actually Ok to say it apparently from n.p.r. We were given permission but anyway. In the song we're hearing. That so to me it's like that it's it's it shows a lack of courage in the political process right now that I think is that is super troubling but also super real so it sounds like you're saying that's almost more distressing and damaging than the actual statement I think you have this the fact that that at that point people didn't turn over the the desk in the Oval Office and run of the room screaming and pointing going to see this is the truth that's happening in there we need to figure this out we need to impeach whatever it is the fact that they walked out trying to parse the words out shows the lack of courage in our current political leaders will have more with w. Kamau Bell at. For the break I'm Nina Kim this is forum Stay with us. And this is the encore broadcast of this morning's forum so the producers are not here to take phone calls tonight Stay with us for the 2nd half of the show after this traffic update from q. Fanie with strong Thanks Michel we'll head to San Jose south I want to when you're Tony rode a multiple car accident being cleared traffic. From Oakland road I also got reports that. Construction delays from about Fruitvale and it clears up once you get to Hagan burger I'm keeping with k.q.e.d. Brought to you by the Ad Council. On the next California Reports magazine Ltd janitor fighting back against sexual harassment by learning self-defense Ms. I almost don't even recognize myself I'm confident I'm not afraid of the floor I was afraid of my own shadow on that afraid of anything anymore he maybe I'm Sasha join us for the California Report magazine on public radio coming up at 11 o'clock support for k.q.e.d. Comes from a newco presenting the shift form executive conference with John Battelle dissecting the collision of technology business politics and culture that has contributed to this divisive time in u.s. History registrations at Forum dot newco dot co and from European sleep works the store that bases its design and materials on research factors affecting sleep including comfort and support humidity levels and ease of breathing details online about their mattresses and bedding at sleep Works dot com conditions and scattered showers will continue overnight drier weather returns on Saturday a band of rain possibly heavy at times moves into the North Bay Sunday evening spreading southward to Sunday night and into Monday morning you're listening to k.q.e.d. F.m. 88.5 San Francisco. 89.3 North Highlands Sacramento form continues at 1031. This is my Nina can we're talking with comedian and host of cnn's United States of America w. Kamau Bell but a new open symphony series called playlist the place guess curated songs one of them being this Jimi Hendrix song. W. Kamau Bell playlist debuts tonight and we're talking about a song selections what they mean to him but also so much more we want to hear from you too what songs do you seem to have on loop these days as you're dealing with these very interesting times. Can I tell you want to highlight a couple of other events from yes I think we'll be clear the 70 is always doing Sir John are busting and John are crossing things that other symphonies are doing and so my friend Margaret Gomez is hosting the inaugural mixtape Volume one fan Patel a celebration of powerful and thought provoking women which imo it's time for that and they planned it out before they even knew it was time for that and then also they have another event called Pride and Prejudice notes from l g b t Q Which is Friday February 9th of the paramount and market as it is for Thursday February 1st at the starlight social club in Oakland support the Oakland symphony if you like cool stuff like this so tell us why that Hendrix song power of soul with the power of soul everything is possible but I need to say more. I mean it's like that's a song I listen to again to like get up for the game of about to perform or from back to engage in political action or funny to get out of bed the morning because it says like yes things are hard right now but with the power of soul everything is possible anything is possible so for me like that's these are these are the a lot of the songs are motivators for me songs that make me feel like even through hard times you can figure it out and lie. I said sometimes it's like z.b. Goddamn It's like figure out in the angry way in a very confrontational way and with Jimi Hendrix power of soul it's figuring out in a motivated loving way but also a way that is about the work it's not about sitting back and hoping it happens it's about the power of the will make this possible well to Mom tweets wish I knew about the playlist so earlier I could have planned to attend can people still get tickets and there are limited tickets available to go to the website if you you may have heard it is sold out but every time I pulled the website because I have o.c.d. Like that there are limited tickets available so you may be sitting by yourself with people you don't know but then make some new friends go go outside make some friends well let's hear from Carol in San Jose Hi Carol. I just wanted to make a. When I was a kid like 4 years old there was a you know a kid show and one of the segments was called Brothers and the. Segment was Flight of the ball will be. You know whenever that song came on or the news it came up on freaked me out I mean I got scared and I'd run out of the room and sometimes even cry when they tried to myself to listen to it and I don't know why I have no idea why but it was like surges in and you know it's a speaks to the emotion of. We don't even know we have no clue you know yeah well I hope we didn't. Really get to day but thanks for sharing. Music can do different things to different people and if you want to share your favorite or go to song that addresses how you're feeling these days you can do that by calling 866-733-6786 you can e-mail us form a k.q.e.d. Dot org post comments on our website key committee dot org slash form or on Facebook or Twitter let's go next to Lacey in Oakland highly c Hi I my thong in time by kings of morrow there are several versions of the song it's electronic music song but it's how music is very soulful vocals and it really it talks about time and time marches on never ending and it's a really great song and why do you go to this one. It's just I don't know if it makes me feel something it makes me feel hopeful and makes me feel that no matter what we do the forces will keep growing without us or with. Well it's a grain Kong thanks for sharing that yeah I think that's what is special right now but that's what music does for us it's like it sort of helps jolt you out of the mood you're in or help sort of motivate you to to stay in the mood you're in to continue the work you do and you really mean like I think we music can be background but to me the thing about the playlists is picking the music in my life that is foreground music that is music that is active and sort of pushing me forward has there been a point where you've felt pretty like I don't know if you hit like a. Their mom I know yes or. I don't I sort of think that you can't be a comedian unless you sort of live through despair and let's despair when you're go to movies you know I mean like I think that there are certain types of comedian I think for me like a lot of this is about stuff that like getting to the bottom of the music can pull me out of the bottom but yes certainly I mean you know the night that that President Trump one in my house watching my wife cried watching my kids get confused about why mama was crying seeing people online like sort of like sort of friends I follow online sort of exploding like what's happening what does this mean after we'd had 8 years old vomit and then the next day I had to perform at Cinco Santa Barbara community college like at noon you know and so I basically had to rewrite my entire show for it because of the news that it happened and so that's a moment it's like it's a moment of like people are coming to this thing right now to hear me sort of explain what is going on when I don't know what is going on the time the fire of the Nina Simone. And I'm sitting there like on my computer doing screen shots and then copying things and writing things while I'm like Alabama's got me so upset you know the White House has got me so upset so you know like yeah absolutely there's a lot many moments like that there's moments on the road when I'm by myself away from my family doing the shows or doing work and really being sort of like confused about is this making a difference this is stupid Should I stop and you know and then you know I fire up some some prints. Just to go shake it out let's get crazy you know I mean yeah I'll do you think Oprah Winfrey should run for president in 2020 I think one for once or one for President that she should absolutely run for president I don't I don't know why we would I think people are being so people on the left are being super small minded about who should and shouldn't run for president I think if Oprah wants to run I would I would I would give her she will then go through the process that it takes to run for president she could be anointed president but she. Well they go through the process to ask have to have the questions but who has more media training that Oprah Winfrey we know everything about her there's not a skeleton in the closet the she didn't talk about on her show you know I mean so and because I think that what Trump is doing in a good way is making is maybe we can see what the presidency is you know and it doesn't mean that it has to be that but it could be the opposite of that because the thing I know about Oprah she runs she surround herself with very capable people which is the opposite of what we have right now well let's hear from more of our listeners we've got Kathleen in Redwood City Hi Kathleen. Thank you for taking my call I embarrassed to say I can't remember the title of the song but this one i make me wake up and think about like you can't always get what you want but if you try and time just might get much as I love the song yeah. That's a great song Oh put that down in the playlist that's a song that's occurred to me in my life Kathleen thanks for that. In Nathan in Oakland I need than good morning. Yeah I think in a month. No one. Yeah well. Understand and. I like you committed to have the other. Team go in any way. Well you know. Yes Yeah. So you're giving an instrumental version that's right. Given blah Miller but and you like this song because like what is that you feel. Like it's talking about. Like kind of you know really. How would. We. Know you're talking to the right generation. Also thanks for the. Nina Simone I have a new favorite song. Thank you for list thank you for having a favorite song that means you're a good person. Well Nathan thanks for that appreciate it and thanks for saying it too maybe we'll try to put the pressure on our listeners to everybody Brian and also read oh. Oh I yeah I was thinking about how Trump is so into your shit everywhere and I like land of confusion by Janet. That's a good song it's a good video you know I haven't thought of that song and this is the time it was very political song actually yeah I think was about Reagan I think I remember the image I like to write about Reagan and here we are living it again we need to update that video. Brian thanks so much for that Amanda asks What's up with Denzel these days still doing that podcast thank you didn't sell it yes my pockets Denzel Washington is the greatest actor of all time period which is the name of the podcast and also a true statement of me and my co-host Kevin Avery was also bear a native of 1st of all we almost finished the movies of that we were reviewing every movie and then we both got really busy but we copies of the regularly about bringing the podcast back because we still have a couple movies left that we need to review but yes Denzel is still the greatest actor of all time period it's only become more so since we started the packet so how many podcasts are you doing currently I mean pod cast time out I had 3 go on at one point and we had you on for political reality reactive Yeah that's that's not we don't know if it's come back for 3rd season cause it's not our podcast really but and then Denzel and also come out right now which is on Calle The View plug for a different public radio station but yes so the Currently I'm in the middle of producing the season 3 of United shades and you know also had better take another comedy special in New York on February 1st another plug if you're in New York and then I saw just a little of a lot of things so I have to put myself in pod cast time out but I love podcasting I think when it's all said and done after all the t.v. And everything else goes away I'll be like an 80 year old dude who's doing pod cast so well were you surprised by the success of the United States c.n.n. Show that you hosts yes because I never expect things to go well. Like I said at the time it was really like I just hope that this stays on so I can feed my family like I didn't I mean I want to make good work. And I want the work to have an impact but I didn't know I didn't have a ceiling for it and so when with the 1st season we were nominee for an Emmy I was like that's the best thing that maybe I'll get out of this in the 2nd season we warned him in me and so now I guess maybe I'm looking for a Nobel Peace Prize but you know just like to me the success has been overwhelming but it just makes you want to make the work better like Season 3 I feel like the pressure is on us to make sure we don't look like we won that Emmy and then took the money and ran so we were in the middle of working on Season 30 well I guess I mean these things have to be conceived well in advance right so did you have any idea how timely it would become given you know what happened in this country in the race tensions that seem to be at this point I mean you know we I feel like we were lucky to have our 1st season under the Obama presidency because it was sort of like it was like I call that our mixtape you know I mean the 2nd season was the album and so now we like know a little bit more about what we're doing but I mean we always try to be relevant but we do end up getting lucky with the new cycle in certain ways that you know you did that show on Puerto Rico right when they were having their referendum and then I took a year later people are like oh I remember that my episode of Puerto Rico is one of the world ended want to but it was like one of the last 3 hurricane Puerto Rico things that was dry so and now I'm really involved like my friend actress Rosa Clemente trying to help her like get the stories out of Puerto Rico and I would love to do in season 3 what I love to in Season 4 try to go back to Puerto Rico if we get Season 4 we don't know if we'll get that yes given your having visited there really you know talking with folks about the sainted referendum but I mean what was your reaction to what's happened in the aftermath of the hurricane I watched this video the other day of a school that got power for the 1st time after 112 days and you saw people you know just crying and cheering and I mean basically what I took what I learned I talk to people in Puerto Rico it was sadly predictable like they were saying we're not treated like a state we're not treated like we are part of the United States of America and their reaction to the hurricane shows they are not treated like they're part of the United States of America the least the resources were not mobilized the way they were mobilize. For Houston you know so I think that it was sadly predictable and I think that if there's any sort of argument for Puerto Rico to be independent it's probably the hurricane you know because it's like not that Puerto Rico has a lot of challenges financially but a lot of those towns were placed on them by the United States of America we basically you know use them like the way mobster used the restaurants in movies we sort of stole the resources and then burn it down do you believe the official 64 death toll No I mean people I've talked to are there. To say they laugh at it sounds kind it sounds disrespectful but it just means they're like they know that that that that's that that's far short of the death because they're not counting deaths related to people like not able to get their prescription medicines because of the fact that they were the hurricane and they don't have access to the prescription medicines Well Monica writes Yanks You Can't Always Get What You Want Are you aware that that song gets regularly played of Trump rallies know your enemy because you're not like that song anymore 1st of all 1st of all think the Rolling Stone sat down to write that song going to one day a reality t.v. Show game show host will run for president I don't know how the Rolling Stones feel about that maybe they don't even know it but usually when Rock n roll artists songs are played a political rallies on the right they usually end up getting cease and desist letters to many of them so maybe this will get the Rolling Stones to ask them to cease and desist but you can't I will move big fan of the band Rage Against the Machine and many times I go to those concerts and I was not fans of the fans of raising its machine a lot of times but that didn't stop me from loving the band Well we don't have any songs or Rage Against the Machine and it's not on your playlist it's not the night because I do think that would have been pretty tough for many guises Well this comes after the play to my phone. But one of the one of the songs that is on your playlist and I'd like to play a little bit of guess because you also mentioned it earlier in the program is John Coltrane and you have this what was the piece that you picked from him again Love Supreme I think it's the 1st section one yeah what I liked about. About this song is I read it in. Interview you talk about how reminds you of comedy in ways like can you explain what you meant I mean I think it reminds me of the how I like to think I'm doing comedy so let's be clear about that that you can you can pull up John Coltrane playing the song live and sometimes it sounds very close to this and sometimes it sounds way different and it's about John Coltrane was following his own path every night on stage and he played the song sometimes he would take a long way out and then he would come back in something take it way out and they go further out and further out and never come back but it was still the so it was still Love Supreme and so for me on stage I'm often sort of on stage trying to find new vistas new punchlines you avenues new ways of thinking about sort of discovering things with the audience that so that the bit from night to night may look pretty different based on what happens on the right so that's that's how I like to think I was being I think inspiration from John Coltrane in that way so that sometimes like I said you know I had no idea was going to say that and I often said audiences I had no idea was going to say that because I'm also like highlighting the fact that this is a unique experience we're having right well let's hear some more John Coltrane loves. Him. A little. More getting a peek at w. Kamau Bell playlist ahead of his Oakland symphony debut where he'll be on the throne describing my songs on his playlist mean what they mean to him and we are hearing about songs that mean a lot to you let's hear from Ryan in San Francisco hi Ryan. Hi there. Hi yeah sorry go ahead. I was because the song that like. All the time is called Be Bothered by groups. I had a latest album in if you haven't listened to it you should definitely give it a listen because it just. Gets the party bumping and I want to give a shout out to my friend Caitlin has been really sick this year and that's been the fun that like gotten her through like listen to it it's amazing I don't make you feel like you're quite. Right to downright call me mother by Ru Paul I try to do or Paul tells me to do thanks Ryan Nancy in Ca you guys California that's the last time what song is on your mind. Well you've got a friend by Carole King I got to hear her and James Taylor played it together and it comes back to me more than ever in this last almost a year of what we're going through and I think having the strength of friendship is really what is helping me carry through. A lot of people that I know we've really joined together and you know there's. So. I willing. On this show and I wish to be there. To you at the orchestra actually tonight but yeah well I wish you could be there too but thank you for calling in I really appreciated I think that connecting to your friends is important thing in this area and I can tell you feel it Nancy so thank you. Rusty tweets it was a good day by Ice Cube it's been a great songs to make you think that would be a good symphony So I mean if we have to do the radio at it but. I can hear that. Today was a good day yeah that's my. One we are getting a unique performance but I know this is not Do you know you're not going to be singing on the radio very often and probably will never again after the way this goes but I mean to me this is the fun part about talking about your favorite music is that you get to hear about other people's favorite music especially take down the thing of judgment of not wanting to say the things you think should be judged by you talk about these the songs that move me than you know than that's than you can ever really thorough conversation and learn some new songs you know heard before like call me mother. Yeah and yeah I got to say one of the things that's what you're describing is also one of things that I love about this live radio generally right is you just you know not just never know where it goes Jesse says Jesse says whenever I'm feeling a certain level of despair about the state of the of the world my go to is fragile by staying it's a beautiful piece and puts things in perspective I am small We're small and the universe will go on see there you go see I think that's the the great thing about music is that it's there's something for all emotions and also music can be complicated so like when a person called in about Blind Melon no rain it's like that's a song of like it's a spy the lyrics are sad but the music is is bouncy and full of life and so I think that that's that music can express very complicated emotions in a way that I think that very few other art form. Jim Well Jesse thanks for that I will admit I was a Sting fan in middle school are you I have to admit that it's a pretty well everybody was like oh my mom listen. The police is it was 800000. We thought Ok yes he's a little adult contemporary but you know we're dulcimer clipper so this listener sends in the game's better days average says They Might Be Giants hovering some. In Kent tweets yesterday listen to Jimi Hendrix 12 string blues Jimi on a badly tuned guitar and intonation bends each note perfectly That's right the power of music as it does not to sound good to be good that's a great thing about music it doesn't have to I mean it's most of the great like you wouldn't say that she's classically singing the way that you would train someone to classically saying but it's great you know well Karen in Oakland what's on your mind thanks I want to talk about a different kind of art Denzel Washington's I think latest movie Roman Jake Israel Esquire which is a fantastic political movie. Maybe a little bit simplified at times but I thought really brought up some really important political ideas and was very awkward moment and I'm wondering what you thought of that. I have to admit I'm a bad insult right now I have not seen that movie Roman j Israel a little bit because I think he was making fun of me with the poster because he has a black eye with an afro and black horn rimmed glasses on the poster which I feel like as I was calling me out even I won't call him a pod cast but that was it I so I heard it was a given his performances are great I look forward to hearing thanks and Tammy unconquered you're on. High there I really enjoying this I think my favorite song I think a big great symphony piece for you is America why when you get to learn. How do miracle I request we're going to play the cello they are and the degree do I think would be fabulous. Well if we do another playlist we're just doing the one tonight with me but hopefully if this goes well they will be in by other people and maybe one day they'll invite you and you can have Jimmy quite on with you but yeah I know so yeah Ok I'm 70 dot org They will be doing more things like this is the 1st of an annual celebration Well to me thanks for the call it see your from more on Cheryl in Mill Valley Hi Sheryl Yeah why must my combination is Masters of War about Bob Dylan just because it's relevant. And always has been relevant and chased but is still relevant Yeah Bob Dylan is yeah I mean Bob Dylan is always. Yeah I agree I think he's always always pretty relevant now that yeah I mean there's a lot of me I don't think I didn't have any Bob Dylan plays but I have seen Bob Dylan concerts that some Dylan fans in my life but yes now Bob Dylan you could do an evening of Bob Dylan's if we quite easily. And let me try to get in from Napa Hi Sheila Hi there I want to thank you for Syrian laughter and this delay in when it is not so joyful these days that I wanted to share my song is as I see wonder because it just builds to this descend though and it's almost like when I meditate I feel like I touched the divine truth a song I just love that's. Stevie Wonder I should have Stevie Wonder why don't I have to you under my playlist I'm a bad person I mean but you said a ton of songs right I did send it on a song I thought maybe I thought I wanted go back and look at see what I originally said but it is there's things I look like when somebody said earlier they said the Land of Confusion is like I should put ball confusion by The Temptations Yeah there's just there's any number of songs was there a song that you really wished the symphony picked when it came to the playlist for tonight that's not on the you know it's a this I can I don't I sent the list and then I never I never look back again because I just sort of was like whatever they do is great but when the 1st list of songs came through and it didn't have living color on there I was like ah I let basement feel sad about bones but it's great it's a gift I have to accept it and then later they put live in color and then I like Ok all right because that's my favorite band of all time high are usually how that song and I'm also friends with Vernon his guitar player because that's my through that was my 1st pop yes with running my 2nd pockets with some become friends with him and that song made me sort of taught me you can be black the way you want to be black in the middle of the hip hop era was like I'm not black like that that song was a very like rock n roll songs like no black people do this too and I was like thank you Vernon Reid in living color so that song specifically takes me back to being like 19 listening to it in my friend's car in a cassette going like I didn't know black people did this. When you you know in preparing for the show when you brought up living color I pulled up a bunch of the songs and was like oh my God if I had actually forgotten about yes a lot of this music yeah they're in there on tour right now. Them to they still they just released their own called shade which is a great album and I think that we sort of you know that's that's sort of the gravy on 21st century is that people are still out there you can find out what they're doing even if you think that they're gone you know so living callers to out there in a very powerful Oh they would be better if we got Vernon out here to play with the symphony but you know I'm not going that high I'm just happy that they called me in the 1st place well Ingrid says love your playlist choices had forgotten about sowing the seeds and it is actually kind of a great song a reminder to use music to keep us motivated and sane enough to organize and resist for darker moments Ra's recommends rocket launcher by Bruce Cockburn. And Gabe Wright Sufi or light sleeper I could write these down I kind of thought I knew every song that existed but I'm like rocket launcher or get on the right Brendan from Londo we have just 30 seconds or so what song do you want to highlight. Great show and thank you very uplifting great to listen to you thank you. But I have to go with. Playing heavy rotation lately on them or The Dark Knight for the last couple years. I have to go with a comic geek fare is not the cool thing 1st but. I just that makes me feel real powerful and pull myself out of. You know some down times and work out a great workout and then it's a cool song for me I want to make me feel like a part of the world and that even when I'm not. Feeling a part of it it brings me to the world which is Dave Brubeck take 5. Brandon thanks for sharing that and thanks for talking about trying to be uplifted because we're going to go out with James Weldon Johnson's Lift Every Voice and Sing which is also on play less or anything quickly want to say we have just a few seconds left about what you hope people walk away from the show tonight yeah I would just want to change this conversation with different conversations walking out and walking and also provide people with some joy to know this before the show is called You Can Now Bell's playlist it's the Oakland symphony and it's tonight thank you cannot offer Thank You support of consequence of the doubt or I mean it can't be this is foreign Thanks for listening. To the world. This. Was. The. Funds for the production of forum are provided by the members of k.q.e.d. Public Radio and the Germanicus Foundation and the generosity foundation The California Report magazine is next support for k.q.e.d. 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On today's California Report magazine long before the me too movement women janitors were speaking up about harassment in the buildings they claim we hear how one janitors life has transformed as she's learned to fight back and I moved to the fore I was afraid of my own shadow I'm not afraid of anything anymore I am nothing with me plus the unique friendship between Johnny Cash and an inmate at Folsom Prison Oh I think it was just a country boy thing. In the ditch so you got your they help each other. And a football rivalry between 2 Fresno Brett.