Our Happy-Holiday Card: EA WorldView's Musical Anthems

For us at EA WorldView, this day will be a day of family, friends, and celebrations --- for 24 hours, we will be putting away the LiveBlogs as we exchange presents. In our absence, we want to wish all of our readers the happiest of holiday seasons. It may be a cliché, but it is one we hold dear: we peace upon the world and goodwill to all men and women.

Because music is a universal language --- and because we spend our days sending each other music videos on YouTube! --- we thought we would mark today with the songs which have accompanied us as we set out on the EA adventure. We hope you enjoy our assorted Christmas messages!

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Scott Lucas
Billy Bragg --- Waiting for the Great Leap Forward

I first heard Billy Bragg as he offered hope and wit during the coldest days of Thatcherism in Britain, but it was this song that was at my side during the awful time from 2001 through and beyond the Iraq War of 2003. I remember listening to it in anticipation of the march of at least 1.5 million people in London in 15 February 2003, the largest rally in British history.

That gathering did not stop the imminent war --- though it came closer than people realise --- but it always gave me hope and perspective on both the challenges and possibilities of activism. It also made me think that maybe day-to-day writing about those challenges and possibilities could be my own little jump forward.

And, as a far from incidental aside, "Waiting for the Great Leap Forward" was also the tagline of Ms EA when I first met her on the Internet.

James Miller
BFaiz Ali Faiz, Chicuelo and Miguel Poveda --- Allah Hu

A Sufi prayer with a Spanish flamenco singer and huitarist makes for good Christmas music. If I had talent, this is what I'd be doing.

John Horne
Sinead O'Connor --- Untold Stories

This cover of Baju Banton's profound reggae hymn has always resonated with me deeply. There are so many untold stories in the world, and we are a poorer global community when we fail to tell them.

Dave Siavashi
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

"This is a journey into sound. A journey, which, along the way, will bring to you new colour --- new dimensions ---- new values." Contains hidden gems for the observant... Best wishes for the holidays!

Josh Shahryar
Apocalyptica feat. Till Lindemann Helden (German Cover of Hero by David Bowie)

Lindemann's voice (lead singer of Rammstein) and Apocalyptica's cellos come together to make every battling writer's war song. More than that, though, this tune is about never giving up --- even when it looks like it would be the best option. You're gonna need to watch the video for this one!