It’s 4/20 & with the “high holiday” upon us we’re always happy to partake…in a musical discussion of course!
My original thought was slapping together a playlist, sprinkling in phrases like “premium selection, no seeds, no stems” & ending with, “I was gonna write more but then I got high.”
But I kept thinking about how in just the past century marijuana has gone from being a cultural outlaw to floating high above the mainstream. (Very similar to jazz, rock & roll, hip-hop & many more btw.) This is a cultural shift that’s been carried through song. The presence & prevalence of pot as a musical topic has been inescapable, particularly over the past 30 years. That’s when I couldn’t get Halsey’s “New Americana” from echoing in my head:
We are the New Americana,
High on legal marijuana.
Raised on Biggie & Nirvana…
The thinly vailed reefer references or nearly comical marijuana songs during our parents’ days slowly became more blazoned anthems. Now blunt discussions about all the highs & lows of the magical plant are coming from artists across genres as they give their full throated embrace to the drug.
Of course, marijuana has always been rooted in music…though pot fell out of the Pop spotlight in the late ’70s & ’80s. After being center stage as song topics in 1960s & early ’70s, weed became more of a backup dancer while harder drugs hit the scene & the airwaves. Not that cannabis went away completely. Funk & Reggae were getting their ganja-engrained groves on…plus there were hundreds of Grateful Dead shows during this time. But notice there aren’t many Disco burners about buds. Punk & Metal songs were typically about a different kind of dope. And clearly Huey Lewis wasn’t happy with drug choices in the ’80s.
But by the ’90s green became king again as a fresh crop of pot enthusiasts sprouted throughout the newly budding Alternative & Rap scenes. Thirty years later with genres as specific as Cosmic Country or Stoner Metal, the New Americana has officially blazed their way forward.
While there are many musical marijuana pioneers who aided in pot’s journey to superstardom, we can all agree on the Holy Trinity. Names as synonymous with marijuana as they are with music. Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg & Bob Marley. The Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit.
Now with marijuana legal in 16 US states – plus many more ready to cash in – we’re close to seeing Bob’s friend Peter’s dream come true. Of course these dreams cannot fully come true until the backwards, racist laws are changed & those unlawfully incarcerated for nonviolent possession of a plant are freed. Criminal justice reform is clearly needed. And while I’m no expert, I know a lot about rock & roll history. To my knowledge no artist has ever fatally overdosed on marijuana. Such stiff laws for such a song-worthy substance seems sinister. Particularly when the laws are tilted against minorities & the lower class. We can only hope that a change is gonna come soon, but in the meantime we’re happy to share the love & joy of elevated artistry. Something we can all agree on!
So, how about you? Are you part of the New Americana? Still hooked on your dad’s old grass?
Maybe you’re the perfect hybrid just like this week’s playlist! A cross-generational mix of music paying homage to the herb intended to elevate your spirits.
But to avoid harshing anyone’s mellow we’ve also separated the playlists just in case.
Our Parent’s Pot playlist is filled with the seeds & stems of ’60s & ’70s “high society.” Definitely more of your mellow, Indica vibe. Look for some post-90s crossovers to balance the mood & bridge the generational gap.
The New Americana playlist is legal, clearly labeled & filled with variety. Similar to a Sativa, this should keep you off the couch & on the dance floor.
Expand your mind responsibly!
What did we miss? Any of your favorite 420 songs left off the list?
Recommended listening: Speaking of Willie, we’re savoring this legend while he’s still living! Let It Roll podcast has an amazing three episodes with Willie biographer Joe Nick Patoski covering the Red Headed Stranger’s enduring career with incredible stories. We could listen to Joe Nick talk forever…so an amazing 2 hours about the musical history of Austin, TX was another golden nugget! We’ve rolled a fatty of a fast flying five hours podcast playlist with this high grade content. You’ll be booking your flight to ATX by the time you finish!
Recommended reading: As mentioned, I’m not a Criminal Justice expert & I don’t think Chelsea Handler is either. But she makes some damn fine points in this article. Let us know what you think & let’s talk about how we can make real change.
Rock 'n' Roll Storytime #RnRST 
I want a mew drug
LikeLike