Michael Franti & Spearhead ~ Power to the Peaceful

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Michael Franti & Spearhead ~ Power to the Peaceful

Michael Franti, the charismatic leader of Spearhead, is a pro-active peace poet who unifies people through his music ...

Website: http://www.michaelfranti.com/
Location: worldwide
Members: 120
Latest Activity: Mar 29, 2012

The Bay Area born Michael Franti has been bringing our world exceptionally powerful, deeply felt music under a variety of names and in a wide range of genres for more than twenty years now. From the intense punk rock of the Beatnigs, to the deeply political rap he made with the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy to his joyful and meaningful modern soul music with Spearhead, and now as Michael Franti & Spearhead, this still young man has released an impressive series of recordings that have vividly reflected his status as a musical citizen of this world.

"As a musician and a man, I more than anything else want to be a unifier," Franti explains. "I want to bring people together through music and its unique power. And I hope that somehow that sense of unity extends beyond the music."

Active as a musician, film-makers, yoga enthusiast and humanitarian worker – Franti has a world-wide network of fans and friends.

In every way, Franti has become a modern day troubadour spreading the word with equal passion, whether he's playing to a packed theater somewhere in America, Australia or Europe, or simply giving an impromptu performance in some war-torn corner of the world.

In 2004 Franti traveled to Iraq, Palestine and Israel to explore the human cost of war with a group of friends, some video cameras and his guitar.

"This film came out of my frustration with watching the nightly news and hearing generals, politicians and pundits explaining he political and economic cost of the war in the Middle East, without ever mentioning the human cost. I wanted to hear about the war by the people affected by it the most: doctors, nurses, poets, artists, soldiers and my personal favorite, musicians ... The purpose of my trip to the Middle East was to listen. I experienced great acts of kindness, endurance and beauty, and I saw the worst forms of violence, oppression and ugliness. The Middle East is a painful and troubled place for some and a beautiful home for others. I hope my journey has and will continue to bring about a much-needed dialogue about the region and the world."

Short bio and talk about I know I'm not alone

PTTP in 2005Franti is also the founder of Power to the Peaceful, an annual music festival established in 1999, dedicated to the promotion of cultural co-existence, non-violence and environmental sustainability through the arts and music. The organization is best known for its free annual festival, which originated in San Francisco and has recently held events in Africa and Brazil. Originally staged on September 11, 1999 and also on September 11, 2001, the meaning of the festival shifted away from being just about prisons after 9/11. According to Franti, the festival has grown to become about "the war, and giving the call to end all political violence and domestic violence. Everywhere we have a different theme, as long as it's happening in the local community."

Power to the Peaceful Festival 2008 @ Golden Gate Park, SF featuring Michael Franti and Spearhead, Ziggy Marley acoustic, Warren Haynes (of Govt Mule), Rebelution, and Kev Choice Ensemble (feat. Martin Luther & Silk-E)

PTTP in Brazil 2007Asked about his future plans for the Festival he said: "We're actually working on taking Power to the Peaceful to some other places. We did it in Brazil Dec 2007 (watch video clips here: Part1 - Part2), and we are working with some people on bringing it to Tanzania. We just got a call from some people recently who want to bring it to New York City, so we're excited about that. We always do it as kind of a free festival, but in Brazil, we did one day that was free and one day that was paid, and we used the money to give it to groups that were working in the poorest parts of San Palo, working with kids and bringing them opportunities in music, art and culture to not have to go into the drug trade, which is really the main thing that they have. I've been really happy that it's been embraced by other countries and we're looking forward to spreading it to other places."

Michaels children bookIn July 2007 Michael also released his first children's book "What I be", which is a visual and musical journey about self acceptance. It's okay to be just who you are and strive to be the best that you can be, by embodying the best characteristics of nature. Be as radiant as the sun, as healing as the rainor as generous as a tree.

This story first appeared as a song on the Michael Franti and Spearhead album "Everyone Deserves Music" and has been adapted in this book as a life affirming tale for children of all ages, shapes and cultures. Includes a read-along CD that contains a hip hop and African musical collage of the story featuring the voices of Michael, his son Adé Franti-Rye, and Youssoupha Sidibe singing in his home language of Wollof and playing the Kora (Senegalese harp).

Say Hey (I Love You) from All Rebel Rockers © 2008

Michael Franti's single, "Say Hey (I Love You)", from his recently released album All Rebel Rockers, is fast becoming the biggest of his career. Not only did All Rebel Rockers mark Franti's highest debut Billboard Top 200 Album Chart position, but "Say Hey (I Love You)" has now topped the 500,000 mark in digital sales marking another career high. Anti-Records/Universal Republic Records’ musician/activist Michael Franti has been awarded the first gold single of his pioneering two-decade-plus career for his infectious/clap-along anthem "Say Hey (I Love You"). The acclaimed musician is riding a wave of affection for the feel-good smash hit, which has just been certified gold by the RIAA for selling 500,000 copies. The song is making the biggest commercial splash of the artist’s influential career, with Franti and his band Spearhead also enjoying a sixty-point jump into the thicket of the Billboard Top Albums Chart for their acclaimed album, All Rebel Rockers, released earlier this year. The first single from the lively CD, "Say Hey (I Love You") is also making an unprecedented run towards the upper tier of several radio formats for Franti, currently #21 and climbing on the Billboard Hot 100, and closing in on the Top Ten at radio’s Triple A format and Billboard’s Adult Top 40 Chart. The single is #14 on Billboard’s Hot Digital Chart, with the song’s celebratory video drawing more than 2 million views on youtube ...

Before Christmas 2009 it has reached the platinum status - and more than 4 million YouTube views at FrantiV

"Say Hey (I Love You) is a song about life's journey," says Franti. "No matter where it takes us, no matter how hard it may seem to understand at times, there is one thing we know for sure…we love the people who are closest to us." He adds, "People are smiling on this song because in these uncertain times people are connecting with what they value most, friends, family and togetherness. It's also got a hot beat and you can dance to it."

Hello Bonjour Live at Electric Picnic/Ireland 2006

Jack Johnson : FrantiV Episode 02 Subscribe to FrantiV at ~ https://www.youtube.com/user/FrantiV

Michael Franti@Reggae on the River Michael Franti@Reggae on the River 2005

Visit the official website to support Michael Franti & Spearhead:

    http://www.michaelfranti.com/

And please support the last existing fansites:

    http://www.spearhead-home.com/ - greatest archive of articles, interviews and more

    http://powertothepeaceful.tk/ - greatest Spearhead discography

Group Administrators:

    Sandra Reis ~ http://www.ipeace.me/profile/Sandra9

    Joerg Trumpfheller ~ http://www.ipeace.me/profile/joerg

Discussion Forum

The 11th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival

Started by Sandra Reis. Last reply by Sandra Reis Sep 20, 2009. 4 Replies

LYRICS by Michael Franti & Spearhead

Started by Sandra Reis. Last reply by Sandra Reis Jul 22, 2009. 6 Replies

Power to the Peaceful Yoga

Started by Sandra Reis. Last reply by Sandra Reis Jun 24, 2009. 1 Reply

TOUR DATES!

Started by Gordon J Millar ~ The Global We. Last reply by Sandra Reis Jun 17, 2009. 2 Replies

Michael Franti Biography

Started by Sandra Reis. Last reply by Sandra Reis May 29, 2009. 1 Reply

Comment Wall

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Comment by Sandra Reis on April 28, 2009 at 1:25pm
Thanks, Maka
When you buy Michael Franti´s CDs, you are helping needy pleople all over the world. Did you know it?
Love and peace
Comment by maka on April 28, 2009 at 11:01am
I've been enjoying you all on youtube - music and videos. Wonderful. One's gotta move to your rhythm. The words are powerful and so true. I need to have of your music in my collection and will shop for a CD. Thank you for speaking up, singing and bringing together. This is good, very good. Peace, maka
http://www.ipeace.me/forum/topics/humanity-synthesized-by-music
Comment by Maggie ( Margaret) Motheral on April 28, 2009 at 9:24am
your da bomb. Come to Philly please. We really need you here. The city government has been so corrupt for so long and people are dying and crying.
peace love Maggie
Comment by Loving TreeOfLife on April 27, 2009 at 11:40pm
I love you I love you I love you :-)))
Blessings to all of you in all languages we have,
Namaste, Elke
Comment by Sandra Reis on April 27, 2009 at 8:02pm


LOVE INVINCIBLE

(lyrics by Michael Franti & Spearhead)

When I fall down, I need a helping hand.
And when I lose my head, it's cause it's always buried in the sand.
When I get stuck on myself, feelin' sorry for myself
Will you help me grab a hold and please don't patronize my soul.
When I start to lose control, when I get irrational, when I start to get too high,
you see me come floating by, I say

Touch me in the morning sun, when I feel impossible.
Touch me in the morning sun, show me what is possible.
Touch me in the morning sun when I feel impossible, show me what is possible.
Teach me love invisible,
Teach me love invincible,
Teach me love invisible,
Teach me love invincible.

When you’re down, you need a helping hand.
And when you lose your head, I'll help you wash away the sand.
And when you get stuck on yourself, feelin' sorry for yourself
I will help you grab a hold and I won't patronize your soul.
When you start to lose control, when you get irrational, when you start to get too high,
I see you come floating by, I say

Touch me in the morning sun, when I feel impossible.
Touch me in the morning sun, show me what is possible.
Touch me in the morning sun when I feel impossible,
show me what is possible.
Teach me love invisible,
Teach me love invincible

When we're down, we need a helping hand.
And when we lose our heads, it's cause they're always buried in the sand.
But when we get stuck on our selves, feelin' sorry for our selves.
Will you help us grab a hold and please don't patronize our souls.
When we start to lose control, when we get irrational, when we start to get too high,
You see us come floating by, I say,

Touch us with the morning sun, when we feel impossible.
Touch us with the morning sun, show us what is possible.
Touch us in the morning sun when we feel impossible, show us what is possible.
Teach us love invincible, teach us love invisible

Teach us love invincible, hold us love invisible, share us love invincible,
be us love invincible, help us love invisible, touch us love invisible,
breathe us love invincible, sing it love invisible.
Comment by Sandra Reis on April 27, 2009 at 2:11pm
Hi Gordon, THANK YOU so much for this group!
I knew Michael Franti when he visited Brazil for a "Power to the Peacefull" Festival.
He is really amazing, a pure soul, that mixes peace and activism.
He played in a yoga class with one of my yoga´s teacher Greta Hill, a american living in Brazil. Really special experience!!

Big hug and peace to all
Comment by David Gould on April 27, 2009 at 3:40am
An amazing man with a unique mission.
Comment by Joy Harmon on April 27, 2009 at 2:10am
PS----Can you come do a gig in the housing development in Asheville, NC----where do you hang out? We could probably get a bunch of people to come see you at a few clubs around town to make it worth your while--well, it would be worth your while to cheer up the kids, but you know, money's good too......
Comment by Joy Harmon on April 27, 2009 at 2:08am
Just watched your video "I love you!" There's so much JOY and HOPE in this world---why do we want to show out the grief and the pain and the dissin' each other when there's soooooooo much LOVE in this world.....

Thanks for spotlighting the JOY and the LOVE. Keep it up! I' will tell everyone I know to get over here and watch you make people soooooooooo happy!
Joyfully
Comment by Ranjini Rusch on April 27, 2009 at 1:34am
The intent within a song moves me,especially if it spreads the message of Peace.Music is an amazing tool for this : - )
 

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