April 22, 1970, marked the first Earth Day when roughly 20 million Americans held the first national teach-in on environmental issues and to protest the decline of the environment. Earth Day brought this issue to light, raising people’s social consciousness as well as uniting many environmental groups, who up until then had been fighting the battle in silos.
But why April 22? The founders of Earth Day—Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson and San Francisco activist John McConnell—wanted it to fall near the spring equinox on April 21, but decided instead to honor another Earth-friendly holiday—Arbor Day. And so, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22.
If you are planning to pay tribute to Mother Earth in your studio this month, then check out the playlist we’ve curated. It has staples like Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” and Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song,” plus more obscure selections such as “The 3 Rs” by Jack Johnson, “Monkey Gone to Heaven” by the Pixies, and “Idioteque” by Radiohead. And no Earth Day profile would be complete without a cool-down to Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me.”
Earth Day, Every Day Playlist
We’d love to hear how you’re celebrating Earth Day with your students, and any other song choices we might have missed. Let us know in the comments below.