The Moral and Spiritual Significance of Lenny Kravitz

I recently read that 60's rocker Neil Young said, "Music can't change the word." He's right and wrong and he hasn't heard Lenny Kravitz new album. It may not change the world but it may change some minds about God and faith.

Music Matters. I believe after personal relationships ( parents and friends), music is next as the big influencer among teens. It changes their mood and their mission. Much is made about the kid who listens to Marilyn Manson and shoots up a school. This is all the more reason why getting students to practice good listening habits.

I will tackle an album a month or two as to why the music matters and why we should recommend it to our students. Better still I will offer ways to use this music to create conversations about what matters.

I have chosen Lenny Kravitz as my first album to review. Lenny has an optimism and outlook that is good for people in general and for students in particular. His new album Love Revolution speaks to a greater good and we should all listen.

I've chosen two songs and included a few questions to prompt a response form your students.

Love Revolution

How do most of your friends define love? Do you agree with it? Why or why not?

Do we need a revolution (a totally new way of looking and responding) of love? What are some things you could do to start a love revolution?

Bring It On

What do you feel like you are not prepared to deal with everyday?

What are some things you have been avoiding dealing with? Why?

Do you ever feel "unarmed", like you are lacking something when it comes to a battle of choices? What is one thing you wish you had as a weapon to deal with your problems?

The rest of the album is filled with little treats like Good Morning and If You Want To, and the groovy Dancing Til' Dawn. The songs Going Home, A Long, Sad Goodbye, and This Moment Is All There Is reflects the heartbreak Lenny's father passing away within the past year. Lenny's guitar cries and you cry with it.

This is a great album to listen to all the way through but I suspect your ipod will barely leave tracks 1 and 2 before you need a crunchy jam fix.

Bring it on