TED2007
Raul Midon: "Peace on Earth"
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Guitarist and singer Raul Midon plays "Everybody" and "Peace on Earth" during his 2007 set at TED.
Raul Midon - Guitarist
Guitarist and singer Raul Midon blends flamenco, jazz and R&B to create a category-defying sound. His life story is as inspiring as his musical vision. Full bio
Guitarist and singer Raul Midon blends flamenco, jazz and R&B to create a category-defying sound. His life story is as inspiring as his musical vision. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:29
♫ Picture yourself in a world where there's no one else, ♫
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♫ nobody anywhere. ♫
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♫ A moment ago, there were voices and faces to look upon, ♫
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♫ you can't see them anywhere. ♫
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♫ Nothing more to say ♫
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♫ and no one left to say it to, anyway. ♫
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♫ Oh, listen to what I say. ♫
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♫ Everybody can be somebody ♫
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♫ and everybody is free to make a difference. ♫
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♫ Everybody can be somebody. ♫
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♫ Everybody is free to make a difference in this world. ♫
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♫ Now picture a world where the people all feel their worth. ♫
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♫ Children are everywhere. ♫
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♫ Now there is a reason for everyone's time on Earth. ♫
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♫ Wondering why you should care, yeah. ♫
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♫ Nothing more to say ♫
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♫ and only love can see us through, anyway. ♫
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♫ Oh, listen what I say, yeah. ♫
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♫ Everybody can be somebody ♫
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♫ and everybody is free to make a difference. ♫
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♫ Everybody can be somebody. ♫
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♫ Everybody is free to make a difference. ♫
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♫ You don't have to be a big celebrity ♫
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♫ to feel the power, the power in your soul, no. ♫
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♫ You don't have to be a big star on MTV ♫
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♫ to realize that in your eyes is a view that only you can see. ♫
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♫ Everybody can be somebody. ♫
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♫ Everybody is free to make a difference in this world. ♫
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♫ You can make a little difference in this world. ♫
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♫ I can make a little difference in this world. ♫
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♫ She can make a little difference in this world. ♫
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♫ He can make a little difference in this world. ♫
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♫ You can, I can, she can, he can, ♫
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♫ we can make a little bit of difference in this world. ♫
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♫ Everybody gonna make a little ♫
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♫ little difference, yeah. ♫
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♫ Talking 'bout everybody gonna make a little difference. ♫
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♫ Everybody gonna make a little difference in this world, ♫
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♫ oh yeah. ♫
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04:06
(Applause)
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04:11
Thank you so much.
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(Applause)
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This is a song that came about
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because I think it's difficult to be in the world
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and not be aware of what's going on,
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and the wars and so forth.
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This song kind of came out of all of that.
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And I wrote a lot of happy songs on my first record,
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which I still stand by,
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but this has got something else in it.
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It's called "Peace on Earth."
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♫ There is no hope. ♫
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♫ There is no future. ♫
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♫ No faith in God to save the day. ♫
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♫ There is no reason, no understanding ♫
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♫ no sacred place to hide away. ♫
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♫ There is no earnest conversation. ♫
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♫ No words of wisdom from the wise. ♫
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♫ There is no reconciliation ♫
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♫ and no collective compromise. ♫
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05:39
♫ Peace on Earth, ♫
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♫ that's what we want. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth, ♫
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♫ that's what we all say. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth. ♫
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♫ Yet, there in the hallway ♫
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♫ lurks the ghost of war. ♫
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06:02
♫ He wants more, and more, and more, and more, ♫
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♫ and more, and more, and more, and more. ♫
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♫ There is no darkness, no sunshine. ♫
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♫ There is no great society. ♫
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♫ There is no freedom without conviction. ♫
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♫ There is no freedom to be free. ♫
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♫ There is no heaven, no fire and brimstone. ♫
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♫ There is no brotherhood of man. ♫
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♫ There is no country, no one religion. ♫
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♫ There is no universal plan. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth, ♫
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♫ that's what we want. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth, ♫
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♫ that's what we all say. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth. ♫
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♫ Yet, there in the hallway ♫
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♫ lurks the ghost of war. ♫
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♫ He wants more, and more, and more, and more, ♫
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♫ and more, and more, and more, and more, and more. ♫
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♫ The answer is ♫
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♫ mutual-assured destruction, ♫
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♫ a balance of power, ♫
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♫ a weapon for everyone. ♫
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♫ Mutual-assured destruction ♫
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♫ bringing peace to everyone. ♫
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07:58
(Trumpet sounds)
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08:07
(Trumpet sounds)
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♫ Peace on Earth, ♫
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♫ that's what we want. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth, ♫
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♫ that's what we all say. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth. ♫
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♫ There in the hallway, ♫
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♫ peace on Earth. ♫
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09:03
♫ Peace on Earth. ♫
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♫ Peace on Earth. ♫
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09:15
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Raul Midon - GuitaristGuitarist and singer Raul Midon blends flamenco, jazz and R&B to create a category-defying sound. His life story is as inspiring as his musical vision.
Why you should listen
Raul Midon is into beating the odds, shattering stereotypes, and making category-defying music. "I was told as a child, 'You're blind; you can't do this,'" Midon told an interviewer in 2005. "I was told when I moved to New York, 'You can't do that, you're not going to make it.'" At 40, however, Midon has clearly made it.
After singing backup vocals for stars like Shakira, Julio Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera, Midon released his major-label solo debut, State of Mind, with help from guest artist Jason Mraz. Midon's innovative songwriting incorporates his lyrics, guitar handiwork (jazz, classical, flamenco, R&B) and "vocal trumpet" improvisation. Though he draws comparisons to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and Richie Havens, Midon is the rare original in an industry of few.
His latest album is A World Within a World.
Raul Midon | Speaker | TED.com