Ep 2. September 11th

On Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History season 1 episode 2, viewers are taken on a emotional journey as they explore the impact that music had on America's darkest day - September 11th. In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, music became not only a source of comfort, but a way to express the nation's grief, anger, and resilience.

Through interviews with musicians, journalists, and survivors, the episode examines how songs like Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising," and Neil Young's "Let's Roll" became anthems for a nation in mourning. Springsteen speaks about how he wrote "The Rising" as a way of imagining the lives of the first responders who died trying to save the victims of the attack. He says that the song was meant to be a message of hope and unity, and that he hoped it would help people "find their way through the darkness."

The episode also looks at how performers like U2 and Paul Simon responded to the tragedy. U2's Bono talks about how the band was on tour in Europe when they heard the news of the attack, and how they struggled to find the right words to say in response. The band's performance of "Walk On" at the Concert for New York City is shown, as is a moving performance of "The Boxer" by Simon, who changed the lyrics to "I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told, I have squandered my resistance, for a pocketful of pesos." He then segued into a performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

The documentary also explores how hip-hop artists responded to the attacks. Jay-Z's song "The Blueprint" was released just a few days before September 11th, and many of the songs on the album deal with themes of violence, race, and poverty. After the attacks, Jay-Z faced criticism for the lyrical content of his music, but he defended himself, saying that he was simply trying to reflect the reality of life in inner-city America.

Other artists featured in the episode include Tori Amos, who wrote the haunting song "I Can't See New York," which imagines a person falling from one of the towers, and the Dixie Chicks, who faced backlash after lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President George W. Bush during a concert in London. The episode also explores the role that country music played in the aftermath of the attacks, with interviews with artists like Alan Jackson and Toby Keith.

Throughout the episode, viewers are reminded of how music can bring people together and heal even the deepest wounds. As Springsteen says, "Music helps us mourn, helps us speak when there are no words." Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History season 1 episode 2 is a moving tribute to the power of music in times of crisis.