Okay, so here’s the topic of discussion: the Vatican’s hot 12 track list. Any assumptions on what songs/artists made the cut? Maybe a little Pavarotti or how bout some Frank Sinatra even? No, no, no, I’ve got it, Elton John. Okay, so you guys are probably just as far off as I am, unless one of you readers guessed… Tupac Shakur!!??
And now I will go ahead and pause for all of you who are re-reading the name that I just wrote. Yes, it was Tupac, one of the most influential rappers and even individuals to ever live. The song of choice you might ask. “Changes,” of Course.
The recently released list of the Vatican’s twelve favorite songs, is groundbreaking in the sense that it is the first occurrence in which the Catholic church has given such an acknowledgment to an American artist, joining the likes of Mozart, Pope Benedict XVI, and Dame Shirley Bassey. The list was put together to be featured on a new attribute to MySpace’s streaming music service. Being released online just this past Thursday, the posthumous single “Changes” has already reached nearly 5 million hits.
Quite possibly just as shell shocked as anybody with the recent news on such an honor for her son, Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, had these thoughts:
“This came as such an amazing surprise – it’s not something I would have ever thought possible. I give thanks every day, knowing Tupac’s words and music continue to have such an incredible effect on people worldwide. My son was always striving to reach out to as many people as he could, and he changed the world in doing so.”
I doubt the late, great lyricist could have ever dared to imagine that one of his works would have reached such a prestigious demographic, truly amazing when you think of all the stigmatism that comes along with the hip hop culture amongst our circles in the U.S.
In addition to this groundbreaking recognition, it was announced a few months ago that some of the Brooklyn native’s writings would be placed in Atlanta University Center’s Robert Woodruff Library, along side some of the work of the great Martin Luther King. Another truly astonishing honor to be placed in somewhat the same category as Dr. King.
Truly an influential character in a world before his time, Tupac reached thousands, even millions of lives through his lyrics as well as his on camera rants. One of the most passionate individuals ever to have graced the earth. Whether or not you are a fan of his music, there is no denying that he was that of an intelligence to the likes of which most of us never even see.
To check out the Vatican’s Playlist in its entirety, click here!
