TripZillaJust before the New Year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted a heartfelt message about songs that can unite people all over the world. “Music brings people together — it transcends borders and everything else that might otherwise divide us,” he shared. Along with his tweet, he linked his personal Spotify “On the Road” playlist that was aptly a combination of various songs from all over the world. The playlist included Asian acts like P-pop group SB19, South Korean singer MINZY, Japanese singer-songwriter LiSA, and Indian singer Arijit Singh.
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Image credit: Secretary Antony Blinken | Official Twitter Page
Some of the Asian acts on Blinken’s playlist, and their universal songs
Image credit: Spotify
Given that Secretary Blinken’s New Year message was all about how music can inspire us despite our cultural differences, it’s no surprise that the songs he picked all had heartfelt and touching messages in them.
For instance, Blinken included SB19’s Mapa (band version ft. Ben&Ben). The song’s message is all about remembering what our parents have sacrificed for us and ultimately wanting to return the favour in some way. Watch the full music video below:
Meanwhile, South Korea’s MINZY was also included on the list with her song Teamo, which is the Spanish for “I love you.” MINZY was inspired by Latin hip-hop and her love song itself is a mix of South Korean, English, and Spanish. Talk about love beyond borders, right?
The playlist has more than American and Asian acts on it; it also enlists music from the Middle East and Africa that might be able to connect with you on a much deeper level. In Blinken’s words, “I wanted to take a moment to share some of my favourite songs released this year (or recently) by artists from across the globe. No matter where we live, music can inspire us. Hope you enjoy these tunes as much as I have.”
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If you’re curious about Secretary Blinken’s “On the Road” playlist, listen to it here. After you’ve gone through the songs, let us know which song speaks to you most and hit us up on our Facebook page!
Featured image credit (L-R): SB19 | Official Facebook Page; U.S. Department of State | Official Facebook Page
