Glenn has been saying for a long time that in order to change the world, you have to focus on the culture. Politics is really a symptom of what is happening in the culture. From TV to movies to music, culture shapes hearts and minds in a way that news and politics never will. It has the power to inspire people to hope, to dream, to serve, and to create. That's why Glenn has dedicated so much of his time on air and on the road to sharing some of the music, film, and stories that are inspiring him. Today, he introduced listener to a new band he has been listening to: Ásgeir.
Glenn explained that a friend of him a few songs by Ásgeir, and Icelandic musician, and they have been discussing why Ásgeir and a number of other Icelandic musical acts have started to appear.
"I've been thinking about it and my first response was, it had a collapse, maybe people are finding art. You know, they're finding something meaningful in their life. And so whether that's poetry or whatever, people when they collapse, they find themselves," Glenn explained.
Glenn read the lyrics from the song "Was There Nothing?"
Was there nothing but the hush of night?
Had a boat. Don’t remember where.
Did you flee from what was said and seen?
Truth’s not true under the light of lies.
Raise your sword and shield.
Was there more than just the prose of night?
Had a grave. Don’t remember where.
Beaten down, now I lift up my prayer.
Broken promises have set the snare.
Both sincere and not.
Was there nothing but the blessed night?
Had some gold. Don’t remember where.
When does faith lift up its head so high?
Oh my Lord, won’t you please tell me why?
Faith bestows power.
Was there nothing but the hush of night?
Had a treasure, but I don’t know where.
Did you flee from what was said and seen?
Yes, the good was not without the bad.
Raise your sword and shield.
Yes, the good was not without the bad.
Raise up your sword and shield.
"Could it be that this is a song about, you know -- I had a boat, I had some gold, I had some treasure. But it's gone. Kind of liking you know, you're gonna bury you're treasure, you're gonna bury your gold and you'll be gone an hour and it will be gone. And that's exactly what happened in Iceland," Glenn said.
"And really Iceland is the lesson for the United States and the lesson for us on how fast it can collapse. Was it that we make? Most of our life in the United States is supported by international banking. Remember, we're going to be the banks and the managers of the rest of the world. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. How did that work out for Iceland? What happens when things collapse? People will say that -- that it's bad. Yes, it is. Yes, it is."
However, Glenn said things like collapse can also make you stronger. In other words, the "good was not without the bad."
During a meeting with his creative team yesterday, Glenn said that he has been listening more and more to Ásgeir in recent days, and encouraged them to take a listen to see where he was at creatively.
Take a listen to some of his music below: