Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966) is an American rapper, musician, poet, activist, documentarian, and singer-songwriter, known for his participation in many musical projects, most with a political and social emphasis, including
the Beatnigs
The Beatnigs were an American, San Francisco-based band, which combined hardcore punk, industrial and hip hop influences, described as "a kind of avant-garde industrial jazz poets collective". The band was the initial collaboration of Michael F ...
and
the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. He is the creator and lead vocalist of his current independent project, Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends
hip hop with a variety of other styles including
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...
,
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
,
folk, and
rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of
peace
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
and
social justice
Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. In Western and Asian cultures, the concept of social justice has often referred to the process of ensuring that individuals ...
issues, and he is especially an advocate for peace in the Middle East.
Early life
Michael Franti was born in
Oakland, California
Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the ...
. His mother, Mary Lofy,
had
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
,
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
, and
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
ancestry, and his father, Thomas Hopkins, was of African-American and
Native American descent. However, his mother placed him for adoption because she was afraid that her racist family would not accept him.
[ He was adopted by Carole Wisti and Charles Franti, a ]Finnish American
Finnish Americans ( fi, amerikansuomalaiset, ) comprise Americans with ancestral roots from Finland or Finnish people who immigrated to and reside in the United States. The Finnish-American population numbers a little bit more than 650,000. Man ...
couple in Oakland, who at the time had three biological children and one adopted African American son.
Charles Franti was a professor in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and died in 2003.[ Michael's four adoptive siblings are named Rebecca, Sara, Dan, and Matthew. Michael spent his grade 9 school year at Highland Junior High School in ]Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city an ...
, Alberta. He then attended Davis Senior High School and University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Jesuit university in San Francisco, California. The university's main campus is located on a setting between the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. The main campus is nicknamed "The Hil ...
on a full basketball scholarship.
During his time at school there he met a priest who taught him how to tell a story on paper, and soon he was writing poetry. He purchased a bass at a pawn shop and started creating music inspired by hip hop, punk, and reggae that was being played on the campus radio station, KUSF. Franti also has four half siblings, Thea, Thomas, Charles and Arthur Hopkins.
Career
Beatnigs (1986–1990)
Franti began his music career in 1986 as part of the industrial punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
/spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics o ...
band The Beatnigs
The Beatnigs were an American, San Francisco-based band, which combined hardcore punk, industrial and hip hop influences, described as "a kind of avant-garde industrial jazz poets collective". The band was the initial collaboration of Michael F ...
. While attending the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Jesuit university in San Francisco, California. The university's main campus is located on a setting between the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. The main campus is nicknamed "The Hil ...
and living above KUSF he developed a fascination with music and decided to start a band. The Beatnigs included dancer and percussionist Rono Tse; the band released a self-titled LP and an EP ''Television'' on Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 in San Francisco, California. It was used by Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single " California Über Alles". After realizing the potential for an independent labe ...
records. The records received some critical acclaim but little fame beyond the San Francisco Bay Area.
The 1988 LP release ''The Beatnigs
The Beatnigs were an American, San Francisco-based band, which combined hardcore punk, industrial and hip hop influences, described as "a kind of avant-garde industrial jazz poets collective". The band was the initial collaboration of Michael F ...
'' was recorded at Dancin' Dog Studio in Emeryville and distributed by Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 in San Francisco, California. It was used by Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single " California Über Alles". After realizing the potential for an independent labe ...
. In addition to Michael Franti and Ron Tse, the band included Henry Flood on percussion, Andre Flores on keyboards, and Kevin Carnes on vocals. All of the band members made multiple instrumental contributions, including industrial percussion.
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (1991–93)
See main article: The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
His next project, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, found Franti continuing his collaboration with Tse, and working with jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter
Charlie Hunter (born May 23, 1967) is an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. First coming to prominence in the early 1990s, Hunter plays custom-made seven- and eight-string guitars on which he simultaneously plays bass lines, chords, a ...
, and electronic music
Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electro ...
ians Mark Pistel
Mark Pistel is a producer, engineer, programmer, remixer and songwriter who has been working in the electronic music scene since 1988.
Pistel works out of a San Francisco recording studio called Room 5.
Pistel was a founding member of the band ...
( Consolidated) and Jack Dangers
Jack Dangers (born John Stephen Corrigan, 11 January 1965) is an English electronic musician, DJ, producer, and remixer best known for his work as the primary member of Meat Beat Manifesto. He lives in San Francisco.
Career
Prior to founding ...
(Meat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto, often shortened as Meat Beat, Manifesto or MBM, is an electronic music group originally consisting of Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens that was formed in 1987 in Swindon, United Kingdom. The band, fronted by Dangers (the only ...
). The Disposable Heroes wrote politically charged lyrics that railed against the injustices of the world, set to a fusion of industrial music
Industrial music is a genre of music that draws on harsh, mechanical, transgressive or provocative sounds and themes. AllMusic defines industrial music as the "most abrasive and aggressive fusion of rock and electronic music" that was "initial ...
and hip hop. Their first album, ''Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury
''Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury'' is the debut album by alternative hip hop crew The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, released in 1992. ''Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury'' was met with critical acclaim.
"Television, the Drug of the Nation" wa ...
'' (on Island Records
Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anothe ...
), won plaudits for its social commentary, and they were chosen by U2 to open for their Zoo TV Tour
The Zoo TV Tour (also written as ZooTV, ZOO TV or ZOOTV) was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Staged in support of their 1991 album '' Achtung Baby'', the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 1992 to 1993. It was intended to mirror ...
.
The album's lyrics dealt with a range of issues, including the US involvement in the Gulf war
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...
, the oil industry, homophobic violence, immigration, Franti's own cultural background and adoption, and more personal politics. The single 'Television, The Drug of The Nation' (previously recorded by Franti's former project, The Beatnigs
The Beatnigs were an American, San Francisco-based band, which combined hardcore punk, industrial and hip hop influences, described as "a kind of avant-garde industrial jazz poets collective". The band was the initial collaboration of Michael F ...
) gained airplay on college and 'alternative' radio stations for its critique of mainstream television, which as the title implies, blames the media for a political numbing of ordinary people, explicit in the lyrics: "T.V., it satellite links, our United States of unconsciousness, apathetic therapeutic and extremely addictive".
The Disposable Heroes also recorded music accompanying novelist William Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II (; February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular cultur ...
' readings for an album entitled '' Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales''.
The distinctive work of the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy has been analyzed in various academic papers, including by author Leslie Haywood and editor Jeniffer Drake in the book ''Third Wave Agenda, Being Feminist and Doing Feminism''. The analysis involved the role of masculinity in the misogynist point of view which dominates popular music e.g. in rap music. The authors argue Franti's lyrics in treating women fairly in relationships is an exception.
According to the ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music
''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' is an encyclopedia created in 1989 by Colin Larkin. It is the "modern man's" equivalent of the '' Grove Dictionary of Music'', which Larkin describes in less than flattering terms.''The Times'', ''The Kno ...
'', Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy is an innovative contemporary hip hop crew; a mixture of articulate manifesto rap which broke down beyond the black and white rhetoric, especially in the song 'Language of Violence', one of the first raps to speak about homophobia.
Michael Franti and Spearhead (1994–present)
In 1994, Franti dissolved The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and formed a new band called Spearhead with a few studio musicians, including mainstay Carl Young. Their first release, ''Home
A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. ...
'', in September 1994, was a departure from the politically charged rap of the Disposable Heroes and drew more from funk and soul music
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became ...
. The album was produced by Franti and Joe Nicolo. The song "Positive", also from the album ''Home'', appeared on the '' Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool'' compilation album by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization (RHO) is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.
Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilati ...
. In 1998, Spearhead recorded "I Got Plenty 'o Nuthin" with Ernest Ranglin
Ernest Ranglin (born 19 June 1932) is a Jamaican guitarist and composer who established his career while working as a session guitarist and music director for various Jamaican record labels including Studio One and Island Records. Ranglin pla ...
for the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization (RHO) is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.
Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilati ...
's compilation album ''Red Hot + Rhapsody
Red Hot + Rhapsody: The Gershwin Groove is a compilation album produced by Paul Heck of the Red Hot Organization (RHO) to celebrate the 100th birthday of George Gershwin. This compilation is the twelfth entry from the international organization's ...
''.
Their follow up album ''Chocolate Supa Highway
''Chocolate Supa Highway'' is the second studio album by Michael Franti, Spearhead.
Track listing
# "Africa On Line" (0:44)
# "Chocolate Supa Highway" (5:08)
# "Keep Me Lifted" (4:20)
# "Food for tha Masses" (5:01)
# "U Can't Sing R Song" (5:2 ...
'' was released in March 1997, with several changes in band members between releases. This album featured a return to hip hop elements and a pronounced reggae influence and included guest appearances by notables like Stephen Marley and Joan Osborne
Joan Elizabeth Osborne (born July 8, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, and interpreter of music, having recorded and performed in various popular American musical genres including rock, pop, soul, R&B, blues, and country. She is best kn ...
.
After releasing the two albums, the band split with Capitol Records (reportedly prompted by the label's repeated urging to perform with other artists like Will Smith
Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper. He began his acting career starring as a fictionalized version of himself on the NBC sitcom '' The Fresh ...
). The band instead decided to create its own record label, Boo Boo Wax. Since Capitol Records owned the rights to the name "Spearhead", subsequent albums were all released as "Michael Franti & Spearhead."
His song "Sometimes" was included on the soundtrack to the 1999 film ''Mystery Men
''Mystery Men'' is a 1999 American superhero comedy film directed by Kinka Usher (in his feature-length directorial debut) and written by Neil Cuthbert, loosely based on Bob Burden's '' Flaming Carrot Comics'', and starring Ben Stiller, Hank Azar ...
'', as well as the soundtrack to the 2006 film '' Last Holiday''. Also, under the "Spearhead" name, their cover version of The Police's 1979 No. 32 hit, "Roxanne", was featured on the soundtrack to the 1997 film ''Good Burger
''Good Burger'' is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and written by
Dan Schneider with Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert. Starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, it is based on the comedy sketch of the same name on the Nick ...
'', the full-length feature film starring Kenan Thompson & Kel Mitchell based on their characters from the popular 'Good Burger' sketch featured on the Nickelodeon series ''All That
''All That'' is an American sketch comedy television series created by Brian Robbins and Michael Tollin, Mike Tollin. The series originally aired on Nickelodeon from April 16, 1994, to October 22, 2005, lasting ten seasons, and was produced by ...
''.
Michael Franti & Spearhead released '' Stay Human'' in 2000 under their own label Boo Boo Wax in alignment with indie music
Independent music (also commonly known as indie music or simply indie) is music that is produced independently from commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include an autonomous, do-it-yourself approach to recording a ...
label Six Degrees Records
Six Degrees Records is an independent record label noted for its catalog of recordings from international musicians and vocalists.
History
In 1996, former Windham Hill employees Pat Berry and Bob Duskis founded Six Degrees Records with the in ...
. The album's central theme was the unjust nature of the death penalty and other major themes included mass media monopolization
In United States antitrust law, monopolization is illegal monopoly behavior. The main categories of prohibited behavior include exclusive dealing, price discrimination, refusing to supply an essential facility, product tying and predatory pricing ...
, the prison-industrial complex and corporate globalization
Globalization, or globalisation (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), see spelling differences), is the process of foreign relation ...
. In an interview, Franti talked about the message of ''Stay Human'': "Half the record is songs about what's happening in the world right now, and the other half is about how we cope with it as people who are concerned about what's going on", he said. "This specter of war, intimidation, this nation vs. the rest of the world, it wears us out. Half the record is a healthy dose of venting anger about that, and the other half is about how do we hold on to our spirituality, our community and our connectedness to each other."
/ref>
In 2001 Franti was featured on Lamb (electronic band), Lamb's album What Sound
''What Sound'' is the third album by English electronic music group Lamb, released in October 2001
Original members Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes are joined by session musicians Arto Lindsay on guitar, Me'Shell NdegéOcello on bass, and Michae ...
, providing backing vocals on the track "I Cry". Also in 2001, Michael Franti & Spearhead released the song "Oh My God", arguably one of Michael Franti & Spearhead's most precise resistance songs. It was analyzed in Catherine Chaput's book Entertaining Fear: Rhetoric and the Political Economy of Social Control. Chaput uses the lyrics of "Oh My God" to show how it is counter-productive to understand politics as distinct from economics and culture. The lyrics make connections across science, popular culture and politics.
''Everyone Deserves Music'' was released in 2003. Franti composed many of the songs from his guitar and, like fellow 21st-century cultural globalists Manu Chao
Manu Chao (; born José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao on 21 June 1961) is a French-Spanish singer. He sings in French, Spanish, English, Italian, Arabic, Catalan, Galician, Portuguese, Greek, and occasionally in other languages. Chao began his mu ...
and Ozomatli
Ozomatli is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others. The group ...
, continues to synthesize his eclectic influences. In a departure from the industrial sounds of the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes, and the minimalism of early Spearhead, Franti's affirming lyrics are now set to swelling rock chords, while keeping a world-wise groove nodding towards reggae, dancehall, bossa nova, Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles (such as traditional Yoruba music and highlife) and American funk, jazz, and soul influences, with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersectin ...
, and funk. Anthems like the title track "Everyone Deserves Music", "Yes I Will" and " Bomb The World" are constructed with a nod to the 1980s rock of The Clash
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the w ...
and U2, as well as to classic soul from Stax
Streaming API for XML (StAX) is an application programming interface ( API) to read and write XML documents, originating from the Java programming language community.
Traditionally, XML APIs are either:
* DOM based - the entire document is read i ...
and Motown. The song "We Don't Stop" (featuring Gift of Gab from Blackalicious
Blackalicious was an American hip-hop duo from Sacramento, California, made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel. They are noted for Gift of Gab's often tongue-twisting, multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's soulful p ...
and Spearhead's rapper/beatbox
Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines (typically a TR-808), using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. technician Radioactive) bridges the two sounds in a "Magnificent Seven" style mash-up. And on "Love Why Did You Go Away" and "What I Be", Franti reveals an alluring, sensual singing voice. "Pray For Grace" and "Bomb The World (Armageddon Version)" pair Franti with the reggae/funk giants Sly and Robbie (Grace Jones, Rolling Stones, Black Uhuru, No Doubt).
Also in 2003, Franti released a mostly acoustic album, ''Songs from the Front Porch'' containing rearranged versions of older songs from ''Chocolate Supa Highway'', ''Stay Human'' and ''Everyone Deserves Music'' as well as a couple of new tracks.
On July 25, 2006, Michael Franti & Spearhead released ''Yell Fire!
''Yell Fire!'' is the fifth studio album by the reggae-influenced band Michael Franti and Spearhead. It was inspired by Michael Franti's trip to the Middle East, visiting Iraq, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. It is a politically charged ...
'', inspired by Franti's trip to Israel, the West Bank
The West Bank ( ar, الضفة الغربية, translit=aḍ-Ḍiffah al-Ġarbiyyah; he, הגדה המערבית, translit=HaGadah HaMaʽaravit, also referred to by some Israelis as ) is a landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...
, the Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip (;The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.761 "Gaza Strip /'gɑːzə/ a strip of territory under the control of the Palestinian National Authority and Hamas, on the SE Mediterranean coast including the town of Gaza.. ...
and Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
. In an effort to share his experiences from his trip and to explore the human cost of war, Franti produced a movie entitled ''I Know I'm Not Alone'', using the songs from his album ''Yell Fire!'' as a soundtrack. "One Step Closer To You" from ''Yell Fire!'' features Pink
Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
on backing vocals. The whole album is available for listening in his website.
Franti and Spearhead have gained a worldwide audience through touring and appearances in alternative media like ''Mother Jones
Mary G. Harris Jones (1837 (baptized) – November 30, 1930), known as Mother Jones from 1897 onwards, was an Irish-born American schoolteacher and dressmaker who became a prominent union organizer, community organizer, and activist. She h ...
'' magazine and ''Democracy Now!
''Democracy Now!'' is an hour-long American TV, radio, and Internet news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman (who also acts as the show's executive producer), Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. The show, which airs live each weekday at ...
''.
Franti continues to tour in addition to producing the annual Power to the Peaceful festival each year since 1998. The festival originated as a way of supporting Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal (born Wesley Cook; April 24, 1954) is an American political activist and journalist who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1982 for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. While on death ...
, who has been convicted of murdering a policeman but is considered by some on the Left to be a political prisoner. Michael Franti continues to gain influence in both popular music and social movements largely through extensive touring and word of mouth fan support. Lyrics from his song "Bomb The World", written in the dark aftermath of September 11
Events Pre-1600
* 9 – The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends: The Roman Empire suffers the greatest defeat of its history and the Rhine is established as the border between the Empire and the so-called barbarians for the next four hu ...
such as "You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace" have found their way onto protest signs and t-shirt
A T-shirt (also spelled tee shirt), or tee, is a style of fabric shirt named after the T shape of its body and sleeves. Traditionally, it has short sleeves and a round neckline, known as a ''crew neck'', which lacks a collar. T-shirts are general ...
s all over the world from Los Angeles to Berlin, San Francisco to CNN
CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...
, at demonstrations
Demonstration may refer to:
* Demonstration (acting), part of the Brechtian approach to acting
* Demonstration (military), an attack or show of force on a front where a decision is not sought
* Demonstration (political), a political rally or prote ...
for peace large and small.
The song "Light Up Ya Lighter" by Michael Franti & Spearhead was included on the soundtrack to ''Body of War
''Body of War'' is a 2007 documentary film about Iraq War veteran Tomas Young. ''Bill Moyers Journal'' featured a one-hour special about ''Body of War'' including interviews with filmmakers Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue.
Summary
Shocked by the Se ...
'', an award-winning documentary about Tomas Young
Tomas Young (November 30, 1979 – November 10, 2014) was an American military veteran of the Iraq War. In 2004, he was wounded and paralyzed by a bullet to the spine five days after he reached Iraq. One of the first veterans to come out publicly ...
, a paralyzed Iraq War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق ( Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict and the War on terror
, image ...
veteran.
Songs from ''Yell Fire'' and ''All Rebel Rockers'' are on the soundtrack to ''The Edge of Never'', a documentary about extreme skiers mentoring 15-year-old Kye Peterson in his quest to ski the route in Chamonix, France that killed his father, Trevor Peterson, nine years earlier.
The album '' All Rebel Rockers'' was released on September 9, 2008, and was largely recorded in Jamaica at the Anchor studio in St Andrew. The band worked with ubiquitous rhythm team Sly and Robbie and featured multi-talented vocalist Cherine Anderson
Cherine Tanya Anderson (born 25 September 1984, Rockfort, East Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican actress and dancehall/reggae vocalist.
Biography
Anderson's acting career began in the film '' Dancehall Queen'' (1997), as Marcia's pressured, t ...
on the set which entered the Billboard 200 pop chart in September at number 38. The single 'Say Hey (I Love You)' also reached Number 18 on the US Hot 100, providing Franti with his first US Top 20 single. Michael Franti was featured on Aux.tv's show Volume where he spoke about U.S. politics and his efforts to make the world a better place.
Franti played three different events to commemorate President Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
's inauguration: The Green Ball, The Peace Ball and the Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit progressive-aligned organization in the United States whose stated mission is "to engage and build the political power of young Americans."
The organization was founded in 1990 by Virgin Records America Co-Chairman ...
Party.
Franti announced in November 2009 that he would be joining musician John Mayer on the Battle Studies Tour in spring 2010.
As part of the band's commitment to environmentalism, Michael Franti and Spearhead avoid the use of water bottles on national tours and run their tour bus on biodiesel
Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel derived from plants or animals and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters. It is typically made by chemically reacting lipids such as animal fat ( tallow), soybean oil, or some other vegetable oil ...
.
Franti announced the release of '' The Sound of Sunshine (Michael Franti & Spearhead album), The Sound of Sunshine'' on his official website in July 2010. It features 12 tracks including two versions of the title track, the new hit single, "Shake It", and staples of his recent live performances including "Hey Hey Hey", "Anytime You Need Me", "The Thing That Helps Me Get Through", and the anthemic arena-rock ballad "I'll Be Waiting". The album was originally set to be released on August 24, but was pushed back to September 21 to give the album "more runway."
Michael Franti started the recording process for ''The Sound of Sunshine'' in Jamaica but then continued to mix tracks and record in Bali before choosing to bring a portable studio on the road. He continued to record on the road and then test his ideas in front of live audiences to see if they liked it before going back and revamping it the next day. He has since been quoted as saying 90% of the album ended up being recorded on his laptop.
In 2012, he joined the 11th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.
In 2013, Franti released an album entitled ''All People.'' The single from this album, "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)", was released on July 30, 2013 and was featured on ''The Sims 4
''The Sims 4'' is a social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the fourth major title in ''The Sims'' series, and is the sequel to '' The Sims 3'' (2009). The game was released in North America on Septem ...
'' and ''Rayman Legends
''Rayman Legends'' is a platform video game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the ''Rayman'' series and the direct sequel to the 2011 game ''Rayman Origins''. The game was released for Mi ...
'' game trailers.
He released the album ''SoulRocker'' in 2016. All the songs began on the acoustic guitar.
In March 2018, Michael Franti announced a new album, ''Stay Human, Vol. II'', would be released in June 2018 and also stands as the soundtrack to his new documentary. In July Michael Franti, via Instagram, announced the album was delayed until Fall 2018. ''Stay Human, Vol. II'' was released on January 25, 2019 and on October 12 the first single was released, "Just to Say I Love you".
In 2020, Franti released the album "Work Hard and Be Nice."
Franti's single "Good Day for a Good Day" from his 2022 album "Follow Your Heart" was a top 25 AAA hit.
Politics
Franti is also an advocate for peace in the Middle East. His 2005 film ''I Know I'm Not Alone'' features footage of Iraq, the Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories are the two regions of the former British Mandate for Palestine that have been militarily occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967, namely: the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. The ...
, and Israel. Franti decided to embark on this three-week journey with friends to view the human cost of war in the Middle East first-hand. Franti states, "This film came out of my frustration with watching the nightly news and hearing generals, politicians, and pundits explaining the political and economic cost of the war in the Middle East, without ever mentioning the human cost. I wanted to hear about the war by the people affected by it most: doctors, nurses, poets, artists, soldiers, and my personal favorite, musicians."
The film aims to speak to multiple generations and to give a better understanding of the people who still live in war-torn countries. He did not embark on the trip for the film with any special government groups or organizations. "When I first had the idea for this journey, I had no idea how to get to Iraq and almost no idea how to make a film. After discovering that all you need to get into Iraq is a plane ticket, I prayed that movie making would be that simple..." he said. After his trip to the Middle East, Franti argued that it was poverty more than religion that created tensions in the Gaza region. "The poverty was so severe," said Franti. "This really helped me to understand the frustration the Palestinian youth have. Ultimately, my belief is that it is poverty more than religion that creates tensions and frustrations. If you are struggling to feed your family, living on less than US$2 (Dh7.34) a day, as most Gaza residents are, and can see that past the checkpoint in Israel people live like in Los Angeles, then that really is going to cause mounting tensions."
In 2001 Franti was awarded the Domestic Human Rights Award by Global Exchange
Global Exchange was founded in 1988 and is an advocacy group, human rights organization, and a 501(c)(3) organization, based in San Francisco, California, United States. The group defines its mission as, "to promote human rights and social, econo ...
, an international NGO based in San Francisco, for his work to end war.
In 2006, he was invited by Australian Labour
Labour or labor may refer to:
* Childbirth, the delivery of a baby
* Labour (human activity), or work
** Manual labour, physical work
** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer
** Organized labour and the labour ...
MP Jenny Macklin
Jennifer Louise Macklin (born 29 December 1953) is an Australian former politician. She was elected to federal parliament at the 1996 federal election and served as the deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 2001 to 2006, unde ...
to show the film at Australia's Parliament House, Canberra.
Music and politics have always been a part of Franti's art, as seen early in his career with the song "Music and Politics", released during the "Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy" phase. The song consists of Franti reciting spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics o ...
with a soft electric guitar riffing in the background.
Although Franti's point of view about the role of music in politics and the style of music he uses to express himself have changed, he still writes about politics and continues to work as an activist towards social change. The album ''All Rebel Rockers'' from 2008 (US #39) already with Spearhead was also a vehicle to express Franti's political views through music. According to Franti, the album was inspired by contemporary issues like climate change, the price of gas going up and down, the stock market and the auto industry, and the Obama presidency.
Franti is not an activist only through music. Other than his trip to the Middle East and his many other travels through the world which have helped shape his global political perspective, Franti works with the charitable cause Ubuntu Education Fund, has promoted vegan
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. ...
diets, has promoted being barefoot
Barefoot is the state of not wearing any footwear.
There are health benefits and some risks associated with going barefoot. Shoes, while they offer protection, can limit the flexibility, strength, and mobility of the foot and can lead to h ...
, and followed the Occupy Wall Street movement
Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a protest movement against economic inequality and the influence of money in politics that began in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district, in September 2011. It gave rise to th ...
during one of Michael Franti and Spearhead's tours.
Do It For The Love
Franti's wish-granting non-profit organization, Do It For The Love, is a project he founded in 2013 with his wife Sara Agah Franti, with a mission to bring individuals with life-threatening illnesses and trauma, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans to live concerts in the goal to inspire joy through the healing power of music.
His foundation has bridged connections between fans of all ages with their musical heroes, with the participation of notable artists such as Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell ( ; born December 18, 2001) is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single " Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom ...
, JoJo Siwa
Joelle Joanie "JoJo" Siwa (; born May 19, 2003) is an American dancer, singer, actress and YouTuber. She is known for appearing for two seasons on '' Dance Moms'' along with her mother, Jessalynn Siwa, and for her singles " Boomerang" and "Kid ...
, Pentatonix, and Franti himself.
Soulshine Bali
Michael Franti owns a yoga resort hotel in the southern part of Ubud, Bali, called Soulshine. It is considered "Michael Franti's oasis of yoga, soul, and rock n' roll." His resort was originally named ''Stay Human Yoga Retreat Center'' when it first opened in 2011, a joint venture between Franti and Carla Swanson.
In a 2020 interview, Franti explained what drew him to Bali, Indonesia specifically sharing, "the first time I came to Bali I fell in love with the Balinese culture. People here are ''so'' incredible. That was in 2007. Bali is an island of creative geniuses, and what I mean by that is everybody, whether you’re a banker, shop owner or something like that, everyone does some form of art...they all really work together and they’re all ''super-creative'' and just ''very'' kind people. I fell in love with the culture. It’s a beautiful tropical Island here, so that’s great."
He explained the organic nature of this venture, "I thought it would be a good place to buy a little piece of land and, hopefully, build a little vacation home. So, we built five rooms with a yoga studio on top and it was like, 'If you build it, they will come.' Sure enough, we started getting teachers bringing in groups of students here. Over the years we kept putting the money back into building more rooms and we are up to 32 rooms now."
Soulshine has hosted many retreats led by people such as Trevor Hall Trevor Hall may refer to:
* Trevor Hall (musician), American singer, lyricist and guitarist
* Trevor Hall (album), ''Trevor Hall'' (album), an album by Trevor Hall
* Trevor Hall (rugby league), New Zealand landlord, salesman, and professional rugby ...
and FullyRaw Kristina, serving organically grown food from their own farms. In 2020, the yoga resort additionally expanded into a day club,.
In June 2020, Franti began hosting his "Stay At Home Concert World Tour" within his own yoga resort, taking part of the "virtual concert revolution" as a response to the COVID-19 Health Pandemic.
Personal life
Franti has three children: Cappy, Ade and Taj. He is married to emergency room nurse and jewelry designer Sara Agah. He was previously married to Tara Franti-Rye from 1998 until 2004; she is the mother of Ade.
Inspired by Ade, Franti became a vegan
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. ...
.
In 2000, Franti decided not to wear any shoes, initially for three days. Since then, he has chosen to go barefoot except for occasionally wearing flip-flops
Flip-flops are a type of light sandal, typically worn as a form of casual footwear. They consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as a toe thong that passes between the first and second toes and around both side ...
as required to board an airplane or to be served in a restaurant. Franti prefers bare feet.
In 2014, Michael Franti's second eldest, Ade, was diagnosed with a kidney disease called Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a histopathologic finding of scarring (sclerosis) of glomeruli and damage to renal podocytes.Rosenberg, Avi Z.; Kopp, Jeffrey B. (2017-03-07). "Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis". ''Clinical Journal o ...
(FSGS). This disease has left Ade with just 50% function in their kidneys. Upon Michael speaking of this diagnosis, he says, "My son being diagnosed was the worst news I ever got in my whole life...we didn't know if he could graduate from high school or what kind of life he was going to have. We don't know where it's going to go next, but he inspires me everyday."
In September 2018, Michael Franti's son, Taj Franti, was born. Taj is Michael's third child, and his first one with Sara Agah.
Discography
Solo
*2000: ''Live at the Baobab''
*2002 ''Passion''
*2003: ''Songs from the Front Porch''
Spearhead
Studio albums
Notes
Singles
*1994: "Of Course You Can" UK No. 74
*1994: "People in tha Middle" AUS No. 69,[ UK No. 49]
*1995: "Hole in the Bucket" AUS No. 87,[ UK No. 55]
*1995: "Positive"
*1997: "U Can't Sing R Song"
*1997: "Why Oh Why" UK No. 45
*1997: "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)" (feat. Stephen Marley) (promo-only)
*1997: "Keep Me Lifted"
*2001: "Rock the Nation"
*2001: "Sometimes"
*2002: "Soulshine" (Australia-only EP)
*2003: "Bomb the World" AUS No. 70[
*2003: "Everyone Deserves Music" AUS No. 39][
*2006: "I Know I'm Not Alone" #27 US AAA]
*2006: "Light up Ya Lighter"
*2008: "Obama Song" (feat. SoliLaquists of Sound, Cherine Anderson & Anthony B) (Digital Only)
*2008: " Say Hey (I Love You)" No. 18 US #14 US AAA
*2009: "Hey World" #21 US AAA
*2010: "Shake It" (feat. Lady Saw)
*2010: "The Sound of Sunshine
''The Sound of Sunshine'' is the third studio album by the American funk and disco group The Sunshine Band. The album was produced by its vocalist Harry Wayne Casey, who did not perform vocals for the album, and Richard Finch. It was released ...
" (feat. Jovanotti, for Italy only) #1 US AAA
*2010: "Hey Hey Hey" #5 US AAA
*2011: "I'll Be Waiting" #22 US AAA
*2013: "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)" #5 US AAA
*2013: "Life is Better With You" #13 US AAA
*2013: "11 59" (feat. Sonna Rele)
*2014: "Same As It Ever Was (Start Today)"
*2016: "Once A Day" (feat. Sonna Rele) #17 US AAA
*2020: "I Got You" #1 US AAA
*2020: "Work Hard and Be Nice" #40 US AAA
*2021: "Good Day for a Good Day" #24 US AAA
Live albums and compilations
*1994: ''Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool''
*1998: ''Red Hot + Rhapsody''
*1998: '' Hempilation, Vol. 2: Free the Weed''
*2005: ''Weeds (Music from the Original TV Series)''
*2005: ''Live in Sydney''
*2005: ''Love Kamikaze (Singles and Remixes)''
*2005: ''Live: Alaska''
*2005: ''Power to the Peaceful Festival 2005 (CD & DVD)''
*2006: '' Snakes on a Plane: The Album''
*2007: ''Yell Fire! Live''
*2008: ''CLIF GreenNotes Protect the Places We Play''
*2008: '' The Wire: And All the Pieces Matter -- Five Years of Music from The Wire''
Collaborations
*1992: '' Infinity within (album)'' (Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite was an American house and dance music group formed in New York City. The group's best-known single is "Groove Is in the Heart", which was released in 1990 from their debut studio album ''World Clique'' (1990), and was a top-ten hit i ...
, "Fuddy Duddy Judge" feat. Michael Franti)
*1994: ''Echomania'' (Dub Syndicate
Dub Syndicate is a dub band, formed by Adrian Sherwood, which became a showcase for Adrian Sherwood's collaboration with Lincoln "Style" Scott, former drummer with the Roots Radics, Suns of Arqa and Creation Rebel.
Dub Syndicate initially ...
, "No No" feat. Michael Franti)
*1995: '' Blue in the Face (Movie Soundtrack)'' ("To My Ba-Bay!" w/ Spearhead & Zap Mama
Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Daulne. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Ma ...
)
*1997: ''Seven'', "Poetry Man" (with Zap Mama
Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Daulne. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Ma ...
and King Britt
King Britt (born 1968) is an American educator, DJ and record producer from Philadelphia.
Biography
Britt is a 1986 graduate of Central High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1987, he started working at Tower Records, as a buyer for th ...
) and "Baba Hooker" (with Zap Mama
Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Daulne. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Ma ...
)
*1997: ''Black Enough?'' (Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse are a roots reggae band from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and were composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ro ...
feat. Michael Franti of Spearhead)
*1999: ''Dal Basso'' (Jovanotti
Lorenzo Cherubini (; born 27 September 1966), better known as Jovanotti (), is an Italian singer-songwriter, rapper and disc jockey.
The name Jovanotti derives from ''giovanotti'', the plural form of the Italian word ''giovanotto'' ("young man") ...
feat. Michael Franti)
*2001: ''Stay Human'', "Listener Supported" (with Zap Mama
Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Daulne. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Ma ...
)
*:''Steady Pull'' (Jonatha Brooke feat. Michael Franti)
*2002: ''1 Giant Leap
1 Giant Leap is a British electronic music duo consisting of the two principal artists, Jamie Catto (Faithless founding member) and Duncan Bridgeman.
Career
Based in the UK, the two musicians set out to create a multimedia project that would ...
'' (Jamie Catto
James David Catto (born 14 August 1968 in London, England) is a British musician, video director, photographer, and script editor. He was a founding member of Faithless, before leaving in 1999 to form 1 Giant Leap.
Career Faithless
Educated a ...
& Duncan Bridgeman, "Passion" feat. Michael Franti)
*2003: ''The World Around'' (Buscemi feat. Michael Franti)
*:''Little Drummer Boy (Blind Boys Of Alabama feat. Michael Franti)
*:''There's Enough For All Of Us'' (Hardage feat. Michael Franti)
*:''My Love'' (E-Life feat. Michael Franti)
*2005: '' Look at All the Love We Found: A Tribute To Sublime'' ("What I Got" w/ Michael Franti & Spearhead featuring Gift of Gab)
*2006: ''What's This?'' (Franti, Gabriel Ríos
Gabriel Ríos (born August 25, 1978 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican singer songwriter.
Biography
Gabriel was born in Puerto Rico, to Puerto Rican parents, and was raised on the island until the age of 17. He then relocated to the cit ...
and Flip Kowlier
Flip Kowlier (pseudonym of Filip Willy Mariette Cauwelier, born 15 March 1976 in Izegem, West Flanders) is a Belgian singer-songwriter. He sings in a distinct West Flemish
West Flemish (''West-Vlams'' or ''West-Vloams'' or ''Vlaemsch'' (in ...
)
*2007: ''Supermoon'', "Hey Brotha" (with Zap Mama
Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Daulne. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Ma ...
)
*2008: ''Mani libere 2008'' (Jovanotti
Lorenzo Cherubini (; born 27 September 1966), better known as Jovanotti (), is an Italian singer-songwriter, rapper and disc jockey.
The name Jovanotti derives from ''giovanotti'', the plural form of the Italian word ''giovanotto'' ("young man") ...
feat. Michael Franti)
*: ''The End'' (Sugarush Beat Company feat. Michael Franti)
*2009: ''All Rebel Rockers'', "High Low" (with Zap Mama
Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Daulne. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Ma ...
)
*2010: ''El Vecindario'', "Monkey Man" (with Macaco)
*2011: ''Battiti di ali di farfalla'' (with Lorenzo Jovanotti
Lorenzo Cherubini (; born 27 September 1966), better known as Jovanotti (), is an Italian singer-songwriter, rapper and disc jockey.
The name Jovanotti derives from ''giovanotti'', the plural form of the Italian word ''giovanotto'' ("young man") ...
Cherubini)
*2011: ''The Sound of Sunshine'' (with Lorenzo Jovanotti
Lorenzo Cherubini (; born 27 September 1966), better known as Jovanotti (), is an Italian singer-songwriter, rapper and disc jockey.
The name Jovanotti derives from ''giovanotti'', the plural form of the Italian word ''giovanotto'' ("young man") ...
Cherubini)
*:"P.O.W." (With Honest Bob)(From the album The Game)
*:"I Love The Future + Praize Creation Dub + Dignity Of Struggle" (With The Fire This Time)(From the album Still Dancing On John Waynes Head)
*2014: ''È Tardi'' (with Caparezza)
*2014: ''I Believe'' (with SOJA and Nahko Bear)
The Beatnigs
*1988: ''The Beatnigs
The Beatnigs were an American, San Francisco-based band, which combined hardcore punk, industrial and hip hop influences, described as "a kind of avant-garde industrial jazz poets collective". The band was the initial collaboration of Michael F ...
''
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
*1992: ''Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury
''Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury'' is the debut album by alternative hip hop crew The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, released in 1992. ''Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury'' was met with critical acclaim.
"Television, the Drug of the Nation" ...
''
*1992: '' Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales'' (with William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II (; February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular cultur ...
)
Appearances in media
Franti's music was featured twice on HBO's urban drama ''The Wire
''The Wire'' is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. ''The Wire'' premiered on June 2 ...
''. "Oh My God" and "Rock The Nation", both from the album ''Stay Human'', were used in two different episodes during the series' first season. Franti's song "Everybody Ona Move" was featured in the pilot episode of '' Privileged'' on the CW
''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...
in 2008 and also in a 2009 PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on November 11, 2006, in Japan, November ...
commercial. "Yell Fire" was used to promote the FX channel series '' Rescue Me'' and was also used in the closing credits of the pilot episode of ''Virtuality'' on Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
. Showtime's '' Weeds'' featured Franti's song "Ganja Babe" in its first season, his interpretation of the Weeds theme song "Little Boxes
"Little Boxes" is a song written and composed by Malvina Reynolds in 1962, which became a hit for her friend Pete Seeger in 1963, when he released his cover version.
The song is a social satire about the development of suburbia, and associa ...
" in Season 3, and "Say Hey" during a flash mob
A flash mob (or flashmob) is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression. Flash mobs may be organized via t ...
scene in the premiere episode of Season 5. Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
centerfielder Shane Victorino
Shane Patrick Victorino (born November 30, 1980), nicknamed "The Flyin' Hawaiian", is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodger ...
uses the song "Light up Ya Lighter" as his batter walk-up music. "Say Hey (I Love You)" was used on the third episode of NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
's series ''Mercy
Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French ''merci'', from Medieval Latin ''merced-'', ''merces'', from Latin, "price paid, wages", from ''merc-'', ''merxi'' "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, relig ...
'', as well as in the opening scene of the 2010 film ''Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, thr ...
''. The same song was also used in 2010 in a commercial for Corona Light beer. The song is also featured on the soundtrack of EA Sports
EA Sports is a division of Electronic Arts that develops and publishes sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to imitate real-life sports networks by calling themselves the "EA Sports Network ...
game, ''2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
''.
He appeared as himself in the 2010 music documentary '' Sounds Like A Revolution''.
"I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)" was featured on the "Arrival" official trailer for ''The Sims 4
''The Sims 4'' is a social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the fourth major title in ''The Sims'' series, and is the sequel to '' The Sims 3'' (2009). The game was released in North America on Septem ...
'' during Gamescom 2013 at the Cologne Trade Fair
Koelnmesse GmbH (''Cologne Trade Fair'') is an international trade fair and exhibition center located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With around 80 trade fairs and over 2,000 conferences annually, Koelnmesse is one of the country's ...
in Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...
, Germany on August 20, 2013. It was also featured in the launch trailer for ''Rayman Legends
''Rayman Legends'' is a platform video game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the ''Rayman'' series and the direct sequel to the 2011 game ''Rayman Origins''. The game was released for Mi ...
'' and the final trailer for '' Coco''.
Franti collaborated with Slacker Radio
LiveOne (formerly known as LiveXLive) is a music streaming platform that combines audio and (sometimes live) video available in the US and Canada. Users can access the service on the web through mobile apps on smartphones and over-the-air device ...
, picking the tunes and providing commentaries, to create a radio station playing his favorite artists.
Franti premiered his own documentary ''Stay Human'' on April 27, 2018 at the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival. Written on his website about the film, Franti states, "my new film Stay Human takes us on a journey through music and stories of some of the most inspiring individuals on the planet. Amazing people that I've met on my travels around the globe, who have chosen to overcome cynicism with optimism, hope, tenacity, music, and love – and remind us all what it means to STAY HUMAN."
References
External links
Michael Franti
– official website
Michael Franti Interview at TheWaster.com
Michael Franti and Spearhead
@ the Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
(live music archive)
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Franti, Michael
1967 births
American adoptees
American anti-war activists
American people of Belgian descent
American people of German descent
American people of Irish descent
Living people
People from Davis, California
Musicians from Oakland, California
Rappers from California
Reggae fusion artists
San Francisco Dons men's basketball players
Capitol Records artists
Davis Senior High School (California) alumni
Activists from California
21st-century American rappers
Six Degrees Records artists
Alternative Tentacles artists
Anti- (record label) artists
Island Records artists
Thirty Tigers artists