Essential Music from the Victorious World Cup Country

Fact: France won the World Cup yesterday. Fact: France is the site of a revolution that inspired the book that inspired the musical in which extremely relevant music is played—Les Miserables. Fact: France is the home of the language present in the inspiring pop song "Ego" by Indila. Fact: France won the World Cup, and we need the emotions in their famous music now more than ever.

Les Miserables is a musical that chronicles the trauma behind the very real conflict of the French Revolution. Child labor, human trafficking, and unjust sentencing are still a problem in the present society. It is for this reason that the songs chronicling these troubles move us so beautifully every time we hear them. Songs like "I Dreamed A Dream," "On My Own," "Castle On A Cloud," "Do You Hear The People Sing," and "Look Down" resonate with us because similar events happen every day in society. Someone is a victim of sex trafficking. Someone gets years of imprisonment for an extremely minor offense. A child works out in the field for long days just so the employer can save money. People all around the world are questioning and standing up to authority. They see all these problems happening and want to do something about it. They make noise and make their voices heard. They will not look down. They will not sit idly by while their worlds are torn apart before them. Dreams of a better, equitable, just, green world are on their minds, and they will stop at nothing to make those dreams come true. It is the spirit of hope that drives the power of Les Miserables forward into the 21st century. That story is one that relates to us all, and one that comes from France, the country that won the World Cup yesterday, and one from which we need the emotions in their music in order to press forward into a better tomorrow. The timing of this win could not be more opportune.

Secondly, France gave us a language that so beautifully fit the inspiring song of "Ego" by Indila. The song includes a powerful message about transforming ourselves if we let go of our egos. We would be able to see the whole world clearer and change it for the better if we understood people on a deeper level and thought of ourselves as part of a much bigger whole. The message of this song is that we can all get along if we let go of our ego, and once we are together, nothing can stop us. These emotions are brought out whenever the widely spreading circular line dance is done to the song. It includes forward and back shuffles, steps and slides in both directions, heel taps, and finally an empowering set of crossovers. The timing of these steps to the music, usually done with hands touching in a circle facing inward, can be performed by any number of people, ranging from around 5 to more than 100. A new circle can move toward the center at the transition of each dance phrase, resulting in hypnotizing and undulating concentric circles. The collaborative nature of this dance and the natural power of dancing together with other people brings out the unifying emotions needed to power a society forward to change the world. This song is needed by us all, and it is in French, the language of the World Cup victors yesterday.

When music speaks to us in resonant ways, it changes our society hopefully for the better. It is up to us to heed the message of France's powerful music and help transform the world into one accepting toward all.

The song that resonates, among others, from Les Miserables.

The resonant, unifying song "Ego" by Indila.