The events of September 11th, 2001 shocked all. The world mourned as thousands of innocent Americans went to work, living out their well-earned American dream, and never returned home.

September 11th, 2001 is a day our generation will never forget. Our ways of life were altered, our dreams of peace were shattered, but we all gave a little more after that day. Music artists gave what they could: the gift of song! The historic telethon America: A Tribute To Heroes took place on the evening of Friday, September 21st, and featured renowned music artists lending their voices to sing songs of healing. Billy Joel sang his hit “New York State Of Mind,” as Mariah Carey belted out her song “Hero.” Then-outstanding-newcomer Alicia Keys performed a stunning rendition of Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” as U2 performed their own “Walk On,” and Neil Young played a version of the late John Lennon’s masterpiece “Imagine.” Celine Dion performed her breathtaking version of “God Bless America.” Some other performers of the night were Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, Dixie Chicks, and Bruce Springsteen, who sang his then-newly-penned “My City Of Ruins.” Stevie Wonder and Take 6 performed “Love’s In Need Of Love Today,” and this performance won a Grammy in 2003. The telethon raised over $200 million for the families of the tragedy’s victims.

The Concert For New York City also raised a large sum of money ($30 million), and also featured some of the biggest names in music coming together to raise morale, especially the morale of the thousands of New York City emergency personnel directly effected by the disaster. Paul McCartney was key in organizing the concert, which was held in October of 2001. David Bowie performed, as did Billy Joel, Melissa Etheridge, Destiny’s Child, The Who, James Taylor, Elton John, McCartney himself, and many more.

Certain songs stood out in the days following the disaster, because of the messages within their lyrics, and the needed sentimentality contained in their melodies. The radio was flooded with songs that could help to heal. September 11th audio-segments were even added into songs like Enya’s “Only Time,” and Enrique Iglesias’ “Hero.” One song which was in particularly significant, was the all-star remake of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” Recorded just days before the terrorist attacks, the song took on a different meaning for obvious reasons, so the proceeds from the sales of the single were given to both the United Way's September 11th Fund and the AIDS relief effort.

The response of music-artists was such a significant incidence, that Rolling Stone magazine recently named it one of the defining moments that changed the history of rock & roll. Looking back, its seems so remarkable how we felt so close to the people of the media, just as we felt so close to the people in our neighborhoods. We were all bonded by shock, resulting sadness, and the struggle to heal our hearts.

The concept of the 9/11 attacks has become an everyday part of our lives. When I look at the time and see that it is 9:11, I immediately relate those numbers to what happened on that day. Those three digits, side by side each other, represent a change to our culture, to our lives, and to our way of life, which not many other human beings might experience. We are significant as a generation for that, but I would much rather be living without that implication. As the years pass, and as September 11th, 2001 distances itself farther away from us, it’s not in our communications as much, but it will always remain inside us as a bad dream we had, but one which made us wake up stronger and wiser.

Below is a list of some songs (in no particular order) that were significant in the days following 9/11. Each of these songs had a positive effect on someone who was in need of the healing each of these was able to give. There were so many songs that helped so many people, so this is not a complete list, but a small, commemorative overview!

1.

The All-Star Tribute (Artists Against Aids) – “What’s Going On” / Marvin Gaye – “What’s Going On”

2.

Enrique Iglesias – “Hero”

3.

Enya – “Only Time”

4.

John Lennon – “Imagine”

5.

Mariah Carey – “Hero”

6.

Five For Fighting – “Superman (It’s Not Easy)”

7.

U2 – “Walk On”

8.

Sarah McLachlan – “Angel”

9.

Lee Greenwood – “God Bless The U.S.A.”

10.

Billy Joel – “New York State Of Mind”

11.

Destiny’s Child – “Emotion”

12.

Celine Dion – “God Bless America”

In response to the attacks, these songs were written…

13.

Bruce Springsteen – “The Rising”

14.

Alan Jackson – “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)”