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INSP Vendor Playlist: Megaphone vendors on prog-rock, Cher and using music to find hope in a crisis

Numerous vendors selling Megaphone in east Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada talked about the songs they would gift this Christmas.

Rodney McNeely (49) on ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin: “I know the lyrics to this pretty well, and I learned it on guitar. When I sing it, my voice sounds pretty good. When I used to live with my roommate, she and I used to sing it together, which was nice. For some reason, it reminds me of a very quiet day – it was going through my head quite a bit on Christmas Day two years ago. The stores were closed…it was a good year.”

Megaphone vendor Rodney McNeely (credit: Krista Butler)

Stephen Scott (48) on ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ by Cher: “This reminds myself about life – past, present and future. It’s very touching and gives me some hope, because sometimes I wish I could go back and change things for the better.”

Megaphone vendor Stephen Scott (credit: David Deofreo)

Richard Morris on ‘The Christmas Song’ by Nat King Cole: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire [as the song goes] …that’s just Christmas, you know? It’s the quintessential song for this time of year, and it really reminds me of an eastern Canadian Christmas – I’ve been laces where they are cooking chestnuts on the streets.”

Megaphone vendor Richard Morris (credit: David Denofreo)

Priscilla Tait on Harry Belafonte’s ‘Turn the World Around’, which was performed as the closing number to a 1970s episode of The Muppet Show: “I grew up with my late grandparents Sarah and Thomas in the Wet’suwet’en territory. On Sundays, we watched The Muppet Show and the song made me dance with no care in the world. My grandparents allowed me to explore in imagination. They were my rock – they anchored me with love and tears and laughter.”

Megaphone vendor Priscilla Tait (credit: Geoff Webb)

Peter Thompson on Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’: “It is a great song for thinking of someone who’s not around. It’s also the one song I would like to play on guitar. Maybe with a little practice I can do it.”

Megaphone vendor Peter Thompson (credit: David Denofreo)

Joan Morelli on ‘The Impossible Dream (The Quest)’ from Broadway musical Man of La Mancha: “Whenever I feel like giving up, it reminds me to keep on going.”

Megaphone vendor Joan Morelli (credit: Kayla Isomura)

Jacqueline A. Giles (57) on ‘You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)’ by Josh Groban: “I was grieving and could not phone the crisis line. The song was on the radio in the middle of the night in 2007, when I felt utterly hopeless and I felt I could not carry on. I was at the end of my strength, courage and hope. The words saved my life. It validates, encourages and gives hope with beautiful words and music. It’s inspirational to me. I felt it to be soothing and comforting to my spirit. I often think of the words and music during challenging times when I feel very alone.”

Megaphone vendor Jacqueline Angharad Giles (credit: Paula Carson)

Check out the full playlist here.

Editing by Tony Inglis