Songs from a Stolen Spring is a compilation album released in October 2014, featuring multilingual duets and mashups of protest and peace songs performed by pairings of Western musicians with artists from countries where the Arab Spring uprisings took place. The album was produced by Erik Hillestad and released by Valley Entertainment (United States) and Kirkelig Kulturverksted (Norway).
Background and Concept
The album was conceived as a cross-cultural musical project that blends classic American protest and freedom songs from the 1960s and 1970s civil rights and anti-war movements with newly composed tracks emerging from the Arab Spring uprisings that began in late 2010. Producer Erik Hillestad traveled to the Middle East in 2012 and 2013 to record with local artists, aiming to highlight shared themes of resistance against oppression. The title "Stolen Spring" reflects the disillusionment that followed the initial revolutionary gains, as many uprisings were undermined by military interventions, Islamist takeovers, or renewed authoritarianism.
Release
The album was released on 18 October 2014 in the United States and 24 October 2014 in Europe. It was issued as a CD with a gatefold cardboard sleeve and a 20-page booklet documenting the collaborations.
Track Listing
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Freedom / A New Beginning" | The Blind Boys of Alabama / Eskenderella | 5:24 |
| 2. | "Not a Word was Spoken / Dancing in the Street" | Tania Saleh / Terry Evans | 4:57 |
| 3. | "A Simple Song of Freedom / Once We were True Rebels" | Ray Benson / Mounir Troudi | 5:00 |
| 4. | "Beyond These Doors / Get Up, Stand Up" | Dina El Wedidi / Glenn Tilbrook | 7:15 |
| 5. | "Ol' Mother Earth / I Still Exist" | Maria McKee / Massar Egbari | 5:48 |
| 6. | "Bread, Freedom / If I Can Dream" | Ramy Essam / Mighty Sam McClain | 4:45 |
| 7. | "Danger Zone" | Soozie Tyrell | 2:29 |
| 8. | "Break Your Fears" | Rim Banna | 3:11 |
| 9. | "Once Upon a Time / Many Rivers to Cross" | Lobna Noomene / Lisbeth Scott | 6:28 |
Artists
Western contributors include The Blind Boys of Alabama (gospel), Terry Evans (blues and soul), Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel (Western swing), Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze (rock), Maria McKee (roots rock), Mighty Sam McClain (soul), Soozie Tyrell of the E Street Band, and Lisbeth Scott.
Arab and Eastern contributors include Eskenderella (Egypt), Tania Saleh (Lebanon), Mounir Troudi (Tunisia), Dina El Wedidi (Egypt), Massar Egbari (Egypt), Ramy Essam (Egypt), Rim Banna (Palestine), and Lobna Noomene (Tunisia). Ramy Essam, known as the "singer of the Egyptian revolution," gained prominence for performing protest anthems in Tahrir Square during the 2011 Egyptian uprising.
Reception
The album received limited mainstream critical attention, with coverage primarily in specialized outlets. It was positioned as a niche world music release rather than a commercial endeavor. No verifiable sales figures, chart positions, or major industry awards have been documented. The album remains available on digital streaming platforms.
