The August episode of Cool Tunes for a Hot Planet is a somber one, commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th, 1945, ending World War II and unleashing the atomic age. Our feelings about that momentous event have evolved over time, from triumph to uncertainty to horror - and our music has reflected those changes: country songs with pride and religious fervor, pop songs with dark humor and irony, folksongs of protest, jazz and classical both elevated and discordant, reflecting the anxieties of a world facing potential nuclear extinction. This month's show presents a powerful selection of musical expression, addressing the stark memory that still hangs over our heads 80 years later.
