Roy S. Johnson: Here’s my funk-to-faith playlist to help us all survive Election Day 2024

This is an opinion column.

Makes no difference what group I'm in...

"Everyday People", Sly & the Family Stone

My long-timers already know this about me, though most of you likely do not: I was once a DJ. On the radio and in clubs — in Northern California while in college in the late 1970s, early '80s. Yeah, I was spinnin' in clubs I wasn't legally supposed to be in. Spinnin' vinyls, a couple of hundred of which I still have. And a turntable.

Music's long been a vibe for me, only slightly as a musician (I played the viola, don't judge me) and a baritone in somebody's choir. I'm more of an appreciator of the gift, of the art, in almost any genre.

I've been blessed to see a generational smorgasbord of iconic performers live. Among those now silent: Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix, Donna Summer, Lena Horne, Teddy Pendergrass and, alas, Quincy Jones. Others still funkin': Earth, Wind & Fire, Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, Chicago, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, and War, Sly & the Family Stone...in short, more than I am able to recall.

If you don't find something you like amid my eclectic LP collection, you just don't like music.

I've carefully culled through them for a few days now, preparing for this day — for this vibe. For Election Day 2024, for the possibility of standing in line for hours in one of three states ( New Hampshire and Mississippi round out the triflin' trio) that does not offer early voting.

Alabama doesn't have early voting for one simple reason: Our Republican Secretary of State, Wes Allen, thinks there's an "I" in "We the people..." and simply doesn't like early voting.

"I believe in Election Day, not election month," he recently told my colleague John Sharp . Told him despite record voting in 2020 when Gov. Kay Ivey dropped restrictions on absentee voting due to the pandemic . Record voting without a whiff of the alleged fraud Allen and other GOP leaders in the state claim to be protecting us from.

Told him at a time when our early-voting neighboring state of Georgia saw more than 700,000 votes cast in just three days . As of last night, more than 77 million Americans have already cast their ballots, according to the Washington Post's daily tracker . That's almost half (49%) of the votes cast in the 2020 presidential election.

While in Alabama, we waited. Waited for today to come. Finally.

- "Not Afraid," Eminem

To accompany us during our potentially long wait at the polls, I curated a 20-song playlist that reflects the importance of this day, the critical nature of our votes on day. In this election.

Of this choice.

It's just a sample of the soundtrack of my life—from soul to neo-soul, faith to funk, from rock to rap. It's classic cool. (With a few of my wife's picks in the mix; she's nice to the DJ.)

- "Stand Up for Love," Destiny's Child

Take it with you to the poll, pop in your earbuds and jam whether you stroll right in, find yourself in a line stretching to the next municipality (courtesy Wes Allen) or are at hot sweating the result. They'll make you move (who cares what the folks around you think), and hopefully move you.

- "Purple Rain," Prince

Collectively, it's an empowering and sometimes sobering reminder of where we've been and where we are. Today. Of the choice before us. Today.

Here it is, along with a tantalizing sampling of pertinent lyrics. Enjoy.

What's Goin' On – Marvin Gaye

Think – Aretha Franklin

Let your mind go, let yourself be free...

Get Down on It – Kool & the Gang

(Get your back up off the wall) ...'Cause I heard all the people sayin'

Get down on it, if you really want it...

Evil Ways –

I Trust You – James Fortune

Put Your Hands Together - O'Jays

...'Cause we're gonna sing, "glory, hallelujah"

Not Afraid - Eminem

If you're tryna get out (just lettin' you know that you're not alone)

Stand Up for Love – Destiny's Child

Beat It- Michael Jackson

They told him, "Don't you ever come around here""Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear"

Everyday People – Sly & the Family Stone

Never Give Up – Yolanda Adams

She looks just like me ...

Purple Rain – Prince

Winning – Pastor Mike Jr.

Woke up this morning, I'm blessed ...

Devil already know I'm winnin'...

The Miseducation of Lauren Hill – Lauren Hill

...

No More Tears – Barbara Streisand/Donna Summer

This Time It's Real – Tower of Power

And I knew right from the start ...

Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire

"Boogie Wonderland, Wonderland"

Dance, Boogie Wonderland, hey, hey...

Another Star - Stevie Wonder

I Was Here –

Know there was something that ... I left behind

This last one I'm saving for the moment my ballot slips into the machine, casting my vote for Kamala Harris, the person most qualified to serve as our next president. The person with the character, humanity, and intelligence we need to lead this nation towards the more perfect union our founders challenged us to be.

Cue it, DJ...

Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles

'Cause I'll be back on my feet some day(Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood)

Indeed it is.

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