{"id":21310,"date":"2025-07-21T18:16:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T01:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/?p=21310"},"modified":"2025-07-21T18:17:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T01:17:31","slug":"video-premiere-for-dana-cooper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/2025\/07\/video-premiere-for-dana-cooper\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO PREMIERE for DANA COOPER"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Video Premiere &amp; Web-Exclusive Interview<\/h3>\n<h1>Musician: DANA COOPER<\/h1>\n<h2>Lyric Video Premiere: \u201cBEND MY KNEE\u201d<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TUM2cl3uP0Y?si=7EictcQEhV3_klVX\" width=\"660\" height=\"420\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>DANA COOPER PREMIERES POWERFUL, TIMELY LYRIC VIDEO \u201cBEND MY KNEE\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>Dana Cooper premieres his new powerful, timely lyric video \u201cBend My Knee,\u201d which captures the essence of why Cooper continues to write, unapologetically, from the heart.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper is the recipient of multiple artistic acknowledgments, including the Nashville Music Award Nomination Best Pop Album. After over 50 years of performing and recording, he has released 32 studio albums.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21313\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-portrait.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-portrait.jpeg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-portrait-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-portrait-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>What is one main thing you learned about yourself after writing \u201cBend My Knee\u201d\u2014this powerful and timely song that so many of us need right now?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt was time to vent my frustration and write a song that resonated with so many other people going through the same anxieties.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You\u2019ve always written from the heart\u2014whether it\u2019s about your beliefs, injustice, politics, love\u2014you don\u2019t hold back. But we are now in unique and scary times. Were you tempted to hold back this time? Were you afraid to say some things?<\/strong><br \/>\nI hesitated for a while, reluctant to upset some of my listeners. For a long time I have tried to gain fans and not alienate people. The outrageousness of our current leadership brought me to a point where I couldn\u2019t hold back any longer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>There are so many who feel helpless during this unique political time\u2014where people are trying to suppress voices. What can we do to keep the faith\u2014and realize our voice still matters?<\/strong><br \/>\nThere is a powerful movement bent on suppressing free speech, the press, outspoken artists. While we still have some free speech remaining, it is imperative we exercise it. Bruce Springsteen really kicked open the door for other songwriters to step up to the plate.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21312\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-No-Kings-live.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-No-Kings-live.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-No-Kings-live-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-No-Kings-live-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Other than spread the heck out of this song so that everyone hears this important, timely song\u2014what would you like the listener to leave with\u2014after hearing this song?<\/strong><br \/>\nI hope people feel empowered to voice their resistance to policies that go against the very fiber of what the USA was founded on. Sometimes all we need is to know we are not helpless\u2014that there are others who feel the same way we do.<\/p>\n<p><strong>We hope this is part of a collection of songs\u2014because we need more songs like this. We need songwriters like you to be our collective voice. Are there more timely songs like this that you\u2019ve written or are in the process of writing?<\/strong><br \/>\nI am in the midst of writing a collection of songs for another album project. As usual, I\u2019m covering a wide range of topics. But yes, there are a few songs in the works that address the issues we face going forward.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What song from your vast catalog is similar to this song? Or maybe is a companion piece or a must listen to song\u2014that will help us better understand you and how you have always championed speaking your mind.<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cSit This One Out\u201d is a song about the power of boycotting. \u201cOrphan Army\u201d is a song paralleling my father\u2019s wartime experience with those of a young Iraq war veteran. \u201cWorld of Hurt\u201d is another song addressing the effects of war on our veterans. \u201cMy America\u201d is my view on our history and my love for what we ideally stand for.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You\u2019ve written with other songwriters who weren\u2019t afraid to speak their mind. Is there a song by someone else that you like listening to\u2014that continues to inspire you?<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are so many: Don Henry \u201cBeautiful Fool,\u201d Bob Dylan \u201cWith God on Our Side,\u201d Gerry O\u2019Beirne \u201cThe Holy Ground,\u201d Buffy Saint-Marie \u201cMy Country \u2019tis of Thy People You\u2019re Dying,\u201d and Eric Bogle \u201cThe Band Played Waltzing Matilda.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>You were friends with Tom Prasada-Rao\u2014a musician we lost way too soon on Juneteenth, 2024. Tell us about a song you wrote together (and recently recorded)\u2014\u201cSong for Myself\u201d on The Ghost of Tucumcari. Do you still play that song live? Why is that song still so special to you?<\/strong><br \/>\nTom was simply one of the kindest men I\u2019ve known\u2014also one of the most musical beings. For decades, whenever we met\u2014we would say let\u2019s write a song together. Finally, toward the end of his life, we shared a concert together, and that night as I listened to Tom sing and play\u2014a melody came to me. I showed it to Tom, and in the next few days we finished \u201cSong for Myself.\u201d I play the song almost every night! Each time, I do I feel Tom\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21311\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-Bend-My-Knee-cover-art.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-Bend-My-Knee-cover-art.jpeg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-Bend-My-Knee-cover-art-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dana-Cooper-Bend-My-Knee-cover-art-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice would you like to offer other songwriters who want to stand up and speak their mind right now?<\/strong><br \/>\nDon\u2019t be afraid, even if you are. We live in volatile times, and our vocation is threatened into extinction. You may lose some fans but you will probably gain even more.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s next for you? How can new fans stay updated?<\/strong><br \/>\nRight now, I\u2019m gratefully on a writing streak. Along with \u201cBend My Knee,\u201d I\u2019ve begun recording some songs for a new album. Not sure when it will be finished, but I plan on releasing some singles over the upcoming months. I\u2019m on Facebook and Instagram but the best way for folks to keep ups with what I\u2019m doing is on my website https:\/\/www.danacoopermusic.com<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.danacoopermusic.com\/<br \/>\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Dana-Cooper-Music\/100071047601833\/<br \/>\nhttps:\/\/www.indieairradio.com\/artists\/a-f\/dana-cooper\/<br \/>\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/danacoopermusic\/<br \/>\nhttps:\/\/www.patreon.com\/join\/danacooper<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Video Premiere &amp; Web-Exclusive Interview Musician: DANA COOPER Lyric Video Premiere: \u201cBEND MY KNEE\u201d DANA COOPER PREMIERES POWERFUL, TIMELY LYRIC VIDEO \u201cBEND MY KNEE\u201d Dana Cooper premieres his new powerful, timely lyric video \u201cBend My Knee,\u201d which captures the essence of why Cooper continues to write, unapologetically, from the heart. Cooper is the recipient of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7725],"tags":[14836,13518,3592,969,15112,13522,13523,15113,15114,15115,7566,3010,7978,14854,15118,14863,7730,15110,15116,15119,15123,15124,15126,15111,15117,15120,15121,15122,15125],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21310"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21310"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21316,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21310\/revisions\/21316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}