Hare Krishna in music

During the Hare Krishna explosion in the late 60s, saw many famous musicians incorporate the "Hare Krishna" maha-mantra in their music. If you were around at that time, see if can identify some of the artists. And for those late comers:) it will confirm what impact the "Hare Krishna Movement" had in the music industry.

   

• The Hare Krishna mantra can be heard sung by George Harrison in his song "My Sweet Lord" within the backing vocals.

• The mantra was released as a single by the Radha Krsna Temple on The Beatles' Apple Records label (see Apple Records discography)

• The words "Hare Krishna" are included in the lyrics of several of The Beatles and John Lennon songs, such as " Give Peace A Chance" and "I Am the Walrus". "Hare Krishna" can also be heard in the backing vocals of Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy", which was produced by George Harrison and co-written by Starr and Harrison (although credited to Starr).

• Kula Shaker include various Vedic mantras and names of Krishna in their songs, especially in the famous 'Govinda' track.

• The song Hare Krsna is on Husker Du's album, Zen Arcade, and includes the mantra.

• Boy George's track "Bow Down Mister" includes the Hare Krishna mantra and other references to the Hare Krishnas.

• The Hare Krishna mantra can also be heard on Stevie Wonder's song "Pastime Paradise" from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life in the background vocals.

• Rapper KRS-One was influenced by the Hare Krishna movement as a young man. His name derives from "Krishna".

• When recreating Eric Clapton's Gibson ES-335, there was a Hare Krishna sticker that had to be reproduced on the back of the headstock.

• Also heard in the Original Broadway Cast Hair in the song, "Be-In", although used in a context of marijuana use at which the Krishnas would look askance.

• Nina Hagen has included the mantra on a number of songs, including "I Love Paul" from the 1983 disco-punk Fearless album.

• Tenacious D have created a song they played live about the Hare Krishnas, called "Hare Krishna".

• Placebo have included the mantra in a song called "Hare Krishna", a b-side to the "36 Degrees" single.

• In his 1992 album Relentless, stand-up comedian Bill Hicks refers to the Hare Krishna followers as "the fifth largest army in the world".

• Undrop's single "Train" features the Hare Krishna mantra at the end of the song.

• The Hare Krishna mantra makes a short appearance in the Jedi Mind Tricks song "Books of Blood: The Coming of Tan" on The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness.

• Dayton, Ohio melodic death metal/crust punk band Hare Krishna derive their name from it.

• The mixed Scottish/Hungarian Hare Krishna band known as 'The Gouranga Powered Band' use the chant frequently throughout their records.

• The Auteurs have a song called Sick Of Hari Krisna on their album How I Learned to Love the Bootboys, in which the title is sung repeatedly.