Category: Music

Remembering Johnny Cash During “September When It Comes”

Johnny Cash, who passed away in September 2003, recorded a moving duet with his daughter Rosanne Cash on “September When It Comes.”

Johnny Cash Roseanne I plan to crawl outside these walls,
Close my eyes and see.
And fall into the heart and arms,
Of those who wait for me.

The month makes me think of the lovely duet between Johnny Cash and his daughter Rosanne Cash on “September When It Comes.” The song appeared on Rosanne’s excellent album, Rules of Travel (2003), and she wrote it with her husband and producer John Leventhal. The song is a reflection on mortality, and it is given extra gravitas by the voice of the ailing Johnny, who passed away on September 12, 2003, just months after the CD was released.

A video of the song was shown at the Johnny Cash Memorial Tribute concert held in November 2003 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Rosanne Cash’s website explains that many of the photos in the montage came from the family’s private photo collection and had never been seen by the public before this tribute.

The tribute concert is no longer on YouTube, but the following seems to be the same video used at the tribute concert. This official video from Rosanne Cash features amazing family photos.

I particularly love the song’s beautiful lines about aging and remembering one’s youth and recognizing that maybe it was not quite as one remembers it.

I cannot move a mountain now;
I can no longer run.
I cannot be who I was then:
In a way, I never was.

I often do not remember the dates that people died for various reasons. But because of Johnny Cash’s duet on “September When It Comes,” I cannot help remembering that he passed away during the month of September.  Of course, September will always be a month that our generation of Americans associate with mortality because of the terrorist attacks that occurred in 2001. So, in honor of Johnny and others who passed away in Septembers past, lets resolve to enjoy these September days because you never know how many more will come.

What is your favorite photo in the montage of the “September When It Comes” tribute? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Queen Latifah’s Jazzy Anthem

    Chimesfreedom previously examined some of the famous versions of “The Star Spangled Banner” performed at sporting events, and it looks like there is another interesting version to add. Last night at the NFL season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, Queen Latifah took a jazzy take on the National Anthem, somewhat reminiscent of the famous Marvin Gaye version. Many are divided on whether or not they like it, but I do like it.

    Check it out for yourself.



    What do you think of Queen Latifah’s take on the National Anthem? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Elton John Plays at Princess Diana’s Funeral

    elton john princess diana's funeral

    This week on September 6, 1997, an estimated 2.6 billion people around the world watched on television the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. Before the death of the 36 year-old Diana Spencer in a car crash in Paris, people around the world admired her since her fairytale wedding through the end of her marriage and through her humanitarian work. Her tragic death at her young age catapulted her to an icon status like other celebrities who had died at young ages.

    So it was not surprising how well the Elton John and Bernie Taupin song “Candle in the Wind,” originally written about Marilyn Monroe easily translated into a ballad about the English Rose. If you watched this performance at Westminster Abbey on TV all those years ago, the odds are good that you did not make it through with dry eyes.

    What do you remember most about Princess Diana’s funeral? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    A Look Back: Kelly Clarkson Crowned First “American Idol”

    american idol anniversaryOn September 4, 2002, the first season of American Idol came to a close as they announced that Kelly Clarkson beat Justin Guarini for the top spot. It is difficult to believe it has been so long since the crowning of one of the most successful artists (if not the most successful singer) to come out of any reality television show.

    I still remember the sense that everyone knew that Clarkson would win and then came Guarini’s over-the-top reaction but still genuine happiness for Clarkson.  It also was our last time seeing Brian Dunkleman on stage co-hosting the season with Ryan Seacrest, who continued as a solo host in subsequent seasons.

    But the most memorable part of it all was seeing Clarkson’s joy as she broke down in tears while singing her coronation song, “A Moment Like This.”

    What we did not know then was how long American Idol, which was based on a British show Pop Idol, would continue and would be popular in various formats around the world. We also had no idea how that season helped transform American television into a factory for many lesser reality shows.

    American Idol also was part of a sea change in the music business.  New technologies challenged some talented struggling artists, leaving much of the market to reality show artists.

    In other ways, the September 2002 finale also was a sign of a return to normalcy one year after the events of September 11, 2001.  Once again Americans showed they could care so much for something silly. There is probably something wrong with that, but at the time the show just seemed like a lot of fun.

    What do you think of the legacy of American Idol? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    James Taylor on How to Play “Fire and Rain”

    James Taylor recently started posting guitar lesson videos on his website. For us guitar players it is cool to see how he plays some of his classic songs. To be honest, I am not that great of a player so could use some additional illustrations for some of the chords, not to mention I do not have the fingernails for the intricate picking he does.

    But even if you are not a guitar player, it is still cool to get an intimate view of the guitar playing like you have never seen it before. In the clip below, he plays “Fire and Rain.”

    Who would you like to see give video guitar lessons? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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