RIP Richie Havens

Richie Havens I just heard on the radio station WFUV that Richie Havens passed away today of a heart attack at the age of 72. Chimesfreedom previously wrote about Havens’s landmark opening performance at Woodstock when he sang “Freedom (Motherless Child).” Below is a 1971 performance of “Here Comes the Sun.”

Last year, Havens had announced that he was stopping touring because of health concerns. At the moment, there is not much information about his passing on the Internet, but The Roots Agency, his agent, has a statement on their webpage, where they note, “Havens used his music to convey passionate messages of brotherhood and personal freedom.” He also was one of the great interpreters of great songs. For example, in addition to his Beatles interpretation above, below he covers two other great songwriters singing Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” and Bob Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman.”

Nobody will ever have a voice like Richie Havens. RIP.

What is your favorite Richie Havens song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Happy Earth Day: The Earth Rolls On

    Billy Joe Shaver The Earth Rolls On Happy Earth Day, which started in 1970 as a day to spread education about and support for our environment. Today, the day is celebrated around the world, reminding us of our common interest in the earth and the environment.

    During the same month as Earth Day in 2001, Shaver released the album, The Earth Rolls On (2001). On first look, the album has nothing to do with Earth Day. Shaver was a collaboration between country legend Billy Joe Shaver and his son Eddy Shaver, who played some mean guitar. My favorite song on the album is the wonderful title track that closes the album, “The Earth Rolls On,” where Billy Joe Shaver sings “The earth rolls on/Even though you’re gone/The earth rolls on, and on, and on. . . .” So the song is really about loss.

    The song carries a heavy weight for Billy Joe Shaver. He wrote the song about losing his wife Brenda, who passed away from a lenghty illness in 1999 (Shaver had divorced her twice but married her three times). His son Eddy, who plays guitar on the album, passed away suddenly from an accidental drug overdose in December 2000. Although that is Eddy’s guitar wailing at the end of “The Earth Rolls On,” one can almost hear in that incredible solo that he foresaw the pain his father felt not only of Brenda’s death but what a father would feel in losing his son.

    So, in addition to the title, “The Earth Rolls On” is a perfect song for Earth Day. It is about how fragile life is and how we have to cherish and take care of what we have while we have it because everything is temporary. May you celebrate the earth and your loved ones today and every day this year.

    What is your favorite song about the earth? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Van Morrison Live at the Europa

    In October 2012, French radio station TSF Jazz broadcast a live performance by Van Morrison at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, Ireland. The edit features an hour worth of songs from the 90-minute concert, focusing on Morrison’s more jazzy numbers. Press the play button and sit back and listen to Van Morrison take you away.

    September 2015 Update: Unfortunately, the stream is no longer available. So, instead, below is a video of Van Morrison performing “In the Garden” at the Europa Hotel on October 20, 2012.

    The stream features the following songs:

    1. BYE BYE BLACKBIRD
    2. ONLY A DREAM
    3. LET’S GET LOST
    4. WHO CAN I TURN TO?Van Morrison
    5. OPEN THE DOOR (TO YOUR HEART)
    6. MYSTIC OF THE EAST
    7. BABY PLEASE DON’T GO
    8. MOONDANCE
    9. PRECIOUS TIME
    10. HOW CAN A POOR BOY?
    11. KEEP MEDIOCRITY AT BAY
    12. THAT’S LIFE
    13. BALLERINA
    14. BENEDICTION

    What is your favorite Van Morrison song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Three Unusual (But Awesome) Coldplay Covers

    coldplay x&y Songs by Coldplay often seem ripe for reinterpretation despite the fact that lead vocalist Chris Martin does have a great voice. But his voice is so distinctive that sometimes hearing someone else sing a Coldplay song helps reveal another side of the song.

    One cover, which may be the most familiar Coldplay cover because of its use in a Chipolte commercial, is Willie Nelson’s cover of “The Scientist,” which appears on his Heroes (2012) album. Willie Nelson, long known for his ability to interpret songs by other artists, takes the Coldplay song and gives it new meaning.

    His version is further aided by the video from Chipolte that addresses a message more serious than tacos. The accompanying “Back to the Start” short movie by film-maker Johnny Kelly made me see “The Scientist” in a whole new light.

    Another animated video for a Coldplay cover is “Yellow” by Renee & Jeremy on their A Little Love (2012) CD. The singers Renee Stahl and Jeremy Toback record songs together as Renne & Jeremy for listeners of all ages with the idea of recording songs for kids that adults enjoy too.

    The following charming video was created and directed by Jon Izen.

    My favorite cover of a Coldplay song appeared in the movie Young@Heart (2007). The film (reviewed by Cinematical here) is about senior citizens from Massachusetts who formed a singing group called Young@Heart.

    Hearing one of the elderly men sing Coldplay’s “Fix You” when he is himself near death and has lost a number of friends sends chills down your spine, giving the song a meaning that the younger singer cannot quite capture no matter how good they are.



    What is your favorite Coldplay cover? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    New “Man of Steel” Trailer

    man of steel

    On April 18, 1938, Superman made his first appearance in Action Comics No. 1. Just in time for his 75th birthday, we have the new trailer for Man of Steel (2013), which has me excited about the upcoming Superman movie. The trailer shows young Clark Kent struggling to find his identity, beginning with the young child being held by his Krypton father Jor-el played by Russell Crowe and talking to his earthly father played by Kevin Costner.

    With Henry Cavill as the adult Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Michael Shannon as General Zod, the new Zach Snyder film shows a lot of promise for the franchise that has not had a great film since the last time we saw Superman battle General Zod in Superman II in 1980. Check out the trailer.

    Man of Steel comes to your local theater on June 14.

    What is your favorite Superman film? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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