Today is the birthday of the wonderful Emmylou Harris, whose ethereal voice has brought me joy for many years. I had the pleasure of watching her in concert two years ago, and I was impressed by her talent with both vocals and guitar, and her onstage work ethic--she sang well and long, and treated us to one of the finest concerts we'd ever seen. One of my favorite songs is Emmy's version of Nanci Griffith's "Gulf Coast Highway," which Emmy originally sang with Willie Nelson, but it can be viewed here in a performance with Dave Mathews:
The thing about Emmylou's voice is that it captures something about the mystery and sadness of the human experience, and yet it offers continual hope with its lonely, beautiful, hill-girl sound.
And who can resist those beautiful lyrics: "When she dies, she says she'll catch some blackbird's wing, and she will fly away to heaven, come some sweet blue bonnet spring."
She enhances everything she sings, and her voice is one of the true representative voices of our time.
Happy Birthday, Emmylou!
(image link here)
6 comments:
Absolutely lovely. This song gives me chills.
And it stays with you, doesn't it? I expect to be humming it all day. :)
Emmy Lou...doesn't get much better (As the Oak Ridge Boys sang, "Heaven is a girl named Emmy Lou.") Boulder to Birmingham is favorite. As is Deeper Well. As is practically here entire catalog.
Thanks for reminding me to go find her CDs. It has been far too long!
I have a few, but I could always have a few more. :)
Thanks for the comment!
I love her recent CD with Mark Knoffler, who has to be one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Have you heard it? Some lovely original tunes on that one.
Dani
I haven't--I'll have to check that out. I've never really heard much of Dire Straits' music, but I know Knoffler is supposed to be great.
The guy playing guitar on Emmy's right is Buddy Miller, and he's fantastic. He played with her when we saw her live.
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