Eva Cassidy - Songbird
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Free Music Notes for Songbird
Free Music Review: An extraordinary singer
Hit: 5 Stars
Eva Cassidy didn't want fame - she was happy just to sing what she wanted at local venues, never considering that she was any better than many other local singers, performing up and down the land in clubs and bars. Others knew differently but record company scouts heard her diverse material and were put off. They liked her voice but wanted her to specialize, so Eva never got that major recording contract. Meanwhile, a local producer took every opportunity to record her over a period of several years. We are fortunate that he did as it is provided a treasure trove that is gradually being exposed. Eva's premature death from skin cancer became the subject of a newspaper article, following which many records were sold. The legend of Eva Cassidy, the blonde lady who could sing the blues and much else besides, began to spread across America and around the world. Eva's eclectic mix of songs appealed to millions of people, especially in Britain where this compilation became the first of three of her albums made it to number one in the album charts.
If Eva were to specialize, she would have been a jazz and blues singer - there is more jazz and blues in her music than anything else. However, pop and folk music are also strong influences. Here you can find covers of Fields of gold (Sting), Autumn leaves (a French song that became an American standard after translation into English), Wayfaring stranger (a traditional folk song interpreted as a jazz song), Songbird (Fleetwood Mac - a song from their classic album, Rumours), People get ready (Curtis Mayfield), Oh I had a golden thread (Pete Seeger) and Over the rainbow (Judy Garland). Eva sings each song her way, always managing to do something different with each song - even Over the rainbow, which has been recorded by so many different singers down the years.
As an introduction to Eva's music, this is outstanding. You may think you know many of the songs already, but unless you've heard Eva sing them, you haven't really. If, by some fluke, you haven't heard any of Eva's music, give her a listen.
Free Music Review: YOU HAVE GOT TO HEAR THIS ANGEL!!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
While watching "Nightline" about two-three weeks ago, they were telling a story about this singer. As the announcer spoke about her, you could hear her voice singing "Over The Rainbow" in a way I have never heard before. It was one of the most beautiful and haunting voices I have ever heard. That nite I stopped what I was doing, and just listened. They also played a little of "What A Wonderful World." It was sooo beautiful. I immediately thought "where can I get a cd of this Eva Cassidy?" As I listened to this man talking about her, and the way she could sing, he went on to say that she had passed away in 1996. I could not believe my ears-----I felt I had just found out about this beautiful singer, and she was gone!!! As soon as the program was over I went...and looked up her name, and found some cd's that she had recorded before she died of melanoma at age 33!!!! As soon as the cd's came, (I also ordered "Live from Blues Alley"), she is always singing in my car, at home, and I even put her cd on in the shop where I work, and people have asked me who she is! What an amazing voice! She sings ballads, jazz, gospel, and her range is unreal. When she sings, I hear a little "Carly Simon", "June Christy", "Mahalia Jackson". In some of her ballads, she sings so sweetly, so cool, then in another song, she belts it out!...she packs so much into that voice from that little body. All I can say is if you have not heard this young lady, pick up at least one of her cd's. She DOES have the voice of an angel!I am, oh, so sad to think she had to leave us when many of us did not know she existed. Her lucky friends----they must have been devastated with her passing, but they had the opportunity to actually know her and hear her put her heart in the songs she has recorded. I cannot say enough about Eva Cassidy. I hope she's, somehow, looking down at us, knowing how much we are enjoying her magnificent voice.
Thank you "Nightline", you always come thru when I'm looking for something special. This time it was SO SPECIAL!!!
Free Music Review: Intensity of Voice & Clarity of Soul Wring Out Deep Emotions
Hit: 5 Stars
How can words adequately express the incredible extent to which Eva Cassidy can transfix your attention upon her mesmerizing voice? How can you describe the way in which her pure and powerful vocal abilities and melodic interpretations pull you straight into the lyrics, to the point where you find it difficult to separate your life experience with that of the song writer? You start the audio oddysey with track one of the CD and soon you are hooked like a junky, eagerly awaiting to discover how her rich, clear and powerful voice is going to be showcased in yet another distinct musical dimension. By track three you realize that her interpretive style and vocal delivery is so compelling that you find yourself overwhelmed with complex emotions conjured up from the depths of--you're not sure where. By track five you're startled that for the first time in your life, you find that you like a cover better than the original artist's rendition--even though the original comes from your here-to-fore favorite album. By track nine, as you contemplate how there hasn't yet been a single disappointing track on the entire album, your hair slowly raises on the back of your neck in response to the building intensity and purity of her voice as it transitions from soft, plaintive melody to the white-hot tonal emotions released in the upper-upper registers common to Gospel influenced R&B. Just when you are regaining your composure and collecting your emotions for the last track, she takes you up--and over the top--with the most compelling rendition of "Over the Rainbow" you have ever in your life imagined possible. When the CD is finished and the silence returns to the room, you slowly recover from the shock and you know that you'll never really listen to music in the same way again. Eva Cassidy's superlative performance in each of a half-dozen musical genres ultimatley succedes in changing your perspective on music appreciation. I will always wonder why the good Lord decided to take her away from us so early.Free Music Review: Vocal Brilliance Personified In This Songbird
Hit: 5 Stars
For the first time in a long time, one CD has completely captivated my attention and has not left my CD player in weeks. To say that I would highly recommend the CD is an understatement. One listen to Songbird by Eva Cassidy will have the very same effect upon those who appreciate a vocalist's ability to convey every possible emotion with the mere power of the voice. With her voice, Cassidy weaves a tapestry of emotion and delivers her songs with a beautiful crystal clarity which speaks for itself and though she commands a wonderful range with her voice, her vocals are never overstated. The vocal and accoustic instrumental arrangements on the CD are simple and clean, which is a large part of their appeal. Her talent can easily equal any of today's contemporary female singers. In fact, she goes a step further than most other singers are able to go, with her ability to interpret well-known standards and current favorites in such a unique manner that the songs take on a completely different feel from the original versions. Anyone can remake a song, but Cassidy is able to personalize the tracks she chooses so well that she makes the songs she sings her very own. On Songbird, she manages to take Sting's "Fields Of Gold" and by slowing down the tempo, puts a completely different spin on the song than heard on the original version and she takes a classic song like "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" to new dimensions and gives it a thoughtful heart and soul never heard before. One emotion listening Songbird has left me with time and time again is regret that the scope of Cassidy's talent and untapped potential she had as an artist won't ever be recognized, for she passed away and left us much too soon. Still, before she flew heavenward, this songbird left us with a small body of work to enjoy that will be timeless. Hopefully, more people will continue to discover the sound and wonder that was Eva Cassidy, and like me, they'll be glad they did.Free Music Review: Eva Cassidy...from a man's point of view.
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm sitting here tonight reading all the reviews for her CD on Amazon and let me tell you, (yes...once again,) that they are all true. Lots of folks have decided to write their first experience upon hearing Eva for the first time. Well here is mine.
I'm a HUGE heavy metal and hard rock fan. I have listened to everything from Black Sabbath to Deicide. One day, I decided to find a cover of "Over The Rainbow" by a guitar player called Chris Impellittari on a file sharing program. Well, after finding nearly two dozen covers by as many artists, Eva's version came up as well. Since my twin sons LOVED Wizard of Oz...I downloaded several versions from different artists to see which they'd like best burnt on a CD. As fate would have it...I heard Eva's version...and I'm now a changed man because of it.
I have always had a soft side for female vocals. I have Enya CDs' along with The Cranberries etc. etc...but this was something totally different. Eva's voice...that sweet, lifting voice, was all it took for me to buy this CD. I have cried more tears listening to this CD than any other in my life. How is it possible that a MAN..who's into screaming guitars and screaming singers can literally CRY over a woman's voice? I can't answer that...but I think that there is something really DEEP in most of us, that gets touched by angelic voices that make us turn into melted heaps of sobbing flesh.
I simply do NOT understand those people that have reviewed her music and give it anything less than 4 stars. And for the people that give it just 1...you really, REALLY have to wonder what lobe of their brain has been damaged for them not to appreciate something so beautiful and pure.
If you ride a Harley, drink beer on Sunday, and think that women are emotional creatures....do yourself a favor. Buy this CD, play it when everyone's out, and enjoy it with a box of Kleenex.