Other artists

I thought I'd list some clips that I like, because I can.  What impresses?  Sometimes it's the song itself, or the way the performer delivers it.  Joan Baez for example makes her version of Bob Dylan's 'Forever young' distinctly her own.  This section is mainly for fun but if you like, also for raising points for thought and comparison. I may update the selection from time to time based purely on whim.  At the very least, you'll get some idea of the kinds of music I like.  At best you'll find something new that you can savour.

The first two clips are two versions of 'Sonny's dream'.  First up is the original version by it's Canadian writer Ron Hynes, as performed  at the 2008 Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival.  The second clip is a cover of his song, performed by John Hurley, an artist in County Kerry, Ireland.  John's version has his own style but uses lyrics and a version popularised by Mary Black (also from Ireland).  I think they're both good, I like them both but which version do you like, the original or the remake?

The third clip was a Joan Baez number but was unfortunately withdrawn from YouTube.  In its place is a performance by Hop Soup of a song titled 'Soup'.  I supposed that's pretty appropriate.  This trio show how live performances should be, with their banter that can only really work in a venue where you can engage with the audience.  The fourth clip is a little known band (well at least nowadays) called 'Old and in the way' with their version of the traditional tune 'Pig in a Pen'.  It's one of those melodies which just finds people (hill-billy or not)  tapping their toes and sometimes even dancing.  A lot of bluegrass players like this tune played a lot faster, with blisteringly fast banjo and fiddle but I personally like this pace more enjoyable.

The fifth clip has the Cox Family singing 'I am weary let me rest'.  This is a beautiful song written during the American Civil War and probably refers to a soldier's dying moments.  The sound engineer has lowered the volume on the instrument microphones to emphasise vocals, perhaps a little bit too much, but that's not the performer's fault.  You can find this and many other impressive songs on the soundtrack to the film 'O Brother where art thou'.  It's worth buying, I've got my copy!

The last song was Lady Franklin's Lament played by Flemming Behrend, but unfortunately Flemming decided to withdraw this clip from YouTube.  In its place is a performance by Hanneke Cassel and her band playing 'A Couple of Scottish Strathspeys'.  Whilst I don't care much for David's dancing (ha ha!) this music is absolutely first rate.  The talent is blatantly obvious particularly when the group does a tempo change and all the musicians follow Hanneke's lead.