Folk &amp; More

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover from another artist.

Day 17: a song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke.

Day 18: a song from the year you were born.

Day 19: a song that makes you think about life.

Day 20: a song that has many meanings to you.

Day 21: a song with someone’s name in the title.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 21

On February 8, 2018February 8, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 21: a song with a person’s name in the title.

Pretty sure you were expecting Jolene, huh? Well, not this time. The Ballad of Billy Joe is one of the most intriguing song ever written, drawing on blues music and Southern Gothic literature, and carried by the gorgeous voice of Bobbie Gentry. Equally intriguing is Gentry’s sudden and total disappearance from any type of media in search of peace and anonymity when she decided to end her career in the 80s.

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover from another artist.

Day 17: a song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke.

Day 18: a song from the year you were born.

Day 19: a song that makes you think about life.

Day 20: a song that has many meanings to you.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 20

On February 7, 2018February 6, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 20: a song that has many meanings to you.

I’m note sure this is actually a song that has many meanings to me, it’s more a song that is so full of meaning while and the meaning of which, at the same time, constantly escapes me. There is a hint of transcendentalism in Tift Merritt’s Stitch of the World. Or maybe, with its intent on rejecting philosophy to focus on individual experience, something more Dickinsonian, which would explain why I love this song so much.

This World is not Conclusion.
A Species stands beyond-
Invisible, as Music-
But positive, as Sound-
It beckons, and it baffles-

-Emily Dickinson, c. 1862

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover from another artist.

Day 17: a song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke.

Day 18: a song from the year you were born.

Day 19: a song that makes you think about life.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 19

On February 6, 2018February 4, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 19: a song that makes you think about life.

Since I already post Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Girl on day 10, I’ll go with Angel From Montgomery. The song written by John Prine (see yesterday’s post) is brought to life by Bonnie Raitt who, in spite of her youth then, perfectly voiced the sorrows and disillusions of a woman who contemplates her wasted life.

How do we know what we want in life? How can we make sure our choices are the right choices? These are some of the question that this song evoke in me…

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover from another artist.

Day 17: a song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke.

Day 18: a song from the year you were born.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 18

On February 5, 2018February 4, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 18: a song from the year you were born.

1986, John Prine releases German Afternoon, on which one finds his famous Speed of Sound of Loneliness. In 2018, at a glorious 71 years old and after fighting lung cancer in the early 2010s, he still delivers a poignant version of his classic.

Also worth listening are Nanci Griffith’s cover , and Amos Lee‘s.

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover from another artist.

Day 17: a song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 17

On February 4, 2018February 4, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 17: a song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke

Herm, i don’t do karaoke, I do jams, ‘kay? 😀

Anyway, this one is perhaps one of my favorite duet. Who doesn’t love a good old cowboy songs. Not sure I or anyone would be able to recreate these two idiosyncratic voices, though. They’re such a delight to hear, I just wish they’d harmonize at some point…

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover from another artist.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 16

On February 2, 2018February 2, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 15: a song that’s a classic favorite.

Aren’t all country song “classic favorites”? Well, this one sure is, although maybe not in this version. it can still be argued that this version is the original and predates Johnny Cash’s version (which I personally find pretty annoying-really, what’s up with the horns??) Anita Carter’s version will never get out of fashion due to its heartfelt simplicity. A voice, a guitar, and the spell is cast.

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 13: a song you like from the 70s.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover from another artist.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 15

On February 1, 2018February 2, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 15: a song you like that’s a cover by another artist.

Much too much choice: everyone and their dogs have covered everyone and their cats in the world of Americana. But I like that it allows me to post a non-Americana song in a roots version. So thanks to whoever made this challenge, and thanks to Iron & Wine for this cover of one the best songs to have ever grace the pop charts.

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.

Day 14: a song you’d like to be played at your wedding.

30 day song challenge, roots edition-Day 14

On January 31, 2018February 2, 2018 By PitouIn News, Playlist, Web reviewLeave a comment

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Day 14: a song you’d love to be played at your wedding.

Really a no-brainer. I heard this for the first time on the Transamerica soundtrack without knowing anything about the artist. It came at such a poignant moment of the movie and it fits the story so well I didn’t even notice it was a love song. I don’t know what else I could say besides quoting its simple and yet perfect lyrics and gently sob.

If its love you want
Hold out your arms
It’s all right here its safe and warm
It’s OK to feel good
That’s the way it should be
Everything we have is fresh and new
I will open myself up to you like a rose, like a rose

Previously:

Day 4: a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.