Late Night Music Club with k.d. lang
By Howie Klein Wednesday Feb 20, 2008 10:00pm"Bird on a Wire" is one of Leonard Cohen's classic songs. k.d. lang covered it on an album of her favorite Canadian songs, Hymns of the 49th Parallel in 2004, thirty-six years after Cohen wrote it. Her sensuous cover is one of the best anyone has ever done-- and the song has been done by some real great from Johnny Cash, Judy Collins and Joe Cocker to the Neville Brothers and Willie Nelson. Pretty powerful lyrics captured with all their intense emotion by one of the great song stylists of our time:
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The term "ragged glory" springs to mind.
She is brilliant,as is he.
Rita Coolidge did the BEST version of this song
This from today's version of Democracy Now with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez...
WILLIE NELSON: There’s another verse on there, but I have to watch profanity. So I got to remember not to say those words.
JUAN GONZALEZ: The FCC is watching, yes. I’d like to ask you about one of your views or perspectives that’s raised a lot of controversy, obviously, your sense of—or your reaction to what happened on 9/11 and your questions that you have about the events of that terrible day.
WILLIE NELSON: Well, I have a lot of questions. I think a lot of people have a lot of questions. I think 85 or 90 percent of the people in this country say, “What?” I mean, a plane hit this building, and it fell kind of like that. And another plane hit that building, and it fell kind of like that. About the same time it fell, this one fell the same way. It looked like an implosion somewhere, you know? And then, all of a sudden, the third building fell, and no plane hit it. So, naturally, I’ve got questions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh8lWF4iRP8 (47 second clip)
I have been to literally hundreds of concerts, and k.d.'s Absolute Torch and Twang tour is among my top five favorites.
She is an incredible performer.
OK, I'm a big Hot Tuna, Jorma Koukonen fan...but here's version of "Down and Out" that Big Bill wouold be impressed with. By the way, I think this young lday is the new love interest of the President of France....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkVkyeUbsKA
Sorry, forgot the link...
I'm a Cohen fan and have collected as many covers of his work as I can find. I really like Perla Batalla's version of "Bird...". You may also want to check out her cover of "Ballad Of The Absent Mare" with David Hidalgo. Another fave is her Spanish version of "Dance Me To The End Of Love", "Baila Con Migo Amor".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E25ZTfuMpIA&feature=related
On the Day Malclom X was killed i'll let this bunch do the talking ;)
Wake up - Rage Against The Machine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1T8xgHdMEM
kd was interview recently and said that if she ruled the world the first thing she would do is enforce separation of church and state. Just one more reason why I love her.
BAC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvG8S5_Z-cM
2008 Brit Awards Paul McCartney doing Live and Let Die and Hey Jude
Thanks for highlighting this tune-it's one of my all time favorites. This version is quite different from my favorite by Judy Collins (on her album "Who Knows Where the Time Goes") but great also.
k.d. lang was my next door neighbour for eight years here in tinsel town. Loved those warm afternoons when everyone's windows in our little hollow of hills were open and she'd be doin somethin' with an acoustic and that mellifluous voice. (s..i..g..h) Almost enough to turn me lesbian.
There was a thread awhile back about which songs produced a frisson. This Cohen cover does it for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJMsIaRYDQ
Howie, you forgot to mention that Tom Cochrane also covered this great song.
Can't find a vid.
quite possibly the best vocalist alive.
I still have the Rita Coolidge album with this song. It isn't on YouTube, but check out Kris and Rita, "Help Me Make It Through The Night." My word, Rita is a pretty woman :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=45-6duFvfuI
K.D. Lang is amazing. But the quintessential version of this song was recorded by Jennifer Warnes, from "Famous Blue Raincoat". This is the first cut from that album, featuring Stevie Ray on guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DinvTZ85OtI
KD Lang - Crying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cc8TI1KomU
some easy listening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo6lqu7kKIg - Ministry - Burning Inside
For this song I much prefer Jennifer Warnes.
It's in her Famous Blue Raincoat album -
http://jenniferwarnes.com/pages/fbr20.html
She is so incredible - gives me shivers up the other leg!
marko @ 15:
yes.she is very,very gifted.
Every song an invitation to prayer-to meditation.
Peace.
Thanks for that. Two of my all time faves!
Jennifer Warnes: I have listened to her albums, all of them, many dozens of times. I think her version of "Bird on a Wire" is definitive.
As far as I can tell, niether she nor kd ever performs a song badly.
Leonard Cohen and kd lang - two of my favorite artists ever. thanks - this made my day.
Petert G...Madi Peyroux's cover of "Dance Me To The End Of Love" is pretty damn good too.
And I'm in full agreement with the fans of Jennifer Warrens "Famous Blue Raincoat"! I strongly urge you to check out Perla Batalla's collection of Cohen covers "Bird On The Wire" (iTunes or through perla.com). Perla (along with Julie Christensen) has been Leonard's back up singer on his concert tours. Of course, the soundtrack to "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" tribute is a must-have!
Regrettably, John left out one of the best covers ever sung by Tim Hardin..try it...you'l like it
She ought to date Crispin Glover.
that is a great song, but the video is truly horrible
shoephone @ 17:
I agree The Warnes version is my absolute favorite. The entire album is brilliant. I do love k.d., though!
Used to run into Leonard on the plateau in Montreal fairly regularly, and he always had a kind word when greeted by people on the street. A couple times I walked by his place and he would be out on the porch and would say hi to me. Not many superstars like that in this world.
Very good cover of a very excellent Cohen.
Size of hands. HGH good for bipolar? I'll bet yes.
You didn't mention Dave Van Ronk's version, which is still my favorite.
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