So haunting it’s damn near a suicide dirge. Former Swans co-vocalist Jarboe performs one of the most bleak, desolate covers of this classic torch song penned by Arthur Hamilton.
Pop
[Music] The Beatles – Blackbird
Though my favorite Beatles song is George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps (in a bare acoustic setting), this is definitely #2 as I get older.
[Music] Scott Walker – The Seventh Seal
How many people do you know who could seamlessly pull off an Ingmar Bergman reference in a song? Scott Walker does so admirably.
[Music] Pelageya – Ptashechka (Live)
I’m quite new to the work of Russian pop singer Pelageya. From Novosibirsk, Siberia, this songbird comes from a classical music background, having once been invited by legendary Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich to perform in France along with other luminaries, including Ravi Shankar and B. B. King.
Though I find the live version wonderfully sparse, I’m including the studio version for the sake of comparison below:
[Music] Fairouz – Biktud Ismak Ya Habibi
Fairouz is the nightingale of the Arab pop world. Here’s an album’s worth of hits for you to hear.
[Music] Fanfara Tirana meets Transglobal Underground – No Guns To The Wedding
Albanian gypsy music meeting electronica, perfectly balanced? Kudos who Fanfare Tirana and Transglobal Underground for this massive hit!
[Music] Elina Duni Quartet – Ka nje mot e gjysem viti
Perhaps Albania’s most beautiful export, Swiss-based jazz singer Elina Duni captivates with this tune.
[Music] Gloria Jones – Tainted Love
Everyone knows the great cover Soft Cell did of this classic 60s slab of soul, but few remember that this cut by Gloria Jones is the original!
[Video] Nolan “N. F.” Porter – Keep On Keepin’ On
Nolan (then known as N. F.) Porter was an American Northern Soul singer whose hit, which we’re hearing now, would be the catalyst for Joy Division getting signed to a major label. While the band scrapped their attempt at covering the song, the guitar lick would serve as the foundation of their track, Interzone, as heard below:
For more on the story between N.F. Porter and Joy Division, check out this post by OpinEars.
[Video] Chico Buarque – O Meu Amor
Uma das melhores obras de Chico Buarque, dedicado a minha Mari.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 