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  • Tori Kelly Offers Foreword To 2014

    You know Tori Kelly already, but you’re forgiven if you can’t quite place her.

    Last year’s “Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly” grabbed lots of attention including Billboard’s iconic “Heatseekers” chart and a top 10 iTunes pop chart placement.  Or maybe you remember her appearing in “America’s Most Talented Kids” at age 12 or getting to Hollywood Week on season 9 of “American Idol” at 18.

    Maybe you know her from the viral YouTube channel with more than 56 million views.

    Yeah, that’s it.

    Everyone has managed to catch a Tori Kelly video by now, especially after an appearance on “The Ellen Show”for the new single Dear No One.  I spent a big part of today with Tori on shuffle, and the “Dear No One” track, complete with a video filmed on location by Brooklyn, has an infectious chorus and showcases her crazy range.  A musical chameleon,  there is something on her Tori Kelly’s “Foreword”, the brand new EP, for everyone.

    Ballads like “Paper Hearts” and “Daydream” are gorgeous and showcase even more of her voice than the bouncier up-tempo tracks.  The range among the new five songs is well worth space in your music rotation.

    What’s coming in 2014? Maybe that long rumored full album? “I’m just excited to be doing what I love and sharing part of myself through my music. I feel like “Foreword”, the “Dear No One” video and& my tour are just an introduction to what’s coming in 2014,” said Kelly on her way to making “Dear No One” the iTunes single of the week.

    “I’m always very real in my songwriting—I’m not trying to put on a mask or hide behind any kind of gimmick,” says Kelly, who lists artists as eclectic as Lauren Hill, Jill Scott, Jeff Buckley, and Maxwell as key inspirations. “No matter what I’m going to do my own thing. So when people tell me that they relate to my songs, or that something I’ve written really connects with them, that’s just the best feeling in the world.”

    Have a look at the new video and then find out about her blitzing two week tour opening tonight in Colorado.

    Tori Kelly Tour Dates

    6 DENVER, CO – GOTHIC THEATRE
    8 AUSTIN, TX – CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
    9 DALLAS, TX – PROPHET BAR
    10 HOUSTON, TX – HOUSE OF BLUES
    12 ATLANTA, GA – THE LOFT
    13 CARRBORO, NC – CAT’S CRADLE
    14 WASHINGTON, DC – FILMORE
    15 PHILADELPHIA, PA – TLA
    17 BOSTON, MA – SINCLAIR
    18 NEW YORK, NY – IRVING PLAZA
    20 TORONTO, ON – OPERA HOUSE
    21 CHICAGO, IL – HOUSE OF BLUES
    22 DES MOINES, IA – WOOLY’S
    23 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – VARSITY

  • Magnificent covers by women…

    Magnificent covers by women…

    A friend of mine introduced me to one of the most magnificent covers by women I have ever heard…

    And today’s post on PopRockNation is inspired by that discovery. The well-respected and long performing Seattle based band Heart is well-known for great original songs. But they’ve also done some great cover versions of classic songs. The other night, a Facebook friend posted a video from 2012, showing Ann and Nancy Wilson performing Led Zeppelin’s epic anthem, “Stairway to Heaven”. Listening to the Wilson sisters play Zeppelin made me think of all the women out there who have made magnificent cover versions of songs, turning them into something of their own.


    They were joined by John Bonham’s son, Jason, who played drums.

    This particular version of “Stairway to Heaven” brings tears to my eyes, just as it does the members of Led Zeppelin. And what a treat it is to watch the members of the audience react, too. I always knew Heart had a thing for Led Zeppelin’s music, having heard them cover “Rock and Roll” and “The Battle of Evermore”. They always do a wonderful job whenever they pay tribute to another band by covering a song. Heart has done some of the most magnificent covers I have ever heard.


    Heart performs “The Battle of Evermore” live.

    The other day, a YouTube friend in Scotland who makes musical videos sent me a video of him playing Sting’s “Fields of Gold” on acoustic guitar…


    YouTuber shargram plays “Fields of Gold”.

    That immediately made me think of the late Eva Cassidy, who performed her own magnificent cover version of Sting’s lovely “Fields of Gold”. I remember when figure skater Michelle Kwan turned this song into something truly inspiring when she skated to it years ago.

    In 1991, Sinead O’ Connor covered Elton John’s hit, “Sacrifice”. The song appeared on the tribute album, “Two Rooms: Celebrating the Music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin”. I have owned that album since it first came out and Sinead’s version of “Sacrifice” is the most magnificent cover, in my opinion.


    Sinead O’ Connor takes a song that was bordering on late 80s cheese and turns into something very meaningful and beautiful.

    No offense to Sir Elton John, whose music has brought me much joy over the years, but I think Sinead O’Connor’s version of “Sacrifice” is superior to his.

    Aretha Franklin’s magnificent cover of Carole King’s, Gerry Goffin’s, and Jerry Wexler’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” is still after decades the defining version of that song.


    Aretha Franklin performs in concert.

    This song was originally released in 1967 and Carole King later included it on her classic 1971 album, Tapestry. But if you were to ask someone whose song it is, it’s likely they’d tell you it belongs to Aretha. Frankly, as much as I respect Aretha Franklin and think her version of “Natural Woman” is one of many magnificent covers, I personally prefer Carole King’s more stripped down, intimate version.

    Joan Jett is also a great rock star who has done some great covers. I can think of a few right off the top of my head, but the one that immediately comes to mind is her magnificent version of “Crimson and Clover”, a song that was originally made popular by Tommy James and the Shondells.


    Watch Joan Jett flirt with the camera here… talk about a natural!

    Alison Krauss has done her share of covers. One song that she and her band, Union Station, did that I really enjoy is her version of a song made famous by Dolly Parton, “But You Know I Love You”, a song that was originally a pop hit for The First Edition, a band that featured Kenny Rogers and the song’s author, Mike Settle.


    As much as I love Dolly, I love what Alison Krauss has done with her hit.

    Another artist who has paid tribute to Dolly Parton in a great way is Rhonda Vincent, who covered Parton’s monster hit, “Jolene”.


    Rhonda Vincent is a bluegrass artist, but I think she’s got serious chops.

    What about Dolly Parton herself? Well, like Heart, she’s also done a cover of “Stairway to Heaven”. The jury is out on whether or not this qualifies as a “magnificent cover”. In fact, months ago, I included this in my post about “horrible covers“. I actually like it, but then I like Dolly Parton and I like bluegrass. Led Zeppelin purists may not enjoy this song as much as I do…


    Dolly Parton sings at Dollywood.

    There are certainly other masterful, magnificent covers out there which I will eventually write about. For now, I just want to bask in the excellence that is Heart doing most any cover of Led Zeppelin. I think they get the prize today!

  • Four Bitchin’ Babes!

    Four Bitchin’ Babes!

    As a woman in her early 40s, I can really relate to Four Bitchin’ Babes!

    A couple of months ago, an online friend I “met” while writing book reviews on Epinions.com posted a link to music by Four Bitchin’ Babes on Facebook. I was intrigued by the band’s name, so I checked them out. I quickly recognized the name Christine Lavin, who founded the band in 1990. Christine Lavin is the genius behind the hilarious early 90s song, “Sensitive New Age Guys”… Believe it or not, I discovered that song while working as a cook at a church camp of all places!


    A fairly recent live rendition of “Sensitive New Age Guys” by Christine Lavin… Skip to about three minutes into the video.

    Anyway, in 1990, Christine Lavin founded the equally hilarious band Four Bitchin’ Babes. Lavin has since left the band and it now consists of Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Deirdre Flint, Marcy Marxer. These women write funny songs that combine excellent folk stylings with stand up comedy. Their music is about the plight of middle-aged women navigating the world as they get older.


    Here’s a very funny number called “Hungarian (Hormonal) Rhapsody”…

    I admire them for their wit, sublime harmonies, original lyrics, and guitar playing. But I also admire them because I relate in a big way to their songs.


    Well, maybe I don’t relate to this one. The Boob Fairy definitely came to my house.


    But I do definitely like “Elastic Waistbands”. The older I get, the more I appreciate them.

    Many of my Facebook friends know how much I enjoy making presents for my ass on occasion… Usually, the gift is in the form of homemade macaroni and cheese, which is not so good for my body but definitely is a delight to the soul. Eat too much of it, though, and you WILL need elastic waistbands for sure.


    A more serious offering… “These are the Things” (That Women Do)

    These ladies are multi-talented and have the ability to be serious, too. In the above clip, Sally Fingerett, one of the Four Bitchin’ Babes sings a moving song about motherhood. As I listen to it, my eyes are filling with tears as my heart fills with emotion, even though I am not a mother.


    A less serious song about motherhood.

    “Don’t Mess With Me” is a song that reminds everyone how tough mothers can be in every situation. While I’m generally not one to revere motherhood, I do appreciate the cleverness of this song and what it took to come up with the story that makes up this song’s very witty and original lyrics.

    The Four Bitchin’ Babes can play a variety of instruments, too. On YouTube, you can see Babe Debi Smith playing the Irish Bodhran as she sings.

    Here, the Four Bitchin’ Babes sing a song about Viagra.


    “Viagra” (In The Waters)

    And here, they sing a great song that recognizes the plight of the less outgoing.


    “The Introvert Song”

    I think I would love to see these women perform live. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for performances near us. The older I get, the more relevant the Four Bitchin’ Babes will be to my life. If you are at a similar stage in your life, I would highly recommend checking them out on YouTube or live!