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Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)

Allison Russell’s song “Nightflyer” is a powerful and beautiful song about strength and resilience in the face of trauma.

One of the outstanding songs of 2021 is Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer.” During some of the dark days of the pandemic, it was a comforting and powerful song of confronting dark days and going forward.

Allison Russell, who is French Canadian and lives in Nashville, released the album Outside Child, which includes “Nightflyer,” to wide acclaim in 2021. This solo debut followed her work with her husband and songwriting partner JT Nero called Birds Of Chicago.

In “Nightflyer,” the singer addresses her abuse and sings of her hope and resilience: “His soul is trapped in that room; /But I crawled back in my mother’s womb,/ Came back out with my gold and my greens, / Now I see everything.” The song is a powerful statement, inspired by Russell’s own journey in becoming a mother.

I’m the moon’s dark side, I’m the solar flare,
The child of the earth, the child of the air;
I am the mother of the evening star;
I am the love that conquers all;
Yeah, I’m a midnight rider,
Stone bonafide night flyer;
I’m an angel of the morning too,
The promise that the dawn will bring you.

The rhythm and structure of the song echoes he gnostic poem “The Thunder: Perfect Mind,” which Russell read when she was sixteen and which stayed with her. Having suffered trauma, including an abusive stepfather, Russell has explained: I’ve been meditating on the nature of resilience, endurance, and grace more deeply since becoming a mother. I was trying to bridge the divide and embrace shame and my inner divinity equally with this piece.”

While the background gives some additional depth to the song, “Nightflyer” flies on its own wings even if you do not know anything about the inspirations. Check it out.

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Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)

Nina Simone: “To Love Somebody” (Cover of the Day)

Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile Remind You That “You’re Not Alone”

Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)

Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)

Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Sting Performs “Russians” in Plea to Help Ukraine

Sting makes an appeal to help Ukraine, revisiting his 1985 song “Russians.”

Making an appeal to help the people in Ukraine, Sting recently posted on Instagram a video of him singing his song, “Russians,” originally released in the 1980s. In the song, he pleads, “We share the same biology, regardless of ideology;/ But what might save us, me and you,/ Is if the Russians love their children too.”

“Russians” first appeared on Sting’s debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985). At the time, the song, mentioning both “Mr. Krushchev” and “Mr. Reagan,” highlighted the idiocy of cold war policy that was fueling a nuclear arms race.

Sting made the new recording as a world power’s aggression is causing great tragedies in Ukraine. He notes in the video that he has rarely sung “Russians” since it was written because he thought it would not be relevant again.

“But,” he explains, “in the light of one man’s bloody and woefully misguided decision to invade a peaceful, unthreatening neighbor, the song is, once again, a plea for our common humanity. For the brave Ukrainians fighting against this brutal tyranny and also the many Russians who are protesting this outrage despite the threat of arrest and imprisonment – We, all of us, love our children. Stop the war.”

[March 20, 2022 Update: Unfortunately, the recently posted video no longer seems to be available for embedding, so below is the original video for “Russians.” You may also check Sting’s Instagram account for the video.]

With the posted video, Sting provides a way to help: “Supplies shipped to this warehouse in Poland are delivered in coordination with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and are guaranteed to go to people most in need. Wherehouse address:
Pol-Cel; Ramos Breska 63, 22-100 Chelm, Poland. Every box should be labeled “HELP UKRAINE” and indicate the contents: “Medicines,” “Clothes,” “Food,” “Humanitarian Aid.” For more info, contact: UK +44 1353 885152; USA +1 855 725 1152. helpukraine.center.

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It’s Like Deja Vu All Over Again

The invasion of Ukraine has left many of us asking how we got to this point, what we can do, and some of the questions John Fogerty raised in the song “Deja Vu (All Over Again)”

As we watch events unfold in Ukraine, there is a feeling of helplessness around the world. Those who hope for a better world and wish for more to be done to stop the senseless killing, may understand the logistics of the world standing by. But it is a sad reminder of the state of affairs of humanity throughout history.

In 2004, John Fogerty released a song comparing the U.S. invasion of Iraq with the Vietnam War. He explained that the song, “Deja Vu (All Over Again),” was not meant to be political but about the sadness of the destruction caused by war. Not surprisingly, considering the name of the song, as well as the flow of history, the song unfortunately remains relevant today.

So tonight as I watch the humanitarian crisis unfolding, like many others I feel helpless in that I only am offering up a small prayer, finding a small bit of solace knowing that other humans around the world have the same feelings of despair and the same unanswered prayers.

Day after day another Momma’s crying;
She’s lost her precious child,
To a war that has no end.

Did you hear ’em talkin’ ’bout it on the radio?
Did you stop to read the writing at The Wall?
Did that voice inside you say,
I’ve seen this all before;
It’s like Deja Vu all over again.

The Inspiration for Jason Isbell’s “Elephant” (Song of the Day)

Jason Isbell’s song “Elephant” is a rare heartbreaking song capturing the realities of dying and relationships.

Like many others, when I first listened to Jason Isbell’s wonderful 2013 album Southeastern I was blown away from the first listen to the song “Elephant.” As you listen to the song, it slowly dawns upon you what the “elephant” in the room is and it is heartbreaking. If you have never heard the song before, watch the video below before reading further.

In the song, the singer tells about his close relationship with a woman dying of cancer. The singer recounts their interactions while trying to “ignore the elephant.”

But I’d sing her classic country songs,
And she’d get high and sing along;
She don’t have a voice to sing with now;
We burn these joints in effigy,
And cry about what we used to be;
Try to ignore the elephant somehow;
Somehow.

The song seems so personal, detailed, and truthful, that for a long time I had assumed Isbell wrote it about a friend who had died. But that is not the case.

The source for “Elephant,” however comes from real people. Isbell has said “Elephant” was generally inspired by watching regulars at an Alabama bar and over time seeing some of them disappear from the scene due to cancer. He explained to NPR, “I imagined a couple of folks who were drinking buddies, nothing more than that, and how their relationship changed when one of them got sick. I’ve known a lot of people who have gotten cancer and died. I think everybody has at this point in time, but those two folks aren’t necessarily people who exist in reality.”

Although the characters are not “real,” the descriptions are genuine and the conversations seem to exist in reality. It is one of the greatest songs about dying, loss, and friendship.

Below, Isbell performs the song in 2013 for SiriusXM Outlaw Country. Check it out, but only if you have tissues handy.

What is your favorite song about death? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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Roy Orbison Without the Sunglasses: “Only the Lonely”

Roy Orbison began wearing his signature sunglasses onstage in 1963 due to something that happened while touring with the Beatles.

Roy Orbison, who was born on April 23, 1936 and passed away on December 6, 1988, was known for his amazing voice and his signature look. The image we have of him is dressed in black and wearing sunglasses. But he did not always wear his signature sunglasses, as shown by the below performance of “Only the Lonely” on Dick Clark’s Saturday Night Beechnut Show.

Throughout the pandemic, I have been digging deeper into artists I have always loved. Lately, one of my obsessions has been Roy Orbison.

There are various stories about why Orbison wore sunglasses on stage. One of the most popular legends is that Orbison was shy and the sunglasses helped him overcome stage fright.

But in the book The Authorized Roy Orbison, Orbison’s sons Roy Jr., Wesley, and Alex explained the story behind the famous sunglasses. While on tour with the Beatles in 1963, Roy Orbison left his regular glasses on an airplane. Orbison had poor eyesight and was at a loss without his glasses, but he had a pair of sunglasses with him (apparently prescription sunglasses). So he wore the sunglasses on the tour, creating what would become his iconic look.

Prior to 1963, however, Orbison did not perform with the sunglasses. So here, you may see Orbison perform one of the great classics “Only the Lonely” below in what appears to be from July 23, 1960 on Dick Clark’s show. Check it out.