Rhiannon Giddens is pure magic. She is a singer with a pure, golden voice, plays multiple instruments brilliantly, & composes (her opera "Omar" based on the life of a Muslim scholar who was sold into slavery in the US in the 1940's was unfortunately canceled due to COVID19 - it was going to have a world premier at Spoleto USA in Charleston, SC).
The May 20, 2019 New Yorker Magazine article is what called my attention to Ms. Giddens. So, I've begun looking in on her and their music on YT. I am knocked out. She makes me feel as though I'm looking in not just on the history of music in America, but on parts that had escaped me entirely, for the usual reasons. I'm well familiar with our history; we shout and holler for the good stuff and forgeddabout da past. Ms. Giddens says, "Here's the past. It's real, it can make you feel pain, but let's not forget about it please." After hearing the Carolina Chocolate Drops perform the music, beautifully, wonderfully, I agree. There's nothing like bringing things down to the individual, human, level, one person expressing her feelings of tragedy (referring to the person who wrote the diary reflected in the song created by Ms. Giddens) to make one stop and think. Kudos to Ms. Giddens, and her group, and their efforts to show us what's what.
so beautiful she sings she dances she can play banjo violin her body entire is a musical instrument shes a medium for the voices of the past the ghosts that dwell still in the oldest of songs
Beautiful and powerful performance of a great song, I can feel the emotion, the pain and the anger, yet also compassion. This is music in it's truest form, serving to tell the story, to make us feel it. Thank you, Rhiannon!
That's some powerful storytelling right there! She's got a hell of a lot of heart and soul and you can see she feels every word she sings as it came from a place of struggle from the 19th century's slave's memoir!
To be honest, your voice is hilarious! It was another song, but in a way it remembers me at the young Aretha Franklin. I hope you go on with singing and we we also be able to hear you in Germany 😎
o_o dam ♥ i want to make a remix of this cyber sythwatic wave i'll link it here if i get to stop being a lazy nofa and actually do it but dam it would be good
Totally deserves no dislikes
There are a few songs that actually give me the chills. This is certainly one of them. What a powerful evocation of the darkness of American history.
Rhiannon Giddens is pure magic. She is a singer with a pure, golden voice, plays multiple instruments brilliantly, & composes (her opera "Omar" based on the life of a Muslim scholar who was sold into slavery in the US in the 1940's was unfortunately canceled due to COVID19 - it was going to have a world premier at Spoleto USA in Charleston, SC).
If this was the opening scene to a movie, I think you want to watch more.
definitely fixes the Headphone issue. Great tune btw! Amazing voice!
So evocative and haunting. Rhiannon is the whole package. Deep and bottomless talent.
The May 20, 2019 New Yorker Magazine article is what called my attention to Ms. Giddens. So, I've begun looking in on her and their music on YT.
I am knocked out.
She makes me feel as though I'm looking in not just on the history of music in America, but on parts that had escaped me entirely, for the usual reasons.
I'm well familiar with our history; we shout and holler for the good stuff and forgeddabout da past.
Ms. Giddens says, "Here's the past. It's real, it can make you feel pain, but let's not forget about it please."
After hearing the Carolina Chocolate Drops perform the music, beautifully, wonderfully, I agree.
There's nothing like bringing things down to the individual, human, level, one person expressing her feelings of tragedy (referring to the person who wrote the diary reflected in the song created by Ms. Giddens) to make one stop and think.
Kudos to Ms. Giddens, and her group, and their efforts to show us what's what.
so beautiful she sings she dances she can play banjo violin her body entire is a musical instrument shes a medium for the voices of the past the ghosts that dwell still in the oldest of songs
I didn’t know a banjo could sound so beautiful
Thank you, RG for giving us this song and thanks to DH for putting it up here. The work of facing history takes courage.
It doesn't get any better than this.
Breathtaking...brings tears to my eyes. Had to listen to it 4 times over! Thank you!
my gawd. tears. tragic, beautiful, empathetic...
Beautiful and powerful performance of a great song, I can feel the emotion, the pain and the anger, yet also compassion. This is music in it's truest form, serving to tell the story, to make us feel it. Thank you, Rhiannon!
No comments? How is this possible? This is "human" music at its purest. Beautiful work!
The original link had audio issues...the original link has over 2 million views and a wealth of comments :)
Awesome, a story that hits the emotions hard.
She has an amazing voice
Bowled me over. Great playing and singing.
Ron
That's some powerful storytelling right there! She's got a hell of a lot of heart and soul and you can see she feels every word she sings as it came from a place of struggle from the 19th century's slave's memoir!
Wait so this is actually based on real people? I mean like a specific person?
Is that a fretless tenor banjo? Oh my god it's such a rich and full sound!
5-string fretless banjo
Looks like a fretless 5-string banjo.
Thank you ma'am. I doubt anyone has ever told this story so eloquently or so beautiful. And not a single fret on that banjo...
Oh my goodness what a beautiful tune...
I can listen to this over and over....it's hypnotic.
I have got goosebumps watching this!
same
Have to wonder about the 11 people who didn't like this song. She is an amazing artist.
so much history in those lyrics, like a message from the past. even the banjo is from the past. I think she did awesome. it's a story worth saving.
POWERFUL EXPERIENCE hearing this and knowing my Heart & Soul was tattooed with this tune.....
Has anyone done a playlist of RG without any band backing her?
This is wonderful.
what a voice brilliant like candy melting on the tong you make the banjo could sound so beautiful
Oooh. This gives me chills
Beautiful song
Powerful performance
top ten show of my life
Wow ! ! ! My comment is i'm speechless Wow ! ! ! Tears in my eyes
Love her and this song.
Thanks for fixing the channel! Love her, and her gut string pickin'.
Such a beautiful lady with an incredible voice. Very talented artist, I’m a fan
Thank you for posting a headphone-friendly version! I appreciate it :)
even after a whole four years since the original video, this song is still so absolutely amazing.
Straight to the heart. Poignantly sung and masterly played (on a fret-less 5-(nylon)string banjo).
I LOVE HER BANJO AND SINGING!!! G-d bless her!!!!
Thank you, you've written a beautiful song. It reminds me of Dylan's death of emmit till in that both of your songs are composed so poetically.
Hello somebody!!! This was amazing!!!
Wow. Thanks. Sharing.
wow, so powerful
Deep song, real good voice and guitar execution.
Amazing voice!
Thank you.
Fantastic music.
Really nice sing and play, and nice lyrics too
Absolutely love this.
Lovely. I want a fretless banjo!
Very nicely done
Gives me goosebumps
please do some thing with mean mary james, you two are awesome
wow what a voice
Melody reminds me of Pretty Polly
oh that's better :) thanks for the heads up on the headphone channel
fretless banjo, sounds great!
I my gosh! I love this. What instrument?
Wow that was deep. M
♥
Wow
can anyone find the memoir this is based on? I'd really like to know more about the story of this song.
highest ever thumb ups vs thumb down ratio. 550 vs 0. never seen more than 150 to 1 before.
Sadness.....
She looks like Alesha Keys and sings really good......banjo picking gal for sure
The people who watched this version are audiophiles and could not accept mono.
I love you Rhiannon. Your voice...my goodness. This isnt creepy at all. Im sure of it.
Poignant like Strange Fruit.
How poignant and full of longing her voice is. Perfect tone and quality and the instrumental skill. Wow.
To resurrect a totally dead and by this point bloated meme, both my ears enjoyed this.
Krug man sent me
To be honest, your voice is hilarious! It was another song, but in a way it remembers me at the young Aretha Franklin. I hope you go on with singing and we we also be able to hear you in Germany 😎
o_o dam ♥ i want to make a remix of this cyber sythwatic wave i'll link it here if i get to stop being a lazy nofa and actually do it but dam it would be good
How dare you call Pretty Polly your original - new lyrics are good
Ripoff of Pretty Polly....nice bit of plagiarism...