I realized after posting this and spending a little more time with the chord changes that these changes are very similar to "Misty" but it has been repurposed very nicely. Also, consider joining us at a-aronreacts.com/angels
I'm so glad that you liked that! I often listen to this song, the question she asks and the answers that she considers... There is just so much to unpack here. As Dylan said, this is the first composition from Angelina that we heard. In the album with the military band it is the second song, with another song she wrote, Oslo, being the forth. The album was recorded when she was11, it is said that she wrote Oslo when she was 10, What is life came before that ( not sure about the music element). For sure, Angelina knows the big questions, thankfully, she had grandma Mery close to hand to explore possible answers. In addition to this song, when you read her book, that she wrote mainly when she was 8 years old, about the experience she had at 6 years old, it becomes clear that this is not an ordinary girl, and Mery is not an ordinary grandma. Referring to something you sort of witnessed in Glendale, my conversation with Sara outside the Theatre - You were filming the interaction, I told Sara that I would like Mery to sign Angelina's book. I said she is the illustrator, not the author, but Mery is very special This brought tears to her eyes, so she quickly put her sun glasses to hide her tears. I didn't get my book signed, but that didn't matter, I got to tell her how I felt. Dylan Meek is a Grammy nominated song writer and jazz pianist, he certainly knows talent when he sees it! Apart from this song, he accompanied Angelina in the official video for 7th Heaven, another of Angelina's original songs. I could ramble on further, but this is enough for now...
Angelina debuted her first two originals on her "It's Magic" album, "What is Life" and "Oslo". Both are way beyond her years. Angelina has said she had written more than 100 songs, by age 18, and we have heard 16 to date. Here is the list. "What is Life" first sung at age 11. We don't know how old she was when she wrote each song. Age presented is her age when she first sang it. "Oslo" age 11 "Shield" age 12 "Million Miles" age 14 we know she wrote this one in the days after her maternal grandfather passed in 2019 when she was 13 "7th Heaven" age 15 "Love Don't Let Me Go" age 17 "Now I'm the Fool" age 17 "Fire and Rain" age 17 "It's All My Fault" age 17 "Good in Goodbyes" age 17 "Diamond" age 17 "Our Time" age 17 "Princess of Ruins" age 18 ..... debuted at her 2 shows in Las Vegas 2/29/24 "Bad Valentine" age 18 worked with Toby Gad "Thank You" age 18 debuted at her Glendale concert 9/20/24 "What Am I to You" age 18 debuted at her Glendale concert Should include songs for which she was the first to sing "I'm Still Holding Out for You" age 10 .... considered one of her best vocal performances by many "Song for A" age 12 "Above the Water" a EDM song released January 31, 2020 "We're the Best" sung with RedOne at the FIFA Awards February 27, 2023 Angelina wrote new lyrics for two famous songs by Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black" and "Rehab" since it was inappropriate for a preteen to sing the original lyrics. For "Back to Black" Angelina wrote the new lyrics in the 24 hours prior to the recording, then needed just two takes.
This has a bit of an old juke joint sound to it with the ragtime piano and the bluesy way Angelina sings it. Angelina is so special and so few know of her.
We’re used to Angelina’s voice blowing us away, even at this young age. But the uniqueness of her approach to the musical elements here is just beautiful. She’s not following anyone. I’ve never heard a song quite like this. Angelina is never afraid in her covers or her original work to go her own way-the way her musicality takes her. And as we’ve seen before in her original work (Shield, Seventh Heaven, Diamond, Good in Goodbyes, etc.), she has a level of introspection about her own life and her career that is so open and honest. AJ can step outside of herself and look objectively where she is-at 12 years old!! One of my favorite examples of that is in Shield where she thanks her family for their support. She sings, at 12: “Forgive me for all that I am.” In today’s song, we get that same introspection coupled with those beautiful runs for a singer of any age.
Hi A-Aron. Perfect,beautifull, poignant analysis of the song.👏👏👏 this is definetly one of Her best originals,if not the best alltogether, expecially considering her age when she " composed" it. There is a studio version of it with a big band backing Her. Beautifull. You migth want to hear it for your own pleasure if nohing else. As for your Ivan series you should check her tribute to Her friend Avici after he passed ( do you know him?). She covered one of his songs: Wake me up. As in the video of I'm not the only one, you don't see Ivan ( he's hidden behind a screen of sorts) but his guitar is easily recognizable. 👍🫶👋
Listening to your comments on her lyrics reminded me of something I've said several times recently. "I need Angelina as my life coach". So many things I've realized or discovered about myself listening to her . This young lady is amazing.
I have said it 100x or more but this is still my favorite song by her or anyone. This song takes me to a happy place like no other can. Dylan is also in her 7th Heaven video playing standing bass.
An eleven year old girl tells us about the perspective of her own life 🥰 she chooses the good way and how it works. You come, you see and go this direction 🙏 seems so easy like driving a car, go your own way 🕯️🫴
Here we are witnessing an absolute GENIUS preteen who is vocalist/poet/composer/wordsmith and an Aristotelian philosopher all rolled into one ! “We come, we see, we go” - what typical child thinks like that? “Stealthy in the night”?! What typical preteen even knows what “stealthy” means?! Before I pass on, I would love to know what Angelina’s IQ is estimated to be! Absolutely extraordinary!
Thank you Aaron, for providing a deeper appreciation of this song. I suspect it's underrated partly because the lyrics are so autobiographical and sound like the things a typical 12 year old would be thinking about - playing piano, painting with Grandma, feeding birds with her sister. But in simplicity lies beauty. And it's easy to discount the more profound and poetic parts of the lyrics, a tear stealthy in the night (!), and 'just a memory'. And in a precursor to her later song writing, she often finds something positive and empowering - here, it's, that life is "you and I shining like a star in the darkest sky"....not to mention countless references in her originals and in the songs she chooses to cover, to astronomical themes - after all, she's said her music is bigger than herself. Finally, you should listen to the big band arrangement of What is Life on her jazz album "It's Magic" released June 15, 2018 (What is Life was released 2 weeks earlier, on June 1, as was this video with Dylan Meek, and Ivan). Others in the jazz world recognize something, as that album has bounced on and off the top 100 jazz albums chart for years. Here's a lyric video for the big band arrangement of What is Life you may want to listen, or react to: ruclips.net/video/crngnoq0WLc/видео.htmlsi=5Rs2R5J6bXfZz_XP
This is a masterpiece. I am so glad you appreciated it in all its components. On just the emotional component this is very powerful. Lyrically so mature and hits hard for anyone who has lived a while. How can such a young person sincerely compose like this and grasp this?
Glad that you give it the recognition this song deserves. Yiu put the right words to it👏👌 Happy that I know this song almost 5 years and still one of my favorites from Angelina
I'm pretty sure she wrote this at age 11 and it was recorded by the military band for their album. I looked it up and found the worst example of an AI written blurb: "Angelina Jordan - What Is Life What Is Life is a song by Angelina Jordan, a Norwegian singer-songwriter, released in 2018 as part of her album “It’s Magic”. The song features the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps. (that much is true) According to the search results, What Is Life is a single from Angelina Jordan’s album “It’s Magic”, released on June 15, 2018. The song is a beautiful rendition of the classic George Harrison song, originally released in 1971. Angelina Jordan’s version features her soulful vocals accompanied by the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, adding a unique military band arrangement to the song. The song’s lyrics, written by George Harrison, ponder the meaning of life and its fleeting nature. Angelina Jordan’s rendition stays true to the original’s essence, with her youthful and emotive voice bringing a fresh perspective to the timeless classic. Overall, What Is Life showcases Angelina Jordan’s talent as a singer-songwriter, blending her own style with the iconic songwriting of George Harrison, and featuring the unique sound of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ staff band." So I listened to George Harrison's song and found that it had no relation to Angelina's song at all, thank God!
You are first ,on this channel, a reactor so I can't ask you to go to her original channel and look up her album that is formulated around the time she was twelve with the Nirwiegen military band.I don't know how to spell their name so I'll leave it off.But that is why your not yet able to see her complete brilliance.She actually has three albums before the age of fifteen counting her Christmas one .This is on the album she made at the age of twelve and it is pure genius.That is one thing not spoken of that often is Angelinas ability to compose actual music.Even though at times she gets help the the composition is her artistry. She will hone her piano skills as she gets older and I see her playing and singing in stage like Lady GaGa does many times.Great reaction I believe her original Oslo is just as brilliant .Have you checked that one out yet?
Just for clarification, the It’s Magic album was released at age 12 but was recorded in November 2017 when she was still 11. Her other two releases prior to the full album were My Christmas (3 songs) and Angelina Jordan-the EP (6 songs)
Aah, the absolute 'Masterpiece' .. . indeed this is "THE" Original that I point out to new reactors as the 'go to' for seeking the heart-and-soul of what her genius can deliver! Cheers 🥂
I agree with you - this is a masterpiece... since I first heard it, about 4 years ago, it has just grown and grown on me... I certainly wasn't able to appreciate it the way it deserves on first hearing the way you have done, my music appreciation just isn't that sophisticated... but I get it now ! I needed to hear it over and over - as you have encouraged us to do ! :)
I hear some That's Life by Frank Sinatra in this one too, and the vocals are a bit of Ella. Since you mentioned him here, a quick RIP to Quincy Jones. Congratulation QJ on a full life beautifully lived and shared. Also, I think there may have been a snippet of this song in the Ten Years in the Making documentary you reviewed earlier. You should consider another mini series of Angelina originals. After her EP and her collab with Toby Gad, she has a bunch to choose from.
@A-AronReacts BeenBeen waiting a long time for you to get to this one (think I've mentioned it to you though). Not everyone realize the depth of this composition, I guess "it takes one to know one" as the old saying goes. Must be said though, that most, if not all, the ornamentations on the piano is most likely improvised by Dylan, perhaps after a play-through and som discussion and testing to get the right feeling Angelina is looking for in the song.
Its cool to hear the technical breakdown but what really matters is how it makes you feel. Angelina makes us feel something with every project she works on. She probably doesn't approach music from a technical standpoint, rather from what feels right. Its her musical understanding that makes it technical without trying, its just makes sense to her.
You have hit every nail directly on the head here. What you missed is that she wrote this age 10-11 in Norway. She performed this with the same Norwegian band that her EP was done with before moving to the USA. There is an excellent recording of them doing this song. At about that same time she wrote Oslo while on a plane heading home after a trip. There is also a video of her singing it live on stage with that band. As long as you’re checking out her originals from age 11-12 the live tv interview & performance of Shield about her mother is otherworldly. You need to watch the whole pre-performance discussion. Gershwin is very close. Rhapsody In Blue is perhaps my favorite song of all time! I’ve watched many many live performances of it on line and once live with the Buddy Rodger’s Orchestra in concert here on Alaska
Oslo is also a masterpiece, but I get that is less jazzy than this version of WIL. Maybe one day she does it jazzy… if we ask many times. The fact is that there aren’t many reactions to her It’s Magic album songs. I still listen in a Daly bases, or when driving between Lisbon and Barcelona - 13 hours in a car called,… wait for it: Jazz! I get tired but not of her singing.
That run, to borrow a Star Wars reference, is like navigating a hyperspace jump across the galaxy to arrive a destination lightyears away. How she arrives at that resolution is beyond me.
Yes she is 12 in this performance but she first recorded the song at age 11 with the Norwegian military band for the album Its Magic so she was no more than 11 when she wrote it.
Yes, that is Dylan Meeks on keyboard. He is also seen with Angelina on another of her originals (7th Heaven) when she was 15, playing upright bass. I believe I saw somewhere that Dylan is a Texas boy. Therefore "Hello Yah-all".
He also plays the piano in her "Killing Me Softly" video that looks like it was performed in a restaurant. ruclips.net/video/QjnzD3HuOH4/видео.htmlfeature=shared
She was actually eleven when she wrote this, and it was recorded for her album It’s Magic at age twelve. My favorite version of this is the lyric video without the fancy piano and guitar, just her sweet young voice. Please watch this one as well.
I was curious why you didn't get to her early orignals yet, time for a mini series! The Shield performance at Skavlan is stunning, and for Oslo is there is a playful rehearsal video which is just delighful.
Aron, her other early original song is Oslo & it was written around the same time as this (10 or 11). I've said before that it is so good, that it deserves to be the unofficial National Anthem of Norway, much like the song America the Beautiful is for America. Just sayin'!!!
Agreed Keith.... and Kaleidoscope RMX did an absolutely beautiful editing job (they always do) for OSLO called "Creation Trip" which highlights the making of the song, you have probably seen it, but worth mentioning because it brings all of her performances of the song together in one video.
Have you done Oslo yet? Watch the live presentation with the military band, I understand that Norway' Royalty was present (Perhaps Prime Minister). But I'm not certain on those details. Regardless it's not something at all you would think would come from a young lady...
As far as I know, no one from the Norwegian royal family was present at this concert, but there were many prominent guests, including the then Prime Minister Erna Solberg. There are recordings on the Mosarz channel showing Angelina signing a copy of the album for the PM.
Love this song , the way she sing The GoooooOOOoood and BAaaaad at the end, the tone changes slide down ending into an yummy Mmmm 🥰😋 have a good one Aron, cya on the next one 😋👍
piano player is dylan meek...also played cello on angelina's 7th heaven . toured with grace vanderwall and has an emmy for a spiderman soundtarck..DM not real name took it from 2 poets...
Aaron, this is also the ONE that I dearly hope she will bring an interpretation at age 18, or any of these upcoming months, years. Im extremely happy you get it and can specifically share like you do about this incredible genius tune!!! Cheers 🍻
You need to check out her entire CD "It's Magic". It has been a best selling album, in the jazz category, since it was released. The staff band of the Norwegian Armed Forces invited Angelina to perform with them on their 200th aniversary. It is full of masterpieces. Boris' youtube channel has most of these as live performances in concert. A highlight is her performance of "It's A Man's ".❤
I don't know exactly when she wrote this, but it was recorded with an arrangement by the band (Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps) on their album 'It's Magic' when she was 11. I agree that this is the downfall of all the impatient angels sucking you into jumping ahead in the chronological order of discovering Angelina. But on the other hand, you probably wouldn't have gone to the concert in LA and met all the angels and Angelina, so yes there is good and bad no matter how it's approached. Other songs she wrote early on are "Oslo" and "Shield" although she had co-writers with Shield.
I think she might have been putting the first outline of this song together at the age of 10-ish. There are some snippets published of the song _Shield_ in 2016, and by comparing her voice in the official release of that song to what we hear in the live recording (Skavland TV show), and weighing in other recordings for reference, I'd say the studio recording of _Shield_ was done in the second half of 2016 (by the same time as she recorded the "demo" of "I'm Still Holding Out for You"). So, if this is _"one of her first own compositions",_ as presented by Dylan, it must have been written around the same time. And as you say, it's already arranged for Big-Band and recorded while she's just 11.
Without even checking, I can guarantee you that this was, in fact, one of the first recommendations you got.😊 One of many, of course… but one of the first. I would be shocked if it wasn't mentioned at least once in the comments under your very first reaction to her.
Out of curiosity, I went back and looked. It was mentioned a couple times but not a lot actually and I received an ONSLAUGHT of recommendations and NOVELS from people at the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the in depth responses and education. But this request NEVER stood out like MANY OTHERS and once the water cleared, nobody pestered me with it. In fact, I did like 50 reactions from members before it was queued up. THAT is what I meant
You might enjoy going to Mery Zamani's poetry channel. Things became much more clear to me after hearing Mery's beautiful words. Thank you for sharing your insights with us each day. Your reactions are always so genuine and informative.
The pianist is a Texas boy. Came to California after graduating either Juilliard or Berkeley school in Boston, don’t remember for sure which. He a multi-instrumentalist.
Angelina (12) in her music corner with Dylan Meek on keyboards-from Austin, TX-and Ivan Mendez on guitar! The lyrics are most likely taken from her journals! The song is so amazing as she pretty much tells the story of her life so far! She previously performed this with The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvarets Stabmusuikkorps)! For the Album It’s Magic! Dylan also appears in her 7th Heaven music video on the stand up bass! When you do OSLO I would recommend a double! Creation Trip of OSLO and live version OSLO ruclips.net/video/AYGl1VIDNWg/видео.htmlsi=XflbQ1hK88dn29Uz
I think i have heard most of hers, and this definitivly is in the top 10 for me🥰👑👏and i love the lyrics, love, art and safety of family is the most important❤️
I suggested this to you in a previous reaction. Thank you for checking it out. This is so raw; it is a good way to appreciate her true voice and writing ability. You can tune a piano to her perfect pitch lol!
Wow, great stuff! You might want to consider going through her original compositions pre Old Enough: Oslo, Shield, 7th Heaven and Million Miles (if you haven't already covered some of these - I've lost track!). Oslo in particular is really beautiful as well as very personal. Another great reaction!
Hi Aaron, I'm a little late seeing this reaction so I don't know if you'll see my comment but here goes. You really owe it to yourself to watch the Wrapped In A Warm Blanket podcast featuring Robert Palmer. He discusses this song from a physicist's point of view. You will understand why he says that she changed his life.
@@A-AronReacts You really need to listen to Oslo. I didn't pay much attention to it until I really listened to the lyrics. It's just as good as What Is Life.
@@A-AronReactsAaron, there’s a video (Kaleidoscope RMX) that shows the creative journey to full performance of the song..the beginning of the video is just fabulous to watch her figure out the lyrics and the how she creates the music to blend with the lyrics..it’s unbelievable beautiful! Leaves me gasping with incredulity and tears every time.
just think it's neat that Angelina ends the song with G-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o-o-d and B-a-d. Putting way, way more emphasis on the 'good' rather than the 'bad' So should we all.
FYI. Angelina just dropped a professional official video of Bad Valentine. The previous official video was done by Toby Gad himself. This one was done by professionals and looks a lot better.
You would probably get a kick out of comparing what Dylan did here with the orchestration of the same song on the _It's Magic_ album she did with Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps (FSMK), the official lyric video for which is on Angelina's official channel, right next to this one you just reacted to. Angelina is credited with writing both the words and music for the song, with the orchestral arrangement (for the c. 40-piece military band) credited to Bjørn Morten Kjærnes, a professional conductor, composer, arranger, and producer. Like that version, this version here was almost certainly an _arrangement_ of Angelina's original composition, rather than an exact recitation of it. By comparing the two, you might be able to get a feel for what aspects of Dylan's arrangement came from Angelina's original composition and what went beyond that (impossible to do accurately, of course, but an interesting exercise). Obviously, the basic chord structure would have to be the same, but many of the "decorations" you pointed out (well… some of them, at least) are probably Dylan's own contributions. (Notice how Angelina looks over at him at one point, as if to say, "What are you doing over there?"😄) Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any footage of Angelina herself playing the song on piano (I mean, that must exist, but it hasn't been posted, AFAIR). There are a handful of live renditions, but they are mostly with FSMK, and so follow the arrangement on the album. She did do a few live performances with a small jazz ensemble, one rehearsal for which can be seen in the video with the ID "v=o5zuKE2h708", posted to the Angelina Jordan Fanclub Mosarz channel [title: "Angelina Jordan rehearsal (What is Life) Original song"]. The pianist in those performances was clearly offering his own interpretation(s) of the composition (as he doesn't seem to have played it the same way twice), just like I assume Dylan was here.
You called it very jazzy - this performance has the great advantage that you can hear AND see her singing, but the version at the Kongsberg Jazz festival in July 2018 is also very great because it's with a real jazz band. You can't see them, but the vocals are just as good (IMHO) as here and the pictures Yozhik v Tumane added illustrate the lyrics beautifully ruclips.net/video/nL9TZd6vwBI/видео.html (not that the version with the military orchestra isn't great - I recommend the 2017 rehearsal on the Mosarz channel called "Angelina Jordan (What is life) Lyrics and melody by Angelina Jordan").
This one is good, but it is just a stepping stone to another of her early originals, "Shield," which may be my favorite song written by Angelina. I have no idea if you have reacted to it or not, and you have too many for me to look. Edit: I did look, I can't believe you passed up "Shield" but it isn't in your playlist. It says so much about her and her family. ruclips.net/video/lQtUbVKb0vs/видео.html
You cant leave off at that statement re misty. Are you saying because it sounds like misty (which by the way I cant hear as I just listened to Ella Fitzgerald version, I think its almost in the same key, but does not have the as you described a waltzy feeling. But I do not have a musical bone in my body) so are you saying it detracts from Angelina's composition ??
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I realized after posting this and spending a little more time with the chord changes that these changes are very similar to "Misty" but it has been repurposed very nicely. Also, consider joining us at a-aronreacts.com/angels
She wrote it at the age of 10 🥹
Super duper reaction!❤
I'm so glad that you liked that! I often listen to this song, the question she asks and the answers that she considers...
There is just so much to unpack here.
As Dylan said, this is the first composition from Angelina that we heard. In the album with the military band it is the second song, with another song she wrote, Oslo, being the forth. The album was recorded when she was11, it is said that she wrote Oslo when she was 10, What is life came before that ( not sure about the music element).
For sure, Angelina knows the big questions, thankfully, she had grandma Mery close to hand to explore possible answers. In addition to this song, when you read her book, that she wrote mainly when she was 8 years old, about the experience she had at 6 years old, it becomes clear that this is not an ordinary girl, and Mery is not an ordinary grandma.
Referring to something you sort of witnessed in Glendale, my conversation with Sara outside the Theatre - You were filming the interaction, I told Sara that I would like Mery to sign Angelina's book. I said she is the illustrator, not the author, but Mery is very special This brought tears to her eyes, so she quickly put her sun glasses to hide her tears. I didn't get my book signed, but that didn't matter, I got to tell her how I felt.
Dylan Meek is a Grammy nominated song writer and jazz pianist, he certainly knows talent when he sees it! Apart from this song, he accompanied Angelina in the official video for 7th Heaven, another of Angelina's original songs.
I could ramble on further, but this is enough for now...
Love this one so much. I am also so loving Oslo at the same time
Angelina debuted her first two originals on her "It's Magic" album, "What is Life" and "Oslo". Both are way beyond her years. Angelina has said she had written more than 100 songs, by age 18, and we have heard 16 to date. Here is the list.
"What is Life" first sung at age 11. We don't know how old she was when she wrote each song. Age presented is her age when she first sang it.
"Oslo" age 11
"Shield" age 12
"Million Miles" age 14 we know she wrote this one in the days after her maternal grandfather passed in 2019 when she was 13
"7th Heaven" age 15
"Love Don't Let Me Go" age 17
"Now I'm the Fool" age 17
"Fire and Rain" age 17
"It's All My Fault" age 17
"Good in Goodbyes" age 17
"Diamond" age 17
"Our Time" age 17
"Princess of Ruins" age 18 ..... debuted at her 2 shows in Las Vegas 2/29/24
"Bad Valentine" age 18 worked with Toby Gad
"Thank You" age 18 debuted at her Glendale concert 9/20/24
"What Am I to You" age 18 debuted at her Glendale concert
Should include songs for which she was the first to sing
"I'm Still Holding Out for You" age 10 .... considered one of her best vocal performances by many
"Song for A" age 12
"Above the Water" a EDM song released January 31, 2020
"We're the Best" sung with RedOne at the FIFA Awards February 27, 2023
Angelina wrote new lyrics for two famous songs by Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black" and "Rehab" since it was inappropriate for a preteen to sing the original lyrics. For "Back to Black" Angelina wrote the new lyrics in the 24 hours prior to the recording, then needed just two takes.
You gotta love the line about Juliette.
This has a bit of an old juke joint sound to it with the ragtime piano and the bluesy way Angelina sings it.
Angelina is so special and so few know of her.
We’re used to Angelina’s voice blowing us away, even at this young age. But the uniqueness of her approach to the musical elements here is just beautiful. She’s not following anyone. I’ve never heard a song quite like this. Angelina is never afraid in her covers or her original work to go her own way-the way her musicality takes her.
And as we’ve seen before in her original work (Shield, Seventh Heaven, Diamond, Good in Goodbyes, etc.), she has a level of introspection about her own life and her career that is so open and honest. AJ can step outside of herself and look objectively where she is-at 12 years old!! One of my favorite examples of that is in Shield where she thanks her family for their support. She sings, at 12: “Forgive me for all that I am.” In today’s song, we get that same introspection coupled with those beautiful runs for a singer of any age.
Hi A-Aron. Perfect,beautifull, poignant analysis of the song.👏👏👏 this is definetly one of Her best originals,if not the best alltogether, expecially considering her age when she " composed" it. There is a studio version of it with a big band backing Her. Beautifull. You migth want to hear it for your own pleasure if nohing else. As for your Ivan series you should check her tribute to Her friend Avici after he passed ( do you know him?). She covered one of his songs: Wake me up. As in the video of I'm not the only one, you don't see Ivan ( he's hidden behind a screen of sorts) but his guitar is easily recognizable. 👍🫶👋
PS. She's 12 there too.
Her first original
This one has always been one of my favorite by her! She’s absolutely amazing!👌🔥🔥🔥🔥
She’s so special❤
Listening to your comments on her lyrics reminded me of something I've said several times recently. "I need Angelina as my life coach". So many things I've realized or discovered about myself listening to her . This young lady is amazing.
I have said it 100x or more but this is still my favorite song by her or anyone. This song takes me to a happy place like no other can.
Dylan is also in her 7th Heaven video playing standing bass.
The first time I heard this song, I was blown away by the lyrics, so profound!
This girl is....I am out of words. Amazing!! Greetings from South Africa
Hi. Groete hier van Somerset-Wes. Beste talent wat daar is in die wêreld van sang.
An eleven year old girl tells us about the perspective of her own life 🥰 she chooses the good way and how it works. You come, you see and go this direction 🙏 seems so easy like driving a car, go your own way 🕯️🫴
Here we are witnessing an absolute GENIUS preteen who is vocalist/poet/composer/wordsmith and an Aristotelian philosopher all rolled into one ! “We come, we see, we go” - what typical child thinks like that? “Stealthy in the night”?! What typical preteen even knows what “stealthy” means?!
Before I pass on, I would love to know what Angelina’s IQ is estimated to be! Absolutely extraordinary!
I got the feeling that I was in school again and the teacher was yelling at me. Lol 😂 👍 🇳🇴
Är en av mina topp låtar som hon skrivit😊😊❤
Love this performance.❤❤❤
Thank you Aaron, for providing a deeper appreciation of this song. I suspect it's underrated partly because the lyrics are so autobiographical and sound like the things a typical 12 year old would be thinking about - playing piano, painting with Grandma, feeding birds with her sister. But in simplicity lies beauty. And it's easy to discount the more profound and poetic parts of the lyrics, a tear stealthy in the night (!), and 'just a memory'. And in a precursor to her later song writing, she often finds something positive and empowering - here, it's, that life is "you and I shining like a star in the darkest sky"....not to mention countless references in her originals and in the songs she chooses to cover, to astronomical themes - after all, she's said her music is bigger than herself.
Finally, you should listen to the big band arrangement of What is Life on her jazz album "It's Magic" released June 15, 2018 (What is Life was released 2 weeks earlier, on June 1, as was this video with Dylan Meek, and Ivan). Others in the jazz world recognize something, as that album has bounced on and off the top 100 jazz albums chart for years.
Here's a lyric video for the big band arrangement of What is Life you may want to listen, or react to: ruclips.net/video/crngnoq0WLc/видео.htmlsi=5Rs2R5J6bXfZz_XP
This is a masterpiece. I am so glad you appreciated it in all its components. On just the emotional component this is very powerful. Lyrically so mature and hits hard for anyone who has lived a while. How can such a young person sincerely compose like this and grasp this?
That line “ we come, we see, we go”!!! Very philosophical in context of what life might be about.
Hello Aron. There is another song she wrote. "Oslo". Listen to it, I think it's just as brilliant.
Absolutely! It is my favourite Angelina composition - so beautiful!
This video was how I first discovered Angelina. In time, it literally changed my life for the better.❤
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Beyond Awesome reaction 🙏
Glad that you give it the recognition this song deserves. Yiu put the right words to it👏👌
Happy that I know this song almost 5 years and still one of my favorites from Angelina
I'm pretty sure she wrote this at age 11 and it was recorded by the military band for their album.
I looked it up and found the worst example of an AI written blurb: "Angelina Jordan - What Is Life
What Is Life is a song by Angelina Jordan, a Norwegian singer-songwriter, released in 2018 as part of her album “It’s Magic”. The song features the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps. (that much is true)
According to the search results, What Is Life is a single from Angelina Jordan’s album “It’s Magic”, released on June 15, 2018. The song is a beautiful rendition of the classic George Harrison song, originally released in 1971. Angelina Jordan’s version features her soulful vocals accompanied by the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, adding a unique military band arrangement to the song.
The song’s lyrics, written by George Harrison, ponder the meaning of life and its fleeting nature. Angelina Jordan’s rendition stays true to the original’s essence, with her youthful and emotive voice bringing a fresh perspective to the timeless classic.
Overall, What Is Life showcases Angelina Jordan’s talent as a singer-songwriter, blending her own style with the iconic songwriting of George Harrison, and featuring the unique sound of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ staff band."
So I listened to George Harrison's song and found that it had no relation to Angelina's song at all, thank God!
You are first ,on this channel, a reactor so I can't ask you to go to her original channel and look up her album that is formulated around the time she was twelve with the Nirwiegen military band.I don't know how to spell their name so I'll leave it off.But that is why your not yet able to see her complete brilliance.She actually has three albums before the age of fifteen counting her Christmas one .This is on the album she made at the age of twelve and it is pure genius.That is one thing not spoken of that often is Angelinas ability to compose actual music.Even though at times she gets help the the composition is her artistry. She will hone her piano skills as she gets older and I see her playing and singing in stage like Lady GaGa does many times.Great reaction I believe her original Oslo is just as brilliant .Have you checked that one out yet?
Just for clarification, the It’s Magic album was released at age 12 but was recorded in November 2017 when she was still 11.
Her other two releases prior to the full album were My Christmas (3 songs) and Angelina Jordan-the EP (6 songs)
I haven't yet done Oslo. Thanks!
Aah, the absolute 'Masterpiece' .. . indeed this is "THE" Original that I point out to new reactors as the 'go to' for seeking the heart-and-soul of what her genius can deliver! Cheers 🥂
I agree with you - this is a masterpiece... since I first heard it, about 4 years ago, it has just grown and grown on me... I certainly wasn't able to appreciate it the way it deserves on first hearing the way you have done, my music appreciation just isn't that sophisticated... but I get it now ! I needed to hear it over and over - as you have encouraged us to do ! :)
I hear some That's Life by Frank Sinatra in this one too, and the vocals are a bit of Ella. Since you mentioned him here, a quick RIP to Quincy Jones. Congratulation QJ on a full life beautifully lived and shared. Also, I think there may have been a snippet of this song in the Ten Years in the Making documentary you reviewed earlier. You should consider another mini series of Angelina originals. After her EP and her collab with Toby Gad, she has a bunch to choose from.
Amen A-Aron ,, i believe it was reported she composed this one even earlier than 11years old .
@A-AronReacts
BeenBeen waiting a long time for you to get to this one (think I've mentioned it to you though). Not everyone realize the depth of this composition, I guess "it takes one to know one" as the old saying goes.
Must be said though, that most, if not all, the ornamentations on the piano is most likely improvised by Dylan, perhaps after a play-through and som discussion and testing to get the right feeling Angelina is looking for in the song.
_p.s. You gotta listen to Angelina's other early compositions "Oslo" and "Shield"_
Yeah no doubt he is great. But the composition was indeed a masterpiece
Its cool to hear the technical breakdown but what really matters is how it makes you feel. Angelina makes us feel something with every project she works on. She probably doesn't approach music from a technical standpoint, rather from what feels right. Its her musical understanding that makes it technical without trying, its just makes sense to her.
You have hit every nail directly on the head here. What you missed is that she wrote this age 10-11 in Norway. She performed this with the same Norwegian band that her EP was done with before moving to the USA. There is an excellent recording of them doing this song. At about that same time she wrote Oslo while on a plane heading home after a trip. There is also a video of her singing it live on stage with that band.
As long as you’re checking out her originals from age 11-12 the live tv interview & performance of Shield about her mother is otherworldly. You need to watch the whole pre-performance discussion. Gershwin is very close. Rhapsody In Blue is perhaps my favorite song of all time! I’ve watched many many live performances of it on line and once live with the Buddy Rodger’s Orchestra in concert here on Alaska
BTW, Dylan can be seen playing bass on her 7th Heaven official video.
Oslo is also a masterpiece, but I get that is less jazzy than this version of WIL. Maybe one day she does it jazzy… if we ask many times.
The fact is that there aren’t many reactions to her It’s Magic album songs. I still listen in a Daly bases, or when driving between Lisbon and Barcelona - 13 hours in a car called,… wait for it: Jazz! I get tired but not of her singing.
That run, to borrow a Star Wars reference, is like navigating a hyperspace jump across the galaxy to arrive a destination lightyears away. How she arrives at that resolution is beyond me.
Yes she is 12 in this performance but she first recorded the song at age 11 with the Norwegian military band for the album Its Magic so she was no more than 11 when she wrote it.
Thank you! 😊😊😊😊
Yes, that is Dylan Meeks on keyboard. He is also seen with Angelina on another of her originals (7th Heaven) when she was 15, playing upright bass. I believe I saw somewhere that Dylan is a Texas boy. Therefore "Hello Yah-all".
He also plays the piano in her "Killing Me Softly" video that looks like it was performed in a restaurant.
ruclips.net/video/QjnzD3HuOH4/видео.htmlfeature=shared
@@danboyd3401that's on the set of the 7th Heaven video.
He plays it in the music video footage, but it's not his play on the track and what is heard on the audio.
Hey Aaron, Did you like it ? 🤣 😇Jim
Bro
It would be a nice 'near perfect' choice for her upcoming 'intimate' Christmas show at the (in my mind) hoped for small jazzy venue here in town. 💗
She was actually eleven when she wrote this, and it was recorded for her album It’s Magic at age twelve. My favorite version of this is the lyric video without the fancy piano and guitar, just her sweet young voice. Please watch this one as well.
I was curious why you didn't get to her early orignals yet, time for a mini series! The Shield performance at Skavlan is stunning, and for Oslo is there is a playful rehearsal video which is just delighful.
Aron, her other early original song is Oslo & it was written around the same time as this (10 or 11). I've said before that it is so good, that it deserves to be the unofficial National Anthem of Norway, much like the song America the Beautiful is for America. Just sayin'!!!
Agreed Keith.... and Kaleidoscope RMX did an absolutely beautiful editing job (they always do) for OSLO called "Creation Trip" which highlights the making of the song, you have probably seen it, but worth mentioning because it brings all of her performances of the song together in one video.
Oslo is also on the It’s Magic album and also recorded at age 11.
Hadn't seen this one before... loved it... thanks so much...
Even if Angelina couldn't sing, she could have been a good poet.
One of my favorite originals is Oslo. ❤ It is completely different very mystical.
Have you done Oslo yet? Watch the live presentation with the military band, I understand that Norway' Royalty was present (Perhaps Prime Minister). But I'm not certain on those details. Regardless it's not something at all you would think would come from a young lady...
As far as I know, no one from the Norwegian royal family was present at this concert, but there were many prominent guests, including the then Prime Minister Erna Solberg. There are recordings on the Mosarz channel showing Angelina signing a copy of the album for the PM.
Dylan, the pianist is the one that introdused Ivan to Angelina's family. FYI
Aaron he is from Texas and has been nominated for an Emmy
Also plays the stand up Bass in her music video of 7th Heaven that she created.
@@localnetsolutions Grammy - not Emmy.
Love this song , the way she sing The GoooooOOOoood and BAaaaad at the end, the tone changes slide down ending into an yummy Mmmm 🥰😋 have a good one Aron, cya on the next one 😋👍
She’s as much of a poet as she is a vocalist and musician..3 out of 3…
piano player is dylan meek...also played cello on angelina's 7th heaven . toured with grace vanderwall and has an emmy for a spiderman soundtarck..DM not real name took it from 2 poets...
Aaron, this is also the ONE that I dearly hope she will bring an interpretation at age 18, or any of these upcoming months, years. Im extremely happy you get it and can specifically share like you do about this incredible genius tune!!! Cheers 🍻
Awesome awesome awesome thank you wild bill
You need to check out her entire CD "It's Magic". It has been a best selling album, in the jazz category, since it was released.
The staff band of the Norwegian Armed Forces invited Angelina to perform with them on their 200th aniversary. It is full of masterpieces. Boris' youtube channel has most of these as live performances in concert. A highlight is her performance of "It's A Man's ".❤
I don't know exactly when she wrote this, but it was recorded with an arrangement by the band (Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps) on their album 'It's Magic' when she was 11. I agree that this is the downfall of all the impatient angels sucking you into jumping ahead in the chronological order of discovering Angelina. But on the other hand, you probably wouldn't have gone to the concert in LA and met all the angels and Angelina, so yes there is good and bad no matter how it's approached. Other songs she wrote early on are "Oslo" and "Shield" although she had co-writers with Shield.
I think she might have been putting the first outline of this song together at the age of 10-ish.
There are some snippets published of the song _Shield_ in 2016, and by comparing her voice in the official release of that song to what we hear in the live recording (Skavland TV show), and weighing in other recordings for reference, I'd say the studio recording of _Shield_ was done in the second half of 2016 (by the same time as she recorded the "demo" of "I'm Still Holding Out for You").
So, if this is _"one of her first own compositions",_ as presented by Dylan, it must have been written around the same time. And as you say, it's already arranged for Big-Band and recorded while she's just 11.
Listen to OSLO !!!! She wrote this song when she was going back to thr US and leasing beautiful Norway. Pure poetry ❤❤❤
You said it: a modern day Mozart !!!
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Without even checking, I can guarantee you that this was, in fact, one of the first recommendations you got.😊 One of many, of course… but one of the first. I would be shocked if it wasn't mentioned at least once in the comments under your very first reaction to her.
Out of curiosity, I went back and looked. It was mentioned a couple times but not a lot actually and I received an ONSLAUGHT of recommendations and NOVELS from people at the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the in depth responses and education. But this request NEVER stood out like MANY OTHERS and once the water cleared, nobody pestered me with it. In fact, I did like 50 reactions from members before it was queued up. THAT is what I meant
You might enjoy going to Mery Zamani's poetry channel. Things became much more clear to me after hearing Mery's beautiful words. Thank you for sharing your insights with us each day. Your reactions are always so genuine and informative.
Best female singer on the planet.
The pianist is a Texas boy. Came to California after graduating either Juilliard or Berkeley school in Boston, don’t remember for sure which. He a multi-instrumentalist.
Angelina (12) in her music corner with Dylan Meek on keyboards-from Austin, TX-and Ivan Mendez on guitar! The lyrics are most likely taken from her journals! The song is so amazing as she pretty much tells the story of her life so far! She previously performed this with The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvarets Stabmusuikkorps)! For the Album It’s Magic! Dylan also appears in her 7th Heaven music video on the stand up bass!
When you do OSLO I would recommend a double! Creation Trip of OSLO and live version OSLO ruclips.net/video/AYGl1VIDNWg/видео.htmlsi=XflbQ1hK88dn29Uz
Angel -in-a song. I think I will keep this as it seems appropriate. All those songs you have done and there is still so much more.
I think i have heard most of hers, and this definitivly is in the top 10 for me🥰👑👏and i love the lyrics, love, art and safety of family is the most important❤️
I suggested this to you in a previous reaction. Thank you for checking it out. This is so raw; it is a good way to appreciate her true voice and writing ability. You can tune a piano to her perfect pitch lol!
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Wow, great stuff! You might want to consider going through her original compositions pre Old Enough: Oslo, Shield, 7th Heaven and Million Miles (if you haven't already covered some of these - I've lost track!). Oslo in particular is really beautiful as well as very personal. Another great reaction!
Oslo is another song she wrote. Loved her pondering in that song and her voice conveying the meaning of her lyrics.
11yrs old and the lyric version is with norways army band and that`s great too
Hi Aaron, I'm a little late seeing this reaction so I don't know if you'll see my comment but here goes. You really owe it to yourself to watch the Wrapped In A Warm Blanket podcast featuring Robert Palmer. He discusses this song from a physicist's point of view. You will understand why he says that she changed his life.
This has nothing to do with Ivan, but have you heard her original Oslo? It is phenomenal ❤❤👣❤❤
No not yet
@@A-AronReacts You really need to listen to Oslo. I didn't pay much attention to it until I really listened to the lyrics. It's just as good as What Is Life.
@@A-AronReactsAaron, there’s a video (Kaleidoscope RMX) that shows the creative journey to full performance of the song..the beginning of the video is just fabulous to watch her figure out the lyrics and the how she creates the music to blend with the lyrics..it’s unbelievable beautiful! Leaves me gasping with incredulity and tears every time.
@@kevingood4644 Thanks Kevin. I wanted to tell Aaron about this but couldn't remember how to find it.
just think it's neat that Angelina ends the song with G-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o-o-d and B-a-d.
Putting way, way more emphasis on the 'good' rather than the 'bad'
So should we all.
Oslo! Listen to her song Oslo!
Be sure to react to the Oslo video that shows her creating the song.
FYI. Angelina just dropped a professional official video of Bad Valentine. The previous official video was done by Toby Gad himself. This one was done by professionals and looks a lot better.
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You would probably get a kick out of comparing what Dylan did here with the orchestration of the same song on the _It's Magic_ album she did with Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps (FSMK), the official lyric video for which is on Angelina's official channel, right next to this one you just reacted to. Angelina is credited with writing both the words and music for the song, with the orchestral arrangement (for the c. 40-piece military band) credited to Bjørn Morten Kjærnes, a professional conductor, composer, arranger, and producer. Like that version, this version here was almost certainly an _arrangement_ of Angelina's original composition, rather than an exact recitation of it. By comparing the two, you might be able to get a feel for what aspects of Dylan's arrangement came from Angelina's original composition and what went beyond that (impossible to do accurately, of course, but an interesting exercise). Obviously, the basic chord structure would have to be the same, but many of the "decorations" you pointed out (well… some of them, at least) are probably Dylan's own contributions. (Notice how Angelina looks over at him at one point, as if to say, "What are you doing over there?"😄)
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any footage of Angelina herself playing the song on piano (I mean, that must exist, but it hasn't been posted, AFAIR). There are a handful of live renditions, but they are mostly with FSMK, and so follow the arrangement on the album. She did do a few live performances with a small jazz ensemble, one rehearsal for which can be seen in the video with the ID "v=o5zuKE2h708", posted to the Angelina Jordan Fanclub Mosarz channel [title: "Angelina Jordan rehearsal (What is Life) Original song"]. The pianist in those performances was clearly offering his own interpretation(s) of the composition (as he doesn't seem to have played it the same way twice), just like I assume Dylan was here.
You called it very jazzy - this performance has the great advantage that you can hear AND see her singing, but the version at the Kongsberg Jazz festival in July 2018 is also very great because it's with a real jazz band. You can't see them, but the vocals are just as good (IMHO) as here and the pictures Yozhik v Tumane added illustrate the lyrics beautifully ruclips.net/video/nL9TZd6vwBI/видео.html (not that the version with the military orchestra isn't great - I recommend the 2017 rehearsal on the Mosarz channel called "Angelina Jordan (What is life) Lyrics and melody by Angelina Jordan").
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This one is good, but it is just a stepping stone to another of her early originals, "Shield," which may be my favorite song written by Angelina. I have no idea if you have reacted to it or not, and you have too many for me to look. Edit: I did look, I can't believe you passed up "Shield" but it isn't in your playlist. It says so much about her and her family. ruclips.net/video/lQtUbVKb0vs/видео.html
A-ARON, how can you teach her runs. She is still in a maturing stage. The understanding of how to work her larynx at a maximum level.
Then your next reaction should be goodbye yellow brick road. Hands down
IIRC I did a tiktok reaction with goodbye yellow brick road in it
You cant leave off at that statement re misty. Are you saying because it sounds like misty (which by the way I cant hear as I just listened to Ella Fitzgerald version, I think its almost in the same key, but does not have the as you described a waltzy feeling. But I do not have a musical bone in my body) so are you saying it detracts from Angelina's composition ??
No I mean that the chord progression is very similar to the chord progression in Misty
Love the innocence, honesty and ernesty of "what is like?'...but best work? she's been going downhill since her tweens?
I wouldn't call it downhill but to compose this at 10?!?!?! Come on lol
@A-AronReacts pretty wild
The lyrics are those of a 12 year old but the music is not. We are not worthy.