I don't think I've ever heard Stony End so beautifully interpreted by any artist save Laura herself. Sara really honoured her and like so many was inspired and influenced by this true great.
This just brings tears to my eyes. I saw the induction back in 2012. I've never seen this clip until today. For Sara to say what she did, particularly, Laura's "Bravery," speaks volumes. I'm sure Laura would've given Sara a Standing Ovation if Laura had been alive for the induction. I'm sura Laura's son was standing and crying his eyes out.
For anyone who wants to see more, a full clip has FINALLY been posted--yay! And having watched the entire performance now, I just had to come back and tell the first couple of mean-spirited Nyro fans who commented here that they need to get their ears checked--Sara sounds f*ckin' fantastic! She should release this as an official cover!
Of all the female singer-songwriters working today I can't imagine a better choice. Sara's classical songwriting hearkens back to the 70s and she's often referred to as a latter-day Carole King--so not that far removed from Nyro at all.
Wow! I have to be honest and say I never heard of Laura Nyro. But when Bette Midler talked about her work, I was blown away becuase I know all those great songs, and Bettes tears became my tears also. Anyways...I thought Sara Bareilles (who I also never heard of) was tremendous! I'm no musician , but I've since heard Laura's & Bab's verions of Stoney End. Sara Bareilles seems to me a true talent.
In 1970 Laura Nyro released her LP "Its Gonna Take a Miracle" The album was produced by Gamble and Huff and featured girl group greats Labelle "before Patti went solo" as her back up singers..The songs are all covers from the late 50s and 60s..I bought the album shortly after first hearing it in 1976 and it will always remain in my collection..Several of the tracks are featured here on You-tube I hope you find time to check it out..I think you'll be glad you did..Regards and Happy Holidays..
@@myboylollipop09 - Somehow I totally missed your comment. A great one, so thank you 7 yrs late! A few years ago I bought Angel in the dark which has music she recorded just a few years before she passed away. And recently I bought the re-release of It's Gonna Take a Miracle on CD. I love them both.
Nyro had the muse. Any songwriter who has gone through the struggle of creating a song, as I have, appreciates her. Elton John did especially; he credits the style of his writing in Burn Down the Mission to Laura totally.
I LVOE YOU, Laura Nyro ! I'm so happy you have been inducted, finally, by your peers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Stoney End is my favorite song written by Laura.
I thought "tough nut to crack" was a perfect description of how the public has responded, or not responded, to Laura's music. And I have no idea why someone "ought not to admit" that. It's called humility.
You said it, Sara! Laura was a TRUE Punk Rock pioneer. Patti Smith told me herself that she loved Laura Nyro and so did her Keyboard player, Richard Sohl (RIP), which one can def here on the PSG's records. Especially "Horses"
Actually, I've been a musician, keyboard player, producer my whole life and happen to sing pretty well. And my criticism has nothing to do with whether I can sing or not. I think the criticism right above yours by nashvillemamz pretty much nails it, as well as a few others here. Laura was a rare genius and an incredible talent and not many come along in a lifetime who are that passionate and instinctive and accomplished.
In 2006, the live crowd wanted Barbra to sing Stoney End, but she refused to sing it all; she began and mocked the lyrics in the middle, "mother worked the mines"? as if it was silly. She disrespected the song that did so much for her career. It was the only song I liked by Streisand till then. She showed no respect for her songwriter, Nyro. She looked small and clueless, since the fans knew Nyro was the giant, who wrote songs Barbra could not, but Nyro could sing too. The clip is on YT now; see it if you like.
@@DexterHaven Streisand isn't the first singer to be conflicted over the genius of the composer/writer. Ann Wilson, Tina Turner, Beyoncé and a host of others come to mind. They rarely acknowledge the writers that made them more than lounge acts.
The lyric: Cradle me mama, Mama cradle me again... does anyone know the story of where that piece of lyric comes from? It is so evocative, so compelling, is there meaning at all? Knowing the history of her mom dying of uterine cancer and then the same thing happening to Laura, I know the lyrics to this song were written decades before those deaths happened but this is the center of this song...pleading to her mother for some sort of comfort that belongs to an infant but as the song suggests, "momma was a minor..." My grandmother was thirteen when she was married to a man ten years older than her. She miscarried at age 14 and I think of her sons and daughter (my uncles and mother) and the situation she and they were put into when her husband died of black lung disease in a Pennsylvania coal mining town and she moved into NYC and the Bowery..the story of children, girls getting married off and made pregnant. This song just resonates with me.
Sara does an excellent version of Stoney End - she clearly loves this wonderful song, enjoys it, and is able to sing it, which is not that easy. On another subject: it says a lot about the stunning lack of musicality and general integrity of the people who control who gets into the R&RHOF that Nyro wasn't inducted long, long before she died. But then she didn't play their corrupt game.
Agree with you. Let's assume that we go 1969 + 25 years waiting period. Doesn't that take us to 1994? Sounds like 18 years before she was inducted. Sounds like 3 years while she was still alive to accept the induction herself.
This video unfortunately cuts off the whole performance.. it's available in other vids on RUclips.. Meanwhile, though, this interview with Sara is great.. Long live Laura Nyro.. gone so young.. RIP...
When I saw Sara Bareilles sing Laura Nyro's Stoney End at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony I was sure she was channelling the great one herself. wow, Wow, WOW! And a big kudo to the board of directors who bowed to the public howl that Laura's son wasn't even invited and then turning around to let him accept the award for his beloved mother. Google for more information on how he has been cheated out of his rightful legacy due to greedy legal wrangling over his mother's estate.
I thought Sara did a wonderful job, she even did a bit of a wail. Sara reminds me a little of Laura,and her "hit songs", not so much her more experimental work. Noone is quite up to Laura in her New York Tendaberry/ Christmas and the Beads of Sweat period.
I agree with mysticsmb, Sara was a perfect choice! If you truly listen to what Sara says it was a genuine tribute to Laura Nyro. Too bad jimmytman and nashevillemamz are so full of themselves they can't see it. They seem like the types that live to be offended. Get a life...
If you really like Laura Nyro, why not visit her house some day? She lived there for years till she died. The address is: 9 Zinn Road, Danbury, CT. Check it on google maps. It's near the high school. It was her big move to the country from the Bronx.
There was madness to her music. Some songs tip-toed gently as fairy’s feet on flower petals; others stomped like a ghetto gang charging down an alley-and any one of her song’s could do both. Her lyrics could be glints of sparkling sunlight bouncing off flowing melodies or heavy hail pounding a tin roof or mournful tears washing away dreams. Upbeat as a picnic in Central Park. Dark as Satan’s heart. Jazzy. Folksy. Broadway. Soul. Funk. Rock. Gospel. Soaring. Crashing. A poetic muse. A alluring siren. A gutter cussing waif. Her creations were the ultimate synthesis of mind-soul-hand. They should have named a new genre of music just for her: Stream of Consciousness music.
Laura Nyro was a lot of things, punk rocker was not one of them. For one thing she used jazz musicians on a lot of albums. It's a bit odd that Rolling Stone is now recognizing Laura Nyro as when she was alive the magazine shunned her.
I think Laura Nyro might question why her name was used in the same sentence as "punk rock", but from everything I've learned about her (and like her other die-hard fans, I read a lot), she probably wouldn't have said anything about it in an interview or anything like that. I never recall her bashing any other performer, especially those doing covers of her songs.
I perfectly got what she meant by her punk rock remark, it means Laura just like punk rock music, challenged the conventional way of composing a song, she had no rules and this was very punk rock in essence, being she was "Rebellious" "unconventional " and most definitely NOT BORING. She had the original punk rock spirit in her as a musician.
I thought the Laura segment went really well. Bette Midler gave a Heartfelt speech, and shed some tears, as many Laura fans no doubt did(including myself.) It was great to see her Son Gil proudly accept for her. As for Sara, they had to get somebody, and she did ok. It would have been awesome if they'd been able to get Barbara Streisand, and Marilyn McCoo to do a medley of Laura songs, but overall, I think it went great. Laura SO deserves this Honor, she's a true Musical Legend for all Time!
I knew Laura Nyro. Laura Nyro was my friend. And Sara, you are no Laura Nyro! To call her a forerunner of "punk rock" shows absolutely no understanding of Laura's music, and to say that musically "she was a tough nut to crack" is also something another musician with any aspirations to occupy the same realm as Laura Nyro ought not admit. Jim Taylor
Yeah, it's you who have no understanding of what Bareilles was saying... she didn't say she was a forerunner to punk... just the spirit of her efforts were cutting edge and emotinally raw. Also, the "tough nut to crack" comment was about how the normal music listener of the day was too challenged by Nyro's music to 'get' her totally, and for her to become a breakout star for her own performances. And I'm sure Laura wouldn't have been as tactless as you are. Sara did a great job with the song, as good as Streisand.
@@stevegirardmedia2255 Bareilles doesn't need you to decipher what she said, she is very well spoken. She did a good job with the song but to compare it with Streisand is just ignorant, if not "tactless".
As a lifelong Laura Nyro fan, I am appalled at how terrible this Sarah woman sings! Laura was a BRILLIANT VOCALIST AND PIANIST! This Sarah chick can barely even sing! She has no range! God, she is just so one dimensional. It is an insult to Laura to have this chick representing her.
Sad that Sara was chosen to try to do justice to Laura Nyro's music. Felt she had no clue what Laura Nyro was about. I think it was sloppy work to choose someone so removed from the depth of Laura's soul and understanding. Interview shows how very out of touch she is. Her performance/ voice fell sadly sadly short as well. Just inept.
Sara Bareilles handled the expectations, the performance, and the press very well. She made me a fan in one song!
Go back to Love Song, and take it from there.
Sara's interpretation of this wonderful song seemed like it was breath of fresh air in that room.
Greatest choice possible, what a class act and so beautiful too. Thank you so much.
Sara Bareilles sang beautifully I just love Laura Nyro I miss her her songs will forever be in my heart
You did what you sought out to do. I have been a Laura fan for over 60 years! You gave her memory a great tribute.
Laura Nyro helped me thru all my life. A friend that was dying gave me her album
I don't think I've ever heard Stony End so beautifully interpreted by any artist save Laura herself. Sara really honoured her and like so many was inspired and influenced by this true great.
Much better rendition than Barbra's
Beautiful tribute. There's no-one like Laura Nyro. In a league by herself.
YES!
I loved Laura Nyro. Super talented!!!
I agree. Her performance of Stoney End was very rousing and great fun. For me it was THE highlight of the show.
This just brings tears to my eyes. I saw the induction back in 2012. I've never seen this clip until today. For Sara to say what she did, particularly, Laura's "Bravery," speaks volumes. I'm sure Laura would've given Sara a Standing Ovation if Laura had been alive for the induction. I'm sura Laura's son was standing and crying his eyes out.
I wish that song was buyable or downloadable it was such a great cover
For anyone who wants to see more, a full clip has FINALLY been posted--yay! And having watched the entire performance now, I just had to come back and tell the first couple of mean-spirited Nyro fans who commented here that they need to get their ears checked--Sara sounds f*ckin' fantastic! She should release this as an official cover!
p.s. She didn't mean Laura's music was a forerunner to punk, she meant her authenticity was.
Of all the female singer-songwriters working today I can't imagine a better choice. Sara's classical songwriting hearkens back to the 70s and she's often referred to as a latter-day Carole King--so not that far removed from Nyro at all.
She's only a latter day Carole KIng, b/c Laura was born in 1947, Carole in 1942.
Wow! I have to be honest and say I never heard of Laura Nyro. But when Bette Midler talked about her work, I was blown away becuase I know all those great songs, and Bettes tears became my tears also. Anyways...I thought Sara Bareilles (who I also never heard of) was tremendous! I'm no musician , but I've since heard Laura's & Bab's verions of Stoney End. Sara Bareilles seems to me a true talent.
In 1970 Laura Nyro released her LP "Its Gonna Take a Miracle" The album was produced by Gamble and Huff and featured girl group greats Labelle "before Patti went solo" as her back up singers..The songs are all covers from the late 50s and 60s..I bought the album shortly after first hearing it in 1976 and it will always remain in my collection..Several of the tracks are featured here on You-tube I hope you find time to check it out..I think you'll be glad you did..Regards and Happy Holidays..
How about Todd Rundgren saying after listening to Laura, he decided to stop writing songs like Pete Townshend, and more like Laura Nyro.
@@myboylollipop09 - Somehow I totally missed your comment. A great one, so thank you 7 yrs late! A few years ago I bought Angel in the dark which has music she recorded just a few years before she passed away. And recently I bought the re-release of It's Gonna Take a Miracle on CD. I love them both.
No thank you Sara, an absolutely spectacular performance by you & all the performers on stage, bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nyro had the muse. Any songwriter who has gone through the struggle of creating a song, as I have, appreciates her. Elton John did especially; he credits the style of his writing in Burn Down the Mission to Laura totally.
I LVOE YOU, Laura Nyro !
I'm so happy you have been inducted, finally, by your peers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Stoney End is my favorite song written by Laura.
I thought "tough nut to crack" was a perfect description of how the public has responded, or not responded, to Laura's music. And I have no idea why someone "ought not to admit" that. It's called humility.
You said it, Sara! Laura was a TRUE Punk Rock pioneer. Patti Smith told me herself that she loved Laura Nyro and so did her Keyboard player, Richard Sohl (RIP), which one can def here on the PSG's records. Especially "Horses"
That's an insult to Laura.
Actually, I've been a musician, keyboard player, producer my whole life and happen to sing pretty well. And my criticism has nothing to do with whether I can sing or not. I think the criticism right above yours by nashvillemamz pretty much nails it, as well as a few others here. Laura was a rare genius and an incredible talent and not many come along in a lifetime who are that passionate and instinctive and accomplished.
She is soooo cuuuute .....and so talented.
I would choose Sara singing Stoney End over Barbra Streisand any day!
rwk50 Me too, definitely!
In 2006, the live crowd wanted Barbra to sing Stoney End, but she refused to sing it all; she began and mocked the lyrics in the middle, "mother worked the mines"? as if it was silly. She disrespected the song that did so much for her career. It was the only song I liked by Streisand till then. She showed no respect for her songwriter, Nyro. She looked small and clueless, since the fans knew Nyro was the giant, who wrote songs Barbra could not, but Nyro could sing too. The clip is on YT now; see it if you like.
Nyro was a strong feminist and rather than say "my father worked the mines," she changed it up for fun.
@@DexterHaven Streisand isn't the first singer to be conflicted over the genius of the composer/writer. Ann Wilson, Tina Turner, Beyoncé and a host of others come to mind. They rarely acknowledge the writers that made them more than lounge acts.
@@DexterHaven I get what you are saying but it seems to me like maybe she forgot the words .
OMG what a great voice with a perfect song.
The lyric: Cradle me mama, Mama cradle me again...
does anyone know the story of where that piece of lyric comes from? It is so evocative, so compelling, is there meaning at all? Knowing the history of her mom dying of uterine cancer and then the same thing happening to Laura, I know the lyrics to this song were written decades before those deaths happened but this is the center of this song...pleading to her mother for some sort of comfort that belongs to an infant but as the song suggests, "momma was a minor..."
My grandmother was thirteen when she was married to a man ten years older than her. She miscarried at age 14 and I think of her sons and daughter (my uncles and mother) and the situation she and they were put into when her husband died of black lung disease in a Pennsylvania coal mining town and she moved into NYC and the Bowery..the story of children, girls getting married off and made pregnant. This song just resonates with me.
Sara does an excellent version of Stoney End - she clearly loves this wonderful song, enjoys it, and is able to sing it, which is not that easy. On another subject: it says a lot about the stunning lack of musicality and general integrity of the people who control who gets into the R&RHOF that Nyro wasn't inducted long, long before she died. But then she didn't play their corrupt game.
Agree with you. Let's assume that we go 1969 + 25 years waiting period. Doesn't that take us to 1994? Sounds like 18 years before she was inducted. Sounds like 3 years while she was still alive to accept the induction herself.
This video unfortunately cuts off the whole performance.. it's available in other vids on RUclips..
Meanwhile, though, this interview with Sara is great..
Long live Laura Nyro.. gone so young.. RIP...
When I saw Sara Bareilles sing Laura Nyro's Stoney End at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony I was sure she was channelling the great one herself. wow, Wow, WOW! And a big kudo to the board of directors who bowed to the public howl that Laura's son wasn't even invited and then turning around to let him accept the award for his beloved mother. Google for more information on how he has been cheated out of his rightful legacy due to greedy legal wrangling over his mother's estate.
I thought Sara did a wonderful job, she even did a bit of a wail. Sara reminds me a little of Laura,and her "hit songs", not so much her more experimental work. Noone is quite up to Laura in her New York Tendaberry/ Christmas and the Beads of Sweat period.
I agree with mysticsmb, Sara was a perfect choice! If you truly listen to what Sara says it was a genuine tribute to Laura Nyro. Too bad jimmytman and nashevillemamz are so full of themselves they can't see it. They seem like the types that live to be offended. Get a life...
Bravo.
If you really like Laura Nyro, why not visit her house some day? She lived there for years till she died. The address is: 9 Zinn Road, Danbury, CT. Check it on google maps. It's near the high school. It was her big move to the country from the Bronx.
Her resting place is by the lake in front pf a maple tree
There was madness to her music. Some songs tip-toed gently as fairy’s feet on flower petals; others stomped like a ghetto gang charging down an alley-and any one of her song’s could do both. Her lyrics could be glints of sparkling sunlight bouncing off flowing melodies or heavy hail pounding a tin roof or mournful tears washing away dreams. Upbeat as a picnic in Central Park. Dark as Satan’s heart. Jazzy. Folksy. Broadway. Soul. Funk. Rock. Gospel. Soaring. Crashing. A poetic muse. A alluring siren. A gutter cussing waif. Her creations were the ultimate synthesis of mind-soul-hand. They should have named a new genre of music just for her: Stream of Consciousness music.
Sara loves her new dentures
Laura Nyro was a lot of things, punk rocker was not one of them. For one thing she used jazz musicians on a lot of albums. It's a bit odd that Rolling Stone is now recognizing Laura Nyro as when she was alive the magazine shunned her.
I think Laura Nyro might question why her name was used in the same sentence as "punk rock", but from everything I've learned about her (and like her other die-hard fans, I read a lot), she probably wouldn't have said anything about it in an interview or anything like that. I never recall her bashing any other performer, especially those doing covers of her songs.
"Punk rock pioneer"? Where'd that come from?!
I know🤣🤣🤣 PUNK ROCK that’s hilarious
I perfectly got what she meant by her punk rock remark, it means Laura just like punk rock music, challenged the conventional way of composing a song, she had no rules and this was very punk rock in essence, being she was "Rebellious" "unconventional " and most definitely NOT BORING. She had the original punk rock spirit in her as a musician.
I thought the Laura segment went really well. Bette Midler gave a Heartfelt speech, and shed some tears, as many Laura fans no doubt did(including myself.) It was great to see her Son Gil proudly accept for her. As for Sara, they had to get somebody, and she did ok. It would have been awesome if they'd been able to get Barbara Streisand, and Marilyn McCoo to do a medley of Laura songs, but overall, I think it went great. Laura SO deserves this Honor, she's a true Musical Legend for all Time!
Then why dont you go sing Jim....oh wait you can't
I knew Laura Nyro. Laura Nyro was my friend. And Sara, you are no Laura Nyro! To call her a forerunner of "punk rock" shows absolutely no understanding of Laura's music, and to say that musically "she was a tough nut to crack" is also something another musician with any aspirations to occupy the same realm as Laura Nyro ought not admit.
Jim Taylor
Yeah, it's you who have no understanding of what Bareilles was saying... she didn't say she was a forerunner to punk... just the spirit of her efforts were cutting edge and emotinally raw. Also, the "tough nut to crack" comment was about how the normal music listener of the day was too challenged by Nyro's music to 'get' her totally, and for her to become a breakout star for her own performances. And I'm sure Laura wouldn't have been as tactless as you are. Sara did a great job with the song, as good as Streisand.
@@stevegirardmedia2255 Bareilles doesn't need you to decipher what she said, she is very well spoken. She did a good job with the song but to compare it with Streisand is just ignorant, if not "tactless".
As a lifelong Laura Nyro fan, I am appalled at how terrible this Sarah woman sings! Laura was a BRILLIANT VOCALIST AND PIANIST! This Sarah chick can barely even sing! She has no range! God, she is just so one dimensional. It is an insult to Laura to have this chick representing her.
That's pretty harsh. Laura was a brilliant writer, not a brilliant singer.
@Kirsten Anderberg who would you rather sing the song
Really?
Sad that Sara was chosen to try to do justice to Laura Nyro's music. Felt she had no clue what Laura Nyro was about. I think it was sloppy work to choose someone so removed from the depth of Laura's soul and understanding. Interview shows how very out of touch she is. Her performance/ voice fell sadly sadly short as well. Just inept.
Are you detached from reality?? Sara did a great job living up the the immensity of Nyro's work.
@@stevegirardmedia2255 No one, not even Streisand, could make it playful and full of soul like Sara, best choice in my book
@@stevegirardmedia2255 Laura loved other artists covers, and she would have dug this...
@@lilredscout Absolutely... Gary above is an elitist when it comes to Laura's music... apparently no one is worthy!
you can be a laura elistist all you want, and of course, no one sings Laura like Laura, but she adored the covers.