The first time I heard her voice, I was in a small independent record store (1998) and I heard this voice, and asked "who is that?" The gentlemen in the store told me about her and I immediately bought the cd. I was mesmerized, shocked by the beauty and power of her voice.
I can't listen to her and not cry. I knew it was coming, but I had to listen to it again. So impressive! Not the easiest guitar parts either. Beautiful!
I have only known about Eva since early this year. She stopped me cold with the pure beauty and soulfulness in her voice. Then I found out she had passed away and I felt like I was in mourning, because I knew what the whole world was missing out on. I am sure that the Angels have enlisted her into their Choir. 👼🎶💓
Eva knew exactly what she was doing with this song and every song she sang. I am in the DC metro area and saw her perform live on several occasions. This was probably her most requested song. Now, here's one way to tell she knows what she's doing and going to do (and is another part of her genius). Listen to the song again. When she sings "That's where you'll find me" the first time just before the guitar break, you will hear her audibly breathe between an almost whispered find and me. There's absolutely no need for a gifted singer to breathe there. What Eva is doing is subtly almost subliminally telegraphing the huge sustain when she repeats the line after the break because that's when she needs the breath.
No perfection to her doing 'make-up & hair' prior to this, she gave us her very best raw version, that came out with perfection, hitting our emotions, all of what we should all be so very thankful for!
One of the things that I love about watching the videos of reactors is when they are knocked down flat by an extraordinary performance, to the point where sometimes they cannot form and convey coherent thoughts. The hosts here haven't been struck dumb, but they surely were knocked down flat. And that's a good thing. Congratulations, and thank you.
The first time I heard Eva was on satellite radio singing "Early Morning Rain". I repeated the song all the way home - her cover beats even the original.
Every time I listen to this I'm in tears. Not only is the tone, control and dynamics of her voice jaw dropping, her beautiful and emotional interpretation of the melody and great guitar playing brings it over the top.
Enjoy the journey. You’ve discovered true raw genuine greatness. I wish I could discover Eva again but my discovery is over and I simply hold the treasure in my soul. Every single time I’ve heard her breathe I knew it was the greatest breath I’ve ever experienced. I’ve found almost all of her recorded sounds. Well over 100 songs and every single one is just phenomenal. Enjoy! Open it up. Your life will change for the better. 🎺
Thanks for your spot on reaction to Eva Cassidy's rendition of an iconic classic. She definitely made it her own and sang from deep in her soul, as usual. She is a singer's singer. R.I.P.
She can belted out where most people would be only thinking about their voices, but at the same time, the playing, the most delicate guitar, licks, amazing!
Somehow both Eva Cassidy and Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole took this song and made two absolutely gorgeous and distinctly unique versions, that put the original to shame, RIP to both of those incredible talents!
This was my introduction to Eva many many years ago. I was immediately in love with her voice and ability, that I strived to learn everything about her that I could. She wouldn't fit into a particular genre, and therefor was never signed to any recording company. Eva only did songs that "spoke" to her. I never got to see Eva preform live, but I do know what I missed. Eva will never be forgotten as long as we listen to her angelic voice.
Adding this: if you have not reacted to the Documentary that her friends made, I highly recommend it. It really tells personal details about her musical journey. You will love her even more when hear more about her. 🤗
You are right about her winging it. The musicians she played with said she never practiced. She must have worked on the lyrics and arrangement herself, but when she was performing she did her own thing. BTW, the most money she made for a gig was $80. The studios that rejected her had no idea what they were missing. RIP Eva.
More than singing she's communicating. Very rare. Doesn't breath where anyone else does and doesn't acknowledge periods or stops. Sings right on through and holds a note as long as she pleases. Never paid attention to the lyrics before Eva, though I knew them all. It became a new song.
Very few can truly hear what she is doing between her guitar picking and dynamics and vocal up and downs at the same time. As a singer and guitar player it is amazing.
I may be wrong but she did not have a diagnosed illness until later in the year. This was earlier in 1996. And she was gone not long after. Such a loss for us all. She obviously was a major talent.
Eva was unaware of the cancer at the time of this performance. This event took place in January. She was diagnosed the following July, and passed away in November.
Thank you for your wonderful reaction to the amazing Eva Cassidy. I could see every part that moved me, had the exact same effect on you. I am proud that it was the UK that promoted this talented artist to greater fame, although it happened after she had passed. Greetings from Scotland.
Now before you have a chance to come back to Earth after that performance, jump right into a reaction of her cover of Birth of The Blues, then Autumn Leaves, then Stormy Monday. It's like having a seizure, then a heart attack, then a coma, then another heart attack. If you can handle any more than that without a blood transfusion and a pacemaker then you are stronger than I am. It was only a month ago I first saw a reaction to her live video of OVER THE RAINBOW. I made it all the way to the 3rd guitar note before I started breaking down in tears of joy as to what I was witnessing. She split my soul in half and mended it back together with that performance. I knew right then and there that God who blessed her with all that pure talent, had reached across time and space to help a lot of people know how much love it takes to begin to understand what He has in store for those that know how to be still and listen. To me she is pouring out the answer to everyone that ever heard that song and wondered if there really is a place we can fly to OVER THE RAINBOW. That answer is God's Plan is to very soon bring us to that reality when we are Raptured to be Eternally with Jesus when we meet Him in the sky, SOMEWHERE OVER THAT VERY RAINBOW HE put in the Sky to make a promise that He would never destroy mankind again.
Ty ty for sharing her music and continuing her legacy for the world. Truly a one of a kind artist taken from us much too soon. She, it has been said, refused to perform a song that didnt mean something to her personally. In doing so, it means something personally to the listener as well. Incredible arrangement and chord digressions. Best version ever. Great reaction guys. Ty again. (Mark)
RIP sweet angel. Taken way way too soon. This brings tears to this old man's eyes. OMG what a beautiful voice and such a huge loss to humanity when she passed at such an early age.
this is the somewhere over the rainbow you get when lying in the grass on a hilltop looking up at the clouds dreaming :) Fields of Gold and Autumn Leaves also fit well with this as a set of reminiscing bliss.
For me, the greatest remake story teller singer. And this live stuff was recorded when she had a cold ... Apparently she was not entirely happy with how she sounded. Eva, you were still better than everyone, whenever you sang. RiP.
Nothing is better then watching people react when discovering this treasure 🎶💖🎶 for the first time 🥰 It devastates everyone the same...lol. I adore you guys. Thx for sharing
Discovered Eva some years ago and immediately had to know all! This is still my favorite rendition of this song....what a gift she gave us! I would 2nd your guess about her 'wingin' it!
After he played Eva's Over The Rainbow for the first time, British presenter Terry Wogan said to his audience, "isn't that just the most amazing thing you've ever heard." Yes.
Actually I've heard Eva singing this song in another performance and it's almost exactly the same which suggests to me that she had meticulously planned and practised Over the Rainbow. There is also a video on RUclips made by a professional singing coach who says that she planned her songs very carefully. She's still amazing!
Everyone's going to say, quite rightly, listen to the other Blues Alley songs. But I love her versatility. Listen to "Blues in the Night" and "At Last" (unless you haven't heard Julie London and Etta James singing them respectively, in which case listen to them first). Eva always brought her own surprising arrangements to songs, so give it a go. You can thank me later!
Beautiful song and what a beautiful voice Eva has !! I love you guys, I enjoy your music and your reactions, greetings from Uruguay! they have a fan here!
Some people can freestyle a song, using the original melody as a structure on which to embroider and enhance the song until it's a new thing altogether. I would suspect that Eva had sung it many times and had an idea of how she liked to sing the song but I think you're right that she never sat down and wrote a new melody to sing.
This recording was from a live performance. Compare it to her version on the CD she made with Chuck Brown “godfather of go-go”, called The Other Side. It’s even more beautiful.
She didn’t like to practice her singing. What made her so great was when she sat down and began to saying nobody around or even her band knew what she was going to do.
Her voice is so perfect? Heh. You won't catch me busting on Eva Cassidy, but you should read a little more about that particular Blues Alley performance, and how it came about. It was the second day of a two-day live gig she intended to turn into at least one album, and the first day had been a complete disaster because of technical problems. The second day, she had a cold, and although the technicians had gotten their gear running properly, she was unhappy with almost all of her performances, including this one; she wanted to throw the whole thing away. Especially the way her voice broke on the last phrase of the song: she hated that. Imagine if she had died _without_ leaving us her Blues Alley songs.
Now listen to her ( just released ) album ' I Can Only Be me '. Then take a very deep breath - or if you are British: another sip o' tea - and listen to any/ all Nick Drake. You're very, very welcome.
A great review and assessment of her fluid emotional approach to her performances. However I doubt this entirely done ad lib, given the care in leading us to the crescendo rise of 5:50 and the subsequent gentle let down, but I agree with your sentiment.
I agree. Apparently Eva used to work hard at perfecting her performances and if you listen to other recordings of her singing Over the Rainbow they are almost (but not quite) identical.
IF you were impressed with Evas version you will be estatic about Lucy Thomas's tribute version to Eva of this song !!! Lucy is STUNNING !!! Lucy crushed this song give a listen and be really impressed with top QUALITY singing, no gimmick just beautiful singing accompanied by a guitar !!!
The first time I heard her voice, I was in a small independent record store (1998) and I heard this voice, and asked "who is that?" The gentlemen in the store told me about her and I immediately bought the cd. I was mesmerized, shocked by the beauty and power of her voice.
I can't listen to her and not cry. I knew it was coming, but I had to listen to it again. So impressive! Not the easiest guitar parts either. Beautiful!
I cry always hearing this song, so so much of emotional singing! Actually this one song are one of a kind
Same here! Her voice was unique 🥲
I have only known about Eva since early this year. She stopped me cold with the pure beauty and soulfulness in her voice. Then I found out she had passed away and I felt like I was in mourning, because I knew what the whole world was missing out on. I am sure that the Angels have enlisted her into their Choir. 👼🎶💓
Flawless is how I usually describe her guitar work
She was my Mum’s favourite. We played this song at her funeral so it will always make me cry like a baby.
How beautiful, she made it her own. This was a gem!
Did you know she was ill with a cold with this performance? She was, and will always be, amazing.
The best artists are always in the moment
WTF ... Simply a monster performance.
Your comments are right.. she was just in a bar, performing. What an incredible voice.
Her performance captures the sadness which accompanies being an adult, and is written in to the lyrics.
Beautiful comment, Ken. Seriously.
well said... a lifetime of regret and wishes that perhaps never came true... yet still hoping....
Listen to EVERYTHING she ever recorded in her short life!
Eva knew exactly what she was doing with this song and every song she sang. I am in the DC metro area and saw her perform live on several occasions. This was probably her most requested song. Now, here's one way to tell she knows what she's doing and going to do (and is another part of her genius). Listen to the song again. When she sings "That's where you'll find me" the first time just before the guitar break, you will hear her audibly breathe between an almost whispered find and me. There's absolutely no need for a gifted singer to breathe there. What Eva is doing is subtly almost subliminally telegraphing the huge sustain when she repeats the line after the break because that's when she needs the breath.
Again, this is live. Who ever sounded this good live? No filters or perfect acoustics in a recording studio.
No perfection to her doing 'make-up & hair' prior to this, she gave us her very best raw version, that came out with perfection, hitting our emotions, all of what we should all be so very thankful for!
@@Powerstroke98 exactly, this is so pure and natural. Not trying, just being who she is, sharing her phenomenal gift.
Lucy Thomas sounds better and she is live !!!
One of my most favorite renditions of her. Pure. Raw. Now you know why she was called songbird.
One of the things that I love about watching the videos of reactors is when they are knocked down flat by an extraordinary performance, to the point where sometimes they cannot form and convey coherent thoughts. The hosts here haven't been struck dumb, but they surely were knocked down flat. And that's a good thing. Congratulations, and thank you.
Defy anyone to listen to this and not be moved. Its an unbelievable performance 👏
Like no one else. She was a stand alone performer.
I became a fan after the first bar. Again, thank you for the play. Her music deserves the exposure.
RIP beautiful Ava!! She does amazing covers of everything she does🎶💙🎶
The first time I heard Eva was on satellite radio singing "Early Morning Rain". I repeated the song all the way home - her cover beats even the original.
Gurl! You were SPOT ON! She was ‘winging it’ - but not like others do - it was her heart singing - her voice was just the instrument! RIP Eva🙏🏼😌
Judy Garland sang this with a child’s optimism. Eva sang this with an adult’s melancholy.
Great observation!❤
There are a handful of her performances that bring me to shed a few tears. This world just wasn’t good enough for her. R.I.P.. What a beautiful soul.
Every time I listen to this I'm in tears. Not only is the tone, control and dynamics of her voice jaw dropping, her beautiful and emotional interpretation of the melody and great guitar playing brings it over the top.
Beautiful singer and guitar player.
Enjoy the journey. You’ve discovered true raw genuine greatness. I wish I could discover Eva again but my discovery is over and I simply hold the treasure in my soul. Every single time I’ve heard her breathe I knew it was the greatest breath I’ve ever experienced. I’ve found almost all of her recorded sounds. Well over 100 songs and every single one is just phenomenal. Enjoy! Open it up. Your life will change for the better. 🎺
How lovely to hear three songs by Eva Cassidy - you’ve made my evening!
It’s like the rainbow found it’s way to her and came out through guitar!! Vocals from Heaven.
Thanks for your spot on reaction to Eva Cassidy's rendition of an iconic classic. She definitely made it her own and sang from deep in her soul, as usual. She is a singer's singer. R.I.P.
She can belted out where most people would be only thinking about their voices, but at the same time, the playing, the most delicate guitar, licks, amazing!
This angel is the best singer of all time listen to these versions with the London symphony orchestra effin amazing rip eva
Somehow both Eva Cassidy and Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole took this song and made two absolutely gorgeous and distinctly unique versions, that put the original to shame, RIP to both of those incredible talents!
This was my introduction to Eva many many years ago. I was immediately in love with her voice and ability, that I strived to learn everything about her that I could. She wouldn't fit into a particular genre, and therefor was never signed to any recording company. Eva only did songs that "spoke" to her. I never got to see Eva preform live, but I do know what I missed. Eva will never be forgotten as long as we listen to her angelic voice.
Adding this: if you have not reacted to the Documentary that her friends made, I highly recommend it. It really tells personal details about her musical journey. You will love her even more when hear more about her. 🤗
You are right about her winging it. The musicians she played with said she never practiced. She must have worked on the lyrics and arrangement herself, but when she was performing she did her own thing. BTW, the most money she made for a gig was $80. The studios that rejected her had no idea what they were missing. RIP Eva.
More than singing she's communicating. Very rare. Doesn't breath where anyone else does and doesn't acknowledge periods or stops. Sings right on through and holds a note as long as she pleases. Never paid attention to the lyrics before Eva, though I knew them all. It became a new song.
Very few can truly hear what she is doing between her guitar picking and dynamics and vocal up and downs at the same time. As a singer and guitar player it is amazing.
Eva's voice is very inspiring. Beautiful...
😮 blown away. Like an angels voice 🎶
People give her guitar playing some recognition too!😯
With so much emotion, even when knowing she was soon to die.
I may be wrong but she did not have a diagnosed illness until later in the year. This was earlier in 1996. And she was gone not long after. Such a loss for us all. She obviously was a major talent.
Eva was unaware of the cancer at the time of this performance.
This event took place in January. She was diagnosed the following July, and passed away in November.
She was gifted with perfect pitch and used to perfection
Thank you for your wonderful reaction to the amazing Eva Cassidy. I could see every part that moved me, had the exact same effect on you. I am proud that it was the UK that promoted this talented artist to greater fame, although it happened after she had passed. Greetings from Scotland.
Now before you have a chance to come back to Earth after that performance, jump right into a reaction of her cover of Birth of The Blues, then Autumn Leaves, then Stormy Monday. It's like having a seizure, then a heart attack, then a coma, then another heart attack. If you can handle any more than that without a blood transfusion and a pacemaker then you are stronger than I am.
It was only a month ago I first saw a reaction to her live video of OVER THE RAINBOW. I made it all the way to the 3rd guitar note before I started breaking down in tears of joy as to what I was witnessing. She split my soul in half and mended it back together with that performance. I knew right then and there that God who blessed her with all that pure talent, had reached across time and space to help a lot of people know how much love it takes to begin to understand what He has in store for those that know how to be still and listen. To me she is pouring out the answer to everyone that ever heard that song and wondered if there really is a place we can fly to OVER THE RAINBOW. That answer is God's Plan is to very soon bring us to that reality when we are Raptured to be Eternally with Jesus when we meet Him in the sky, SOMEWHERE OVER THAT VERY RAINBOW HE put in the Sky to make a promise that He would never destroy mankind again.
Ty ty for sharing her music and continuing her legacy for the world. Truly a one of a kind artist taken from us much too soon. She, it has been said, refused to perform a song that didnt mean something to her personally. In doing so, it means something personally to the listener as well. Incredible arrangement and chord digressions. Best version ever. Great reaction guys. Ty again. (Mark)
RIP sweet angel. Taken way way too soon. This brings tears to this old man's eyes. OMG what a beautiful voice and such a huge loss to humanity when she passed at such an early age.
So beautiful voice of an angel ❤
this is the somewhere over the rainbow you get when lying in the grass on a hilltop looking up at the clouds dreaming :) Fields of Gold and Autumn Leaves also fit well with this as a set of reminiscing bliss.
For me, the greatest remake story teller singer.
And this live stuff was recorded when she had a cold ... Apparently she was not entirely happy with how she sounded. Eva, you were still better than everyone, whenever you sang. RiP.
Nothing is better then watching people react when discovering this treasure 🎶💖🎶 for the first time 🥰 It devastates everyone the same...lol. I adore you guys. Thx for sharing
Listen to her singing Amazing Grace….dear God it’s so beautiful.
She is phenomenal. I discovered her beautiful voice after she died. I have all of her songs.Great reaction. ❤️👍💃
She is absolutley amazing... in tears❤
You need to listen to her sing Cheek To Cheek from the same live performance…..she nails swing just as perfectly.
I've heard this version a hundred times and I have had chills a hundred times.
Such a great voice that we lost when she was way too young. Cancer sucks. Love her songs. 🥰
I agree with your commentary.
Wow Wow Wow awesome song Oh and hello Lovelies ( Suzie Q and Travis) what a voice so nice to listen to while having my morning wake up coffee.
Bravo.
Definitely going on my playlist
This version is the absolute best of all time. Eva was very special for sure. She died so young ❤️❤️
I love the fact that she just looks like the girl next door, her hair is not dressed up, or fancy. She is just a woman singing from her soul.
Discovered Eva some years ago and immediately had to know all! This is still my favorite rendition of this song....what a gift she gave us! I would 2nd your guess about her 'wingin' it!
Absolutley amazing makes me cry every time stunning stuff
I hope someone gets it in their head to colorize this, one of the iconic musical performances of all time...
Sadly...she died 10 months after that performance...cancer at the age of 33...all of her songs are amazing...
After he played Eva's Over The Rainbow for the first time, British presenter Terry Wogan said to his audience, "isn't that just the most amazing thing you've ever heard." Yes.
Actually I've heard Eva singing this song in another performance and it's almost exactly the same which suggests to me that she had meticulously planned and practised Over the Rainbow. There is also a video on RUclips made by a professional singing coach who says that she planned her songs very carefully.
She's still amazing!
okay. here's the thing. I LOVE these two. not sure why. but, energy. appreciation for talent. whatever it is... I'm okay with The Wolf HunterZ.
Everyone's going to say, quite rightly, listen to the other Blues Alley songs. But I love her versatility. Listen to "Blues in the Night" and "At Last" (unless you haven't heard Julie London and Etta James singing them respectively, in which case listen to them first). Eva always brought her own surprising arrangements to songs, so give it a go. You can thank me later!
Loved watching your reaction.. every note!
Beautiful song and what a beautiful voice Eva has !! I love you guys, I enjoy your music and your reactions, greetings from Uruguay! they have a fan here!
That was filmed with an 8mm camcorder. It was only digitized later.
Suzie never had a chance on this one...LOL!
Angelic ❤❤
Some people can freestyle a song, using the original melody as a structure on which to embroider and enhance the song until it's a new thing altogether. I would suspect that Eva had sung it many times and had an idea of how she liked to sing the song but I think you're right that she never sat down and wrote a new melody to sing.
Thanks for sharing. Next try "Autumn Leaves", "Fields of Gold", "It's a Wonderful World", "Songbird" , "I know you by heart" by Eva Cassidy
love eva
Why the hell does this song make me cry! Im a bloke!
eva died of cancer 2 months after the gig. rip eva she knew she had cncer n told no 1, godess of music rip babe
This was in January and she died on November 2nd so it was a bit more than 2 months.
This recording was from a live performance. Compare it to her version on the CD she made with Chuck Brown “godfather of go-go”, called The Other Side. It’s even more beautiful.
I have to mention that they night this was recorded she had a bad cold. Can you believe that?
She didn’t like to practice her singing. What made her so great was when she sat down and began to saying nobody around or even her band knew what she was going to do.
I can see where this tickled her childhood!
RIP..Eva.
Man, you really digging it.
She had no rival to her voice. God rest her dear soul. How sick that we lost her at only 33 from the bastard cancer.
Her voice is so perfect?
Heh.
You won't catch me busting on Eva Cassidy, but you should read a little more about that particular Blues Alley performance, and how it came about. It was the second day of a two-day live gig she intended to turn into at least one album, and the first day had been a complete disaster because of technical problems. The second day, she had a cold, and although the technicians had gotten their gear running properly, she was unhappy with almost all of her performances, including this one; she wanted to throw the whole thing away. Especially the way her voice broke on the last phrase of the song: she hated that.
Imagine if she had died _without_ leaving us her Blues Alley songs.
Now listen to her ( just released ) album ' I Can Only Be me '. Then take a very deep breath - or if you are British: another sip o' tea - and listen to any/ all Nick Drake. You're very, very welcome.
Fortress - Alter Bridge.
It's amazing, trust me.
Listen to her version of Sting's Fields of Gold!
Want some blues? Listen to her sing Stormy Monday.
A great review and assessment of her fluid emotional approach to her performances. However I doubt this entirely done ad lib, given the care in leading us to the crescendo rise of 5:50 and the subsequent gentle let down, but I agree with your sentiment.
I agree. Apparently Eva used to work hard at perfecting her performances and if you listen to other recordings of her singing Over the Rainbow they are almost (but not quite) identical.
Eva
By the way it is "E" VA not "A" va.
Vous avez des yeux magnifiques madame
She died very shortly after this recording, at 26!
She died the same year of this performance from cancer in 1996. She was 33 years old. The same age of Jesus death.
IF you were impressed with Evas version you will be estatic about Lucy Thomas's tribute version to Eva of this song !!! Lucy is STUNNING !!! Lucy crushed this song give a listen and be really impressed with top QUALITY singing, no gimmick just beautiful singing accompanied by a guitar !!!
Who says angels don't walk this earth.