The May 20, 2019 New Yorker Magazine article is what called my attention to Ms. Giddens. So, I've begun looking in on her and their music on YT. I am knocked out. She makes me feel as though I'm looking in not just on the history of music in America, but on parts that had escaped me entirely, for the usual reasons. I'm well familiar with our history; we shout and holler for the good stuff and forgeddabout da past. Ms. Giddens says, "Here's the past. It's real, it can make you feel pain, but let's not forget about it please." After hearing the Carolina Chocolate Drops perform the music, beautifully, wonderfully, I agree. There's nothing like bringing things down to the individual, human, level, one person expressing her feelings of tragedy (referring to the person who wrote the diary reflected in the song created by Ms. Giddens) to make one stop and think. Kudos to Ms. Giddens, and her group, and their efforts to show us what's what.
Rhiannon Giddens is pure magic. She is a singer with a pure, golden voice, plays multiple instruments brilliantly, & composes (her opera "Omar" based on the life of a Muslim scholar who was sold into slavery in the US in the 1940's was unfortunately canceled due to COVID19 - it was going to have a world premier at Spoleto USA in Charleston, SC).
Beautiful and powerful performance of a great song, I can feel the emotion, the pain and the anger, yet also compassion. This is music in it's truest form, serving to tell the story, to make us feel it. Thank you, Rhiannon!
so beautiful she sings she dances she can play banjo violin her body entire is a musical instrument shes a medium for the voices of the past the ghosts that dwell still in the oldest of songs
That's some powerful storytelling right there! She's got a hell of a lot of heart and soul and you can see she feels every word she sings as it came from a place of struggle from the 19th century's slave's memoir!
To be honest, your voice is hilarious! It was another song, but in a way it remembers me at the young Aretha Franklin. I hope you go on with singing and we we also be able to hear you in Germany 😎
o_o dam ♥ i want to make a remix of this cyber sythwatic wave i'll link it here if i get to stop being a lazy nofa and actually do it but dam it would be good
![Tom Jones & Rhiannon Giddens - St. James Infirmary Blues [HD] Jools' Annual Hootenanny 2015/16](/img/1.gif)
If this was the opening scene to a movie, I think you want to watch more.
definitely fixes the Headphone issue. Great tune btw! Amazing voice!
The May 20, 2019 New Yorker Magazine article is what called my attention to Ms. Giddens. So, I've begun looking in on her and their music on YT.
I am knocked out.
She makes me feel as though I'm looking in not just on the history of music in America, but on parts that had escaped me entirely, for the usual reasons.
I'm well familiar with our history; we shout and holler for the good stuff and forgeddabout da past.
Ms. Giddens says, "Here's the past. It's real, it can make you feel pain, but let's not forget about it please."
After hearing the Carolina Chocolate Drops perform the music, beautifully, wonderfully, I agree.
There's nothing like bringing things down to the individual, human, level, one person expressing her feelings of tragedy (referring to the person who wrote the diary reflected in the song created by Ms. Giddens) to make one stop and think.
Kudos to Ms. Giddens, and her group, and their efforts to show us what's what.
So evocative and haunting. Rhiannon is the whole package. Deep and bottomless talent.
There are a few songs that actually give me the chills. This is certainly one of them. What a powerful evocation of the darkness of American history.
Rhiannon Giddens is pure magic. She is a singer with a pure, golden voice, plays multiple instruments brilliantly, & composes (her opera "Omar" based on the life of a Muslim scholar who was sold into slavery in the US in the 1940's was unfortunately canceled due to COVID19 - it was going to have a world premier at Spoleto USA in Charleston, SC).
Totally deserves no dislikes
She has an amazing voice
Thank you, RG for giving us this song and thanks to DH for putting it up here. The work of facing history takes courage.
Beautiful and powerful performance of a great song, I can feel the emotion, the pain and the anger, yet also compassion. This is music in it's truest form, serving to tell the story, to make us feel it. Thank you, Rhiannon!
I didn’t know a banjo could sound so beautiful
Breathtaking...brings tears to my eyes. Had to listen to it 4 times over! Thank you!
Thank you ma'am. I doubt anyone has ever told this story so eloquently or so beautiful. And not a single fret on that banjo...
so beautiful she sings she dances she can play banjo violin her body entire is a musical instrument shes a medium for the voices of the past the ghosts that dwell still in the oldest of songs
It doesn't get any better than this.
Bowled me over. Great playing and singing.
Ron
No comments? How is this possible? This is "human" music at its purest. Beautiful work!
The original link had audio issues...the original link has over 2 million views and a wealth of comments :)
Thanks for fixing the channel! Love her, and her gut string pickin'.
POWERFUL EXPERIENCE hearing this and knowing my Heart & Soul was tattooed with this tune.....
Awesome, a story that hits the emotions hard.
I can listen to this over and over....it's hypnotic.
Oh my goodness what a beautiful tune...
That's some powerful storytelling right there! She's got a hell of a lot of heart and soul and you can see she feels every word she sings as it came from a place of struggle from the 19th century's slave's memoir!
Wait so this is actually based on real people? I mean like a specific person?
my gawd. tears. tragic, beautiful, empathetic...
I have got goosebumps watching this!
same
so much history in those lyrics, like a message from the past. even the banjo is from the past. I think she did awesome. it's a story worth saving.
Oooh. This gives me chills
Wow ! ! ! My comment is i'm speechless Wow ! ! ! Tears in my eyes
Love her and this song.
Thank you for posting a headphone-friendly version! I appreciate it :)
Beautiful song
Thank you, you've written a beautiful song. It reminds me of Dylan's death of emmit till in that both of your songs are composed so poetically.
even after a whole four years since the original video, this song is still so absolutely amazing.
Hello somebody!!! This was amazing!!!
Have to wonder about the 11 people who didn't like this song. She is an amazing artist.
Such a beautiful lady with an incredible voice. Very talented artist, I’m a fan
Is that a fretless tenor banjo? Oh my god it's such a rich and full sound!
5-string fretless banjo
Looks like a fretless 5-string banjo.
Straight to the heart. Poignantly sung and masterly played (on a fret-less 5-(nylon)string banjo).
Thank you.
I LOVE HER BANJO AND SINGING!!! G-d bless her!!!!
Powerful performance
Wow. Thanks. Sharing.
Fantastic music.
what a voice brilliant like candy melting on the tong you make the banjo could sound so beautiful
Absolutely love this.
Amazing voice!
Very nicely done
top ten show of my life
Really nice sing and play, and nice lyrics too
Has anyone done a playlist of RG without any band backing her?
This is wonderful.
Deep song, real good voice and guitar execution.
wow, so powerful
Gives me goosebumps
wow what a voice
oh that's better :) thanks for the heads up on the headphone channel
Lovely. I want a fretless banjo!
please do some thing with mean mary james, you two are awesome
Wow that was deep. M
fretless banjo, sounds great!
♥
Melody reminds me of Pretty Polly
highest ever thumb ups vs thumb down ratio. 550 vs 0. never seen more than 150 to 1 before.
I my gosh! I love this. What instrument?
Wow
can anyone find the memoir this is based on? I'd really like to know more about the story of this song.
Sadness.....
She looks like Alesha Keys and sings really good......banjo picking gal for sure
I love you Rhiannon. Your voice...my goodness. This isnt creepy at all. Im sure of it.
The people who watched this version are audiophiles and could not accept mono.
How poignant and full of longing her voice is. Perfect tone and quality and the instrumental skill. Wow.
Poignant like Strange Fruit.
Krug man sent me
To resurrect a totally dead and by this point bloated meme, both my ears enjoyed this.
To be honest, your voice is hilarious! It was another song, but in a way it remembers me at the young Aretha Franklin. I hope you go on with singing and we we also be able to hear you in Germany 😎
How dare you call Pretty Polly your original - new lyrics are good
o_o dam ♥ i want to make a remix of this cyber sythwatic wave i'll link it here if i get to stop being a lazy nofa and actually do it but dam it would be good
Ripoff of Pretty Polly....nice bit of plagiarism...