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Updated July 4, 2008
NEW EVA CASSIDY ALBUM COMING AUGUST 26th: Blix Street Records announces the international release of SOMEWHERE, an album of twelve new songs from the Eva Cassidy "archives." Check back here soon for further details, but here's some preliminary information:
- At least one song, "Coat of Many Colors," came from the "buried treasure" cassette tapes saved by guitarist Keith Grimes. You can read more about these tapes in this article about the AMERICAN TUNE album. I love this song because it sounds very quiet and intimate, similar to "I Wandered by a Brookside." It's easy to imagine Eva sitting on the couch with her guitar, playing and singing just for you! Keith joins in on electric guitar.
- The vocals on two tracks were recorded "live at Blues Alley" the same evening as the celebrated 1996 album: "Ain't Doin' Too Bad" (one of my favorites on the album) and "Chain of Fools"
- Several songs, including "It Won't Be Long," "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Summertime," were taped "live" at the Glenn Dale studio
- "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose" was recorded at the Maryland Inn in Annapolis the same night as the previously-released songs "Woodstock," "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," and "Time After Time."
- Eva's brother, the fabulous fiddler Dan Cassidy, accompanies Eva's guitar in "If I Give My Heart," which the siblings recorded in Iceland
- One song is completely new to me -- even Chris Biondo had never heard it before. Eva recorded "Early One Morning" with her friend Rob Cooper. It's a wild, Appalachian-sounding song with complex vocal harmonies and lyrics taken from a traditional English folksong. I expect to interview Rob Cooper about the song soon.
- The title song is "Somewhere" with lyrics by Eva Cassidy and music by Chris Biondo A few years ago I asked Chris for details about the song. His reply: 'When Eva and I first got together, we made a list of things we wanted to do together -- trips we wanted to take, things we wanted to learn, projects we wanted to do. One of these was to do a song like "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, in the same kind of musical style, using it as a point of departure for the instrumentations and the vibe of the song, which is melancholy and anthemic. I put the music together in my basement, just with a synthesizer and drum machine, and gave the song to Eva to write the lyrics. After she recorded the vocals she was happy with the chorus but she didn't like the verses. We didn't have a good lyrical flow, and the verses weren't as strong as the chorus. So we never finished it, we just put it away as an experiment that worked only about 70%. But I thought that vocally what Eva did with the chorus was magnificent. The words she wrote express her confusion about people being evil to each other, that's what I get out of it.' Early in 2008, Blix Street Records asked Chris and Lenny to revisit the song for the new album -- more details later after I talk to them. I can tell you, though, that the result is beautiful. Eva's sister Margret confessed that "It brought tears to my eyes, it really did." It's catchy too -- I heard my teenaged son whistling it around the house!
The lyrics of the chorus are as follows:
Somewhere, somehow
At some time someone cared
Maybe just for a moment
Or maybe for a lifetime.
Are the threads that bind us together
Falling loose or growing stronger?
Look at it now
Look at the picture
Has it changed
Or is it still the same? - Ah, I know what you're thinking. That's only ten songs. I'll reveal the other two... another day! Heh heh heh heh heh!
INTRODUCTION TO EVA CASSIDY, FOR DAVID ARCHULETA FANS -- or is it an intro to David Archuleta for Eva fans? Thanks to Scott of the Yahoo Group for this discovery. The webmaster's write-up is excellent and the comments are fun to read. Reminder to all: Eva's name is pronounced EVE-ah, rhyming with Diva.
NEW EVA SONGBOOK FROM FABER MUSIC: Lisa, a guitarist eager to perform all of Eva's arrangements with guitar accompaniment, recently contacted Faber Music to ask about future songbook releases. She received a prompt and polite reply that the company does plan an additional Eva Cassidy songbook, though no date had yet been set.
THE HEART OF THIS WEB SITE continues to be the Guestbook. Could anyone read it without feeling touched? What a blessing that every day new people find meaning and beauty in Eva's music.
MAYBE THERE WILL BE SOME EXCITING NEWS very soon, but in the meantime, I happened across a very sweet review of the AMERICAN TUNE album that I don't recall seeing before, from the Entertainment Weekly web site. Kristina Feliciano writes, "With a honeyed voice and not a drop of guile, Cassidy crafted singular interpretations of even wearily familiar songs. We may have lost this unapologetically uncommercial artist to cancer in 1996 (she was only 33), but her gifts carry on in posthumously released CDs like the winning American Tune. Cassidy's Raitt on time in bluesy bauble ''Drowning in the Sea of Love.'' She simmers in a sultry rendition of ''God Bless the Child.'' And her soulful ''True Colors'' beckons brightly despite its shopworn sentiments. Maybe that's why we love her."
DREAM MENTOR: "American Idol" finalist David Archuleta was asked, "If you could have any mentor, who would it be?" The seventeen-year-old singer replied, "I'd really like Eva Cassidy. {She's] someone I could really be educated by, 'cause she really understands music... What a perfect person to meet, if I could, but she's not here anymore." You have good taste, David -- her name is pronounced EEE-va, though. UPDATE: Larry King asked, "Who would you most like to duet with?" David Archuleta replied, "I'd go with Eva Cassidy." FURTHER UPDATE: Archuleta confused the ladies on "The View" by naming Eva as his own "American Idol." Apparently they hadn't ever heard of her and thought he was talking about DAVID Cassidy!?!?! In case you were wondering, he's no relation. (Updated June 27, 2008)
THE PUBLIC MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT EVA BUT the singers and critics do, not to mention the contestants in the singing competitions that are currently so popular around the world. Hardly a day goes by without some brief mention of Eva Cassidy in Google News. Here's a sampling of recent items:
- "Beth Rowley’s voice is sheer enchantment from the first silky soulful notes, in the Sam Brown/Eddie Reader/Eva Cassidy emotional pop vocal style." (from the Liverpool Echo, UK)
- "Also performing on the night is a local girl, Angela Dee. She will be singing songs [popularized] by Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy and Amy Winehouse." (from the Bootle Times, UK)
- "While Tanja [Maritsa] has been mentioned in the same sentence as greats like Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald and reminiscent of Eva Cassidy and Joni Mitchell, she remains stylistically unique." (website All About Jazz)
- "Crystal Cooper, a 15-year-old pupil at Shaftesbury Sports College, sang Song Bird [as performed] by Eva Cassidy and Tina Turner's [hit] Simply The Best." (from the Bristol Evening Post, UK)
- "Witty, blonde, pretty and still only 19, Victoria has the looks of Monroe, sings like Eva Cassidy and swings like Ella: mature, pitch perfect and confident." (from the Nottingham Evening Post, UK)
- "He went on to describe her music as, ‘The smoothness of classic, motown-era pop; the grit and sex of southern-soul; the sunshine and swaying feel of reggae; the romantic mood of Eva Cassidy-like sensual ballads – all on a single CD.'” (from a press release about singer Ingrid Gerdes)
- "'I was going in a pop direction at the time and was into Eva Cassidy and I wanted to sing Cheek to Cheek at the gig. I did and everyone said ‘My God, where did that come from?’” (Article about Victoria Hart, from the Liverpool Daily Post, UK)
- "Faryl [Smith], from Northampton, recorded songs including Eva Cassidy's [arrangements of] Fields of Gold and Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the Claire Rowland Fund." (from the Mirror, UK)
- "Dennis Fraker, owner of Serious Stereo, trucked his sound system from his home in Livingston, Mont., and set it up in one of the listening rooms, where he was playing some of his favorites Sunday: Patsy Cline, Eva Cassidy and Emmylou Harris." (from The Columbian newspaper in Washington State.
LISTEN TO EVA WITH MERLOT: Researchers recently released the results of a study analyzing the effect of music on the enjoyment of wine. According to the wine website "The Decanter," "The study, carried out by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh for Chilean wine company Montes, suggests that choosing the right background soundtrack could be crucial to getting the most out of specific styles of wine.... The research is based on the theory of cognitive priming, which holds that certain styles of music stimulate, or prime, certain parts of the brain. When wine is tasted, these areas are already active and have a corresponding effect on our perceptions of taste." What's the connection with Eva Cassidy? Apparently the Heriot-Watt researchers recommend accompanying Merlot wine with the following songs: "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding, Easy by Lionel Ritchie, Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy, and Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez."
EVA ON PRIME TIME RADIO: Eric in Silver Spring has long been discouraged that the radio stations in Eva's hometown area, Washington DC, so seldom play her music. Recently he was pleased to report, 'The “new” classic rock station, 94.7, played her music during the prime time morning drive! And the dj, Weasel from the old WHFS, made a comment like: “I wonder if Eva Cassidy would’ve been like Norah Jones. Eva Cassidy was similar to Norah…but it just didn’t happen for Eva. We won’t know what Eva would have been like.”' (Added May 27, 2008)
GUESTBOOK CHANGE (SLIGHT): The most recent 30 messages are now shown in the Guestbook, instead of only 20. You can use the links at the bottom to read additional messages, and don't forget about the Guestbook Archive!
EVA CASSIDY MUSICAL STILL TOURING: Now in its fourth season, the musical "Over the Rainbow: Songs in the Life of Eva Cassidy" currently stars singer and actress Faye Tozer, formerly of the pop group Steps.
AMERICAN IDOL JUDGE FINALLY SAYS EVA'S NAME: "I like the kind of Eva Cassidy-type arrangement," said Simon Cowell, referring to a performance of "Yesterday" by Syesha Mercado (March 2008). Previously on the blockbuster TV talent show, 17-year-old David Archuleta had performed "Imagine" in an arrangement which critic Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times wrote was "basically copped" from Eva's recording. She also added, "Few people remember her now -- except singers, who treasure the subtlety of her arrangements and her pristine voice." (February 28, 2008). I myself did not agree that Archuleta made major use of Eva's arrangement, certainly not in the same way Tamyra Gray did years ago, but the controversy has probably caused a number of American Idol fans to seek out Eva's music.
BILLY RAY CYRUS AND EVA: Billy Ray Cyrus, famed for his hit "Achy Breaky Heart" and as the father of Miley "Hannah Montana" Cyrus, includes Eva's arrangement of "Over the Rainbow" on his new album, HOME AT LAST. Here are a couple of quotes from Cyrus, which have been reprinted several places so I am not certain of the original sources: "This was one of the first songs the folks at Disney strongly suggested I record," Cyrus said. "The producer of 'Hannah Montana,' Michael Poryes, heard me mulling it over and asked if I'd ever heard Eva Cassidy sing it. He burned me a copy, and I fell in love with her right there. I was intrigued by her story -- a woman who stood staunchly behind the integrity of her craft to the very end. My version is a tribute to a great singer who left this world too soon." Also, I just recorded "Over the Rainbow," and my inspiration was Eva Cassidy's version. She was a tremendous artist, maybe one of the greatest, only she wasn't discovered hugely until after she passed away. I'm a big fan of her version, so I recorded it for a new album that comes out in September on Walt Disney Records.
POSSIBLE EVA MOVIE: The trade magazine Variety reports that AIR Productions is working on a biographical film about Eva. 'AIR's Amy Redford, Irwin Shapiro and Rick Singer will produce. "We see this film as an uplifting story of indomitable human spirit and an insightful look into the life and personality of an amazing talent," said Redford, who just produced and directed "The Guitar."' Eva's family is supporting this project. As far as I know, there is no screenplay as of yet, due in part to the writers' strike. If this movie is made (and statistically, fewer than one film in twenty that is "in development" is actually filmed and released), I hope it will be wonderful and truthful and inspiring, and that only Eva's own voice is used. (Added December 19, 2007)
AMAZON ASSOCIATES UPDATE: This website is pleased to participate in the "Amazon Associates" program as a fundraiser for cancer research. The year-to-date totals are shown in the "navigation box" on this page. Since the fundraiser began, we raised approximately $11,000 from Amazon.com, $350 from Amazon.ca, and £3,000 from Amazon.co.uk. This money has been sent directly to the melanoma research fund at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. When you're doing your on-line shopping, if you want to order ANYTHING from Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom) or Amazon.com (United States), and Amazon.ca (Canada), come to this website first and follow the link to Amazon from here! It doesn't cost you any more money, and a percentage of your total order amount is automatically donated to this charity. These little bits of money mount up, and it's such an easy way to support a worthy cause with a special connection to Eva Cassidy. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your participation!
DUET POSSIBLE: One of Eva's friends in the local music scene was Mary Ann Redmond. I know for a fact that Eva admired Mary Ann wholeheartedly, because I once asked Eva who was the best, "absolutely don't-miss-this-one," local performer. She demurred, saying there were so many who were really wonderful, but said that if she had to pick only one, it would be Mary Ann Redmond. It turns out Mary Ann felt somewhat the same way about Eva Cassidy! The two women performed together at Fleetwood's in Alexandria in 1995. Mary Ann has added to her web site a video clip of a duet between herself and Eva from that performance. They are singing Eric Clapton's song "Tears in Heaven." The music is heavenly, but what I find most touching are the two singers' expressions of mutual admiration at the beginning of the clip. You'll want to listen more than once. (Note: For information about another "duet" with Mary Ann Redmond, visit the Questions and Answers Page.)
WEBMASTER'S EDITORIAL: May I please say a few words about copyright? This is not the place for an in-depth discussion of the nuances of copyright regulation. That information is available elsewhere, and I particularly urge you to peruse the copyright pointers on YouTube. I nevertheless feel the need to remind people that Eva's recordings are copyrighted; that the songs she performed are copyrighted to the authors; that her arrangements of public domain songs are copyrighted; that videos of Eva are copyrighted; that photos of Eva are copyrighted. While we're at it, please remember that the articles and images on this web site are copyrighted also. Either I personally wrote them or I obtained specific permission to reproduce them on the site.
Sorry to be such a meanie, but please stop suggesting that I use this website to promote illegal uploadings.
100% OFF TOPIC: I am currently engaged in a project to set the Bill of Rights to music, so that American citizens can easily memorize this important text. If this interests you at all (fellow members of the ACLU, perhaps), feel free to check out the songs on this page.
PRAY FOR PEACE
"Imagine all the people living life in peace."
Peace in many languages:
Hawaiian: "maluhia" (from Jan)
Danish: "fred" (from Henrik)
Finnish: "rauhaa teille" (from Annuka)
Spanish: "paz" (from Margot) or "felizidad" (from Kimberly)
Latin: "pax" (also from Kimberly)
Irish: "siochain" (from Yvonne and Gerard)
French: "paix" (from MP and Yvonne)
Croatian: "mir" (from Sasa)
Dutch: "vrede" (from Margot)
Swedish: "fred" (Katarina says "the same word as in Danish, but we pronounce it differently")
Catalan: "pau" (from Olaf>
Tlingit: "li-k'ei"(from Laurie)
Japanese: "heiwa" (from Fumio)
Tagalog: "kapayapaan" (from Lenette)
Portuguese: "paz"
Italian: "pace"
Hebrew: "shalom"
Arabic: "salaam" (from Todd)
German: "Frieden" (from John)
Hindi: "shanti" (from Debbie)
Welsh: "hedd" (from Paul)
Polish: "pokoj" (from Magda)
Urdu: "amun" (from Asad)
Swahili: "amani"
Esperanto: "paco"
Yiddish: "scholim" (from Don)
Indonesian: "damai" (from Marlene)
Mandarin: "ping-ahn"
Cantonese: "tai-ping" (from Cathy)
Russian: "mir" (from Joop)
Cree: "payutukayimowin" (from Don)
Hungarian: "beke"
Nepali: "shanti" (from Bernie)
Czech: "mír" (from Kamila)
Tongan: "nonga" (from Jan)
Korean: "pyong-hwa" (from Tim)
Somali: "nabad" (from Don)
Maltese: "paci"
Old English: "freod"
Cornish: "kres"
Breton: "pok"
Manx: "paag"
Occitan: "la patz"
Basque: "bake"
Cheyenne: "nanomonestoste"
Alabama: "oolakano"
Hausa: "salama"
Frisian: "frede"
Dari: "sulh" (from Kent)
Bengali: "sh 'anti"
Belarussian: "pakoj"
Hiligaynon: "paghidait"
Azerbijani: "sulh" (note: the 'u' should have an umlaut over it)
Welsh (more words): "Heddwch" and "Tangnefedd"(from Paul) Georgian: "mshvidoba" (from Don and Basiki)
Estonian: "rahu"
Latvian: "miera"
Aukan: "fii"
Cebuano: "kahusayan"
Chamorro: "minaguen"
An'dorian: "bip"
Kampangan = "kapayapan"
Kiribatese = "te katoang"
Wolof = "jamm"
Bangla = "shAnti"
Hatian Creole = "lape"
Xhosa = "uxolo"
Undu = "aman"
Malagasy = "fiadanana"
Nauruan = "iow"
Turkman = "parahatchylyk"
Northern Sotho = "kagiso"
Potawatomi = "e'tokmite'k"
Persian = "solh"
Filipino = "kapayapaan" (from Erwin)
Romanian = "pace" (from Walter)
Greek = "irini" (from Peter)
Portuguese = "Amor" (from Santa Rita)
Greenlandic = "Eqqissineq" (from Allen)
Lithuanian = "Taika" (from Ramunas)
Armenian = "Hashtootune" or "Khaghaghootune"( from Serjik)
Mandarin = "he2 ping2" (2 means second tone) (from Jonathan)
Thai = "santi" (from Pornchada)
Algonquian = "Aquene" (from Katherine)
Papiamentu = "Pas" (from Terri)
Slovenian = "Mir" (from Monika)
Norwegian = "Fred" (from Hartmut)
Turkish = "Barýþ" (from Hasan)
Kiribati = "Raoi" (from Don)
Nauruan = "iow" (from Don)
Samoan = "filemu" (from Mary)
Niederdeutch = frod (from Don)
Uighur = tiniglikh (from Don)
Maliseet & Passamaquoddy = sankewitahasuwakon (from Don)
Friulian or Frulan pas (from Don)
Sudovian = sampaka (from Don)
Africkaans = vrede (from Don)
Guarani = py'a guapy (from Don)
Ilongo = paghidait (from Don)
Kashmiri = aram (from Don)
Maori ( NZ ) = "Rangimarie" (from Stephanie)
Slovak – „mier“ (from Brano)
Turkish = Barýþ (from Hasan)
Ukrainian = spoìkiy (from Daria
Visayan (a local dialect spoken in southern Philippines) - Kalinaw (from Ian)
Pray for Peace in Tagalog = Manalaning para sa Kapayapaan (from Ian)
Pray for Peace in visayan - Ampo Alang sa Kalinaw (from Ian)
Thanks to everybody who is helping with this list! I'd like to see that beautiful word in other languages too -- you can e-mail me if you have any more to offer. (Yes, I could look them up, but it's more fun this way.) Be sure to put the word "Eva" on the subject line of the e-mail.
Support the hardworking musicians in your area by attending live performances. Go out to the little clubs and restaurants that offer live music, and if you like what you hear, tell the performers! Clap long and loud! And if they're selling CDs and tapes from their guitar cases, as Eva once did, support their talents and efforts that way too. As someone once wrote in the Guestbook, "There will never be another Eva Cassidy, but there will be someone else."
Eva Cassidy Web Site Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 - Laura Claire Bligh. All rights reserved. Please do not copy any of the images on this site.
Eva Cassidy Web Site Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 - Laura Claire Bligh. All rights reserved. Please do not copy any of the images on this site.