and we'll all go together
April 17, 2024 2:09 PM Subscribe
Jacob Collier, Laufey and dodie perform a stunning rendition of the Scottish/Irish folk song "Wild Mountain Thyme" together with the National Symphony Orchestra and some delightful audience participation, for the series Next at the Kennedy Center, in an episode presented by Ben Folds.
I love that! How!? does he do that with the audience!?!?!? how????
posted by Pallas Athena at 2:21 PM on April 17 [5 favorites]
posted by Pallas Athena at 2:21 PM on April 17 [5 favorites]
Absolutely beautiful...
posted by jim in austin at 2:33 PM on April 17 [1 favorite]
posted by jim in austin at 2:33 PM on April 17 [1 favorite]
Just before St. Patrick's Day this year, I learned of the death of Malachy McCourt, aka "Frank's brother", a longtime NYC raconteur and gadfly. I actually met him when I was fresh out of college (I got an internship literally the day after graduation) and always appreciated his kindness towards little 22-year-old me. And then about 8 years later we ran into each other again in Dublin and for some complicated reasons I ended up as part of his entourage when he went to do a late night radio booking. So I've always had an eye on Malachy over the years.
By all reports, at the moment he died he was listening to this song.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:46 PM on April 17 [8 favorites]
By all reports, at the moment he died he was listening to this song.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:46 PM on April 17 [8 favorites]
Gorgeous voices; his in particular is stunning. Poorly-timed breath pauses (the middle of a word, really?).
Sorry, I'm a real nitpicker when it's folk.
posted by humbug at 2:47 PM on April 17 [6 favorites]
Sorry, I'm a real nitpicker when it's folk.
posted by humbug at 2:47 PM on April 17 [6 favorites]
Oh man, that was fun.
The MQ Blank Juniors are both terrific musicians and if you had to ask them for their three favorite singers right now, you'd likely get those three, Collier and Laufey surely.
We saw Collier in Orlando a year or two ago and he did that same interaction with the audience (as he does at all his shows, I'm sure). But this was a relatively small venue, and it was packed with college kids who are all chorus types who perform at Disney, and the audience chorus sounded *amazing.*
posted by martin q blank at 3:39 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]
The MQ Blank Juniors are both terrific musicians and if you had to ask them for their three favorite singers right now, you'd likely get those three, Collier and Laufey surely.
We saw Collier in Orlando a year or two ago and he did that same interaction with the audience (as he does at all his shows, I'm sure). But this was a relatively small venue, and it was packed with college kids who are all chorus types who perform at Disney, and the audience chorus sounded *amazing.*
posted by martin q blank at 3:39 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]
Music written by Frank McPeake, lyrics by Robert Tannahill based upon the traditional ballad, The Braes of Balquhither.
I first heard it sung by Joan Baez on her album Farewell Angelina.
See also Bob Dylan & Joan Baez -- Wild Mountain Thyme (Savoy Hotel 1965)
posted by y2karl at 4:24 PM on April 17 [5 favorites]
I first heard it sung by Joan Baez on her album Farewell Angelina.
See also Bob Dylan & Joan Baez -- Wild Mountain Thyme (Savoy Hotel 1965)
posted by y2karl at 4:24 PM on April 17 [5 favorites]
This is one of the final songs sung on the last night of the main stage every year at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. As a teenage volunteer I, along with the other volunteers, was welcomed on stage to sing it along with the performers. The other final songs are The Mary Ellen Carter, Goodnight Irene, and Amazing Grace. Fun to be one of a thousand+ throats singing all together. Tears and joy.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 7:01 PM on April 17 [6 favorites]
posted by Lawn Beaver at 7:01 PM on April 17 [6 favorites]
Poorly-timed breath pauses (the middle of a word, really?).
yeah, much as I'm wowed by the obvious talent in question, this particular performance feels more than a little too precious ...
My fave version is kinda weird, driven by a somewhat clunky electronic rhythm, but something about it just happens to click ... for me anyway. I think, because it moves. It rambles, like a proper wander through said blooming heather and wild mountain thyme. It wants you to drink and maybe sing along.
posted by philip-random at 7:10 PM on April 17 [4 favorites]
yeah, much as I'm wowed by the obvious talent in question, this particular performance feels more than a little too precious ...
My fave version is kinda weird, driven by a somewhat clunky electronic rhythm, but something about it just happens to click ... for me anyway. I think, because it moves. It rambles, like a proper wander through said blooming heather and wild mountain thyme. It wants you to drink and maybe sing along.
posted by philip-random at 7:10 PM on April 17 [4 favorites]
That crowd work reminds me of why I liked Bobby McFerrin so much..
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 5:34 AM on April 18
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 5:34 AM on April 18
FPP: "Here are three of the most talented and joyful young people on the planet sharing something astonishing and beautiful. Enjoy!"
Me: *weeps copiously on the subway*
Comments: "Meh. . . Breath pauses."
Never change MeFi. Never change.
posted by The Bellman at 5:45 AM on April 18 [15 favorites]
Me: *weeps copiously on the subway*
Comments: "Meh. . . Breath pauses."
Never change MeFi. Never change.
posted by The Bellman at 5:45 AM on April 18 [15 favorites]
I love that! How!? does he do that with the audience!?!?!? how????
I saw Jacob Collier in concert in 2019, playing a significantly smaller venue than the Kennedy Center (the Basement East in Nashville). He directed us as a choir on one of his songs then, and it was magical. We were not just there to partake, for shining moments we were a part of it.
At the end he grinned and said something along the lines of, "I knew I'd hear some wonderful voices in Nashville."
Based on interviews (including one in that episode of "Next") it appears one of his core beliefs is everyone is musical to one degree or another. He mentioned in that show: it's not important how much you know or how talented you are in music, it's what you do with what you have.
He trusts his audience to follow along with him, and that's part of the magic.
posted by pianoblack at 6:08 AM on April 18 [4 favorites]
I saw Jacob Collier in concert in 2019, playing a significantly smaller venue than the Kennedy Center (the Basement East in Nashville). He directed us as a choir on one of his songs then, and it was magical. We were not just there to partake, for shining moments we were a part of it.
At the end he grinned and said something along the lines of, "I knew I'd hear some wonderful voices in Nashville."
Based on interviews (including one in that episode of "Next") it appears one of his core beliefs is everyone is musical to one degree or another. He mentioned in that show: it's not important how much you know or how talented you are in music, it's what you do with what you have.
He trusts his audience to follow along with him, and that's part of the magic.
posted by pianoblack at 6:08 AM on April 18 [4 favorites]
I LOVED this. Thank you.
I even managed to get past those awful breath pauses with a modicum of enjoyment intact.
posted by whatevernot at 6:47 AM on April 18 [2 favorites]
I even managed to get past those awful breath pauses with a modicum of enjoyment intact.
posted by whatevernot at 6:47 AM on April 18 [2 favorites]
That crowd work reminds me of why I liked Bobby McFerrin so much
For several years in the 00s I went to Singing Weekends with Sian Croose . . . because my teendaughters were going and they needed an accompn adult to register.
Sian lets people decide their own pitch and assemble into sections, and then teaches, by ear and repeat, each section its part. That could be a teensy bit draggy sometimes, but eventually everyone knows their bit and Sian starts one section going on their own. After all the rehearsal, it sounds good. Then she brings in another part which, by accentuating and complementing the first, sounds much richer. When she adds a third part, your first thought is “it can’t get better than this – this is really fine”. But there are two more parts to be woven in . . . There were times when I had to concentrate really hard on just singing my own small part because if I listened to The Whole, I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue: I would be, as the Victorians had it, unmanned.
How does he do that with the audience
Lord only knows how, but when Sian made an odd unrehearsed hand-wagging gesture behind her back while facing and piloting another group, our section all responded correctly and together. People have been singing together since high tech was a fire and and two sticks to clack with. It doesn't take a lot of training to do what comes naturally.
posted by BobTheScientist at 8:01 AM on April 18 [3 favorites]
For several years in the 00s I went to Singing Weekends with Sian Croose . . . because my teendaughters were going and they needed an accompn adult to register.
Sian lets people decide their own pitch and assemble into sections, and then teaches, by ear and repeat, each section its part. That could be a teensy bit draggy sometimes, but eventually everyone knows their bit and Sian starts one section going on their own. After all the rehearsal, it sounds good. Then she brings in another part which, by accentuating and complementing the first, sounds much richer. When she adds a third part, your first thought is “it can’t get better than this – this is really fine”. But there are two more parts to be woven in . . . There were times when I had to concentrate really hard on just singing my own small part because if I listened to The Whole, I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue: I would be, as the Victorians had it, unmanned.
How does he do that with the audience
Lord only knows how, but when Sian made an odd unrehearsed hand-wagging gesture behind her back while facing and piloting another group, our section all responded correctly and together. People have been singing together since high tech was a fire and and two sticks to clack with. It doesn't take a lot of training to do what comes naturally.
posted by BobTheScientist at 8:01 AM on April 18 [3 favorites]
Jacob Collier is reliably amazing. He also looks like a Muppet here. Two things can be true at once.
posted by gnutron at 8:58 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
posted by gnutron at 8:58 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
The Bellman: “Me: *weeps copiously on the subway*”The hair on the back of neck stood up and I, too, was moved to tears. Especially after I saw how visibly moved dodie was by the experience.
posted by ob1quixote at 9:41 AM on April 18 [2 favorites]
It seems that Taylor custom-built that 5-string guitar for Jacob Collier. It's tuned DAEAD. I've tried DADEAD, EADEAE, and DADGAD when trying to follow along with Pat Kirtley or Pierre Bensusan.
posted by Arctic Circle at 12:13 PM on April 18
posted by Arctic Circle at 12:13 PM on April 18
I am digging the different versions, thanks for posting
I'd pay money to be present at Shane MacGowan's 60th to hear him perform "Wild Mountain Thyme"
I don't think the recording posted to YT is anything great, I just have a mental version of him doing the tune proper
posted by elkevelvet at 1:39 PM on April 18
I'd pay money to be present at Shane MacGowan's 60th to hear him perform "Wild Mountain Thyme"
I don't think the recording posted to YT is anything great, I just have a mental version of him doing the tune proper
posted by elkevelvet at 1:39 PM on April 18
Jacob Collier is reliably amazing. He also looks like a Muppet here. Two things can be true at once.
His general vibe does appear to be "a Gelfling stumbled into Sesame Street's wardrobe department" for sure, not that I'm not 100% here for it.
posted by pianoblack at 1:53 PM on April 18 [5 favorites]
His general vibe does appear to be "a Gelfling stumbled into Sesame Street's wardrobe department" for sure, not that I'm not 100% here for it.
posted by pianoblack at 1:53 PM on April 18 [5 favorites]
This is lovely - I've been in a couple of audience-choirs before, and it is transporting. But man, Bill Nighy and cast singing it in Their Finest really affected me (the clip is less moving, just watch the movie), and gave me a terrible longing for more homespun music in my life - essentially the complete opposite of the linked performance.
(But of course, now I'll be forever irked by the knowledge that the song came out more than a decade after the movie's setting.)
posted by McBearclaw at 2:51 PM on April 18
(But of course, now I'll be forever irked by the knowledge that the song came out more than a decade after the movie's setting.)
posted by McBearclaw at 2:51 PM on April 18
its not this version either , , dick gaughan , emmy lou harris ,the McGarrigles along with Rufus Wainwright
posted by burr1545 at 3:19 PM on April 18 [1 favorite]
posted by burr1545 at 3:19 PM on April 18 [1 favorite]
something about that Corries version, it does feel definitive
posted by elkevelvet at 3:35 PM on April 18
posted by elkevelvet at 3:35 PM on April 18
I'd seen Collier direct the audience before, but never integrated this much with the musicians on stage (bringing them back on pitch with the orchestra!). He does this at many of his concerts and I'll bet he'll keep experimenting with more ways to do it. I'm really excited to see what he'll be getting audiences to do a few years from now.
posted by straight at 10:15 PM on April 18
posted by straight at 10:15 PM on April 18
That Gaughan/Harris/McGarrigle version! So understated and beautiful. Young Rufus with the choker and pajama pants.
Kate and Anna's voices together are some of my favorite sounds.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:40 AM on April 19
Kate and Anna's voices together are some of my favorite sounds.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:40 AM on April 19
I just saw this last night and I'm just awestruck. This was my introduction to Jacob Collier, and now I'm gonna spend the afternoon listening to his albums, and then probably buying a ticket to his upcoming concert here.
posted by dnash at 8:29 AM on April 21
posted by dnash at 8:29 AM on April 21
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posted by yasaman at 2:12 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]