Sarah McLachlan, Possession - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

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  • Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
  • #sarahmclachlan #virginrock
    In a different context I might be quite critical of the music, but with this topic, and knowing the story behind the song, we find a wonderfully scathing musical portrayal of the character(s) who inspired this song!
    Here’s the link to the original song by Sarah McLachlan:
    • Sarah McLachlan - Poss...
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    Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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    Credits: Music written and performed by Sarah McLachlan
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 160

  • @renzero9206
    @renzero9206 4 місяці тому +7

    One of the greatest voices of all-time imo. A legendary female musical artist, possibly the best ever.

  • @operative2136
    @operative2136 8 місяців тому +22

    Sarah's musical skills are very legit. There's a video online of her doing a rendition of "Building a mystery" with no accompaniment except her playing on an acoustic guitar while she sings and no editing.
    She's also a good person. She a series of musical schools in Vancouver, Surrey, and Edmonton Canada dedicated to providing musical education at no cost to aspiring musicians both young and older (ie. 55+).

    • @OptimisticSeaMonster-hc5bd
      @OptimisticSeaMonster-hc5bd 7 місяців тому +1

      I saw that version of her playing guitar and doing BUILDING A MYSTERY,
      it is amazing, I'm a musician, played trumpet, baratone horn, taught myself guitar started at 6, I played in metal bands in Los Angeles in 87 till 90, but I love great music, anything that feels real, I grew up watching HER HAW, GREATEST MUSICIANS AND SHOW EVER😅😂

  • @phil-nt4yz
    @phil-nt4yz 9 місяців тому +24

    I was a pacific northwest grung early listener, and at same time fell in love with Sarah. She still can break me at my core.

  • @nikkikat1325
    @nikkikat1325 6 місяців тому +5

    Her music is very layered. It feels like its swirling around. Excellent artist. Ty for reacting

  • @lindyasimus
    @lindyasimus 5 місяців тому +9

    From Rolling Stone >>When an obsessed fan sent Sarah McLachlan a plethora of love letters, instead of recoiling in fear, she penned a song. "Writing the song 'Possession' [about the fan] was very therapeutic," the Canadian singer told Rolling Stone. The stalker sued her for the unauthorized use of his private letters, but the lawsuit was dropped after he committed suicide. "It's funny, because almost every letter I get these days, the writer says, 'I'm not one of those psycho fans.' But ever since then I haven't gotten any letters that were freaky like that, which is great, because I used to get them all of the time."

  • @epluribusunum1460
    @epluribusunum1460 4 місяці тому +2

    Your “swirling around” perception is on the spot for me. I’ve always imagined it as dreamy whirling dervishes. I am so enjoying your videos.

  • @synaxarion
    @synaxarion 8 місяців тому +2

    The insights you dropped at 19:45 were absolutely searing! Thank you for this deep analysis of how the music is making meaning!

  • @dusty3913
    @dusty3913 9 місяців тому +16

    I find Sarah’s live performances of songs to be even better than the studio versions.

  • @davidemm829
    @davidemm829 6 місяців тому +1

    Just found you..I'm a Sarah fan in USA..you know perfectly what you are saying and explaining from listening..amazing ty soook much

  • @therealpbristow
    @therealpbristow 9 місяців тому +29

    One of the "fans" who inspired this song actually stalked Sarah, and had a restraining order against him. When this song became popular, he then had the nerve to try to sue her for breach of copyright, because she'd quoted some lines from his letters to her in the lyrics!

    • @maxpayne232
      @maxpayne232 9 місяців тому +3

      As much as I love Sarahs music, writing a song with this kind of a sensual vibe is weird reaction to being stalked.
      But I guess artists process things a little differently.

    • @garybeltrand5802
      @garybeltrand5802 8 місяців тому +6

      @@maxpayne232 Ha, never thought of that. It's more of a "dark" sensual vibe though to be fair. Haunting and almost "creepy", which is why I liked it back then. It was "Edgy" but in a sincere artistic way, not forced. She used a bad experience to create something beautiful. I was kind of bummed when Surfacing came out and it was more typical "light" music, I wanted more of "dark" Sarah. Still a great album though.

    • @sheepshoop6190
      @sheepshoop6190 7 місяців тому +3

      Pretty sure the guy eventually ended his life because of the whole situation.

    • @catherineday951
      @catherineday951 6 місяців тому +4

      ​@@sheepshoop6190he did commit suicide....clearly a disturbed individual so I wouldn't say he did it because of this situation...he had issues.

    • @catherineday951
      @catherineday951 6 місяців тому +7

      ​@@maxpayne232it's taking the control away from the stalker

  • @davidrauh8118
    @davidrauh8118 9 місяців тому +16

    The first time I saw her perform made me an instant fan. She has so many great songs such as Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Angel, Building A Mystery, Will You Remember Me, etc. Although as you read, helping other female artists with Lilith Fair I believe kind of stalled her own career. Also, that crack in her voice on occasion is intentional and one of her trademarks. And she usually has another female singer doing the top harmonies. She is unique.

  • @tonytjandra4798
    @tonytjandra4798 9 місяців тому +13

    Sarah McLachlan was born on 28 January 1968), and adopted in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a child, she took voice lessons, along with studies in classical piano and guitar.

    • @skabuoy
      @skabuoy 9 місяців тому

      Then she's older than me. As a child, I was given a guitar, but no lessons.

  • @moldytaco
    @moldytaco 9 місяців тому +4

    Sarah was the first artist that made me fall in love with music as a teen.

  • @benhill8454
    @benhill8454 9 місяців тому +5

    One of my very favorite Sarah McLachlan songs. As a guitarsist, I tend to focus on guitar and bass parts and tones but her vocals make this song special.

  • @grumpy_older_man
    @grumpy_older_man 9 місяців тому +4

    I've seen Sarah McLachlan sing live in many settings. The first time I saw her was when she was promoting her second album. It was just her and a guitar in a record store in Vancouver (A&B Sound on Seymour Street). Although at different times (through the past 30 years) I've loved different songs from her, most recently I've found myself going back to listen to her cover of RIVER by Joni Mitchell.

  • @kreigalm1723
    @kreigalm1723 2 місяці тому +2

    Sarah McLaughlin seems to have an ability to write the best miserable and yet undefinable music ever. You can bond with others in somberness of the words while the music, like clouds just kinda disappears.

  • @lastborn11
    @lastborn11 9 місяців тому +14

    “Into The Fire” off the Solace Album was my introduction to Sarah McLachlan … A video on teletunes to be exact …Fumbling Toward Ecstasy is one of the most Played almubs in my collection I used to fall asleep listening to Sarahs voice … Her sound is definatly a stark contrast to the Rock Contemporary I grew up hearing til that point in my formative years … I still don’t understand why more people aren’t drawn to listen to a female rock vocal?!

  • @scottbartlett4853
    @scottbartlett4853 3 місяці тому +1

    I hear this as a call and response between vocal and guitar set upon a galloping drum beat.

  • @mickdarcy3063
    @mickdarcy3063 9 місяців тому +9

    I like this analysis, as a much younger man I was very prone to crushes and this kind of echo chamber thinking. It took me some personal work and I finally got off my butt and out the door. Your surmise on the purpose of the arrangement "feels" right on to me. Thanks!

  • @Wordsmyth8
    @Wordsmyth8 5 місяців тому +1

    She’s written and performed a lot of beautiful songs. One of my favorites is called “Elsewhere.”

  • @Davydd2
    @Davydd2 9 місяців тому +13

    She used to busk with her harp on the Granville bridge in Vancouver, BC.

    • @clintatk
      @clintatk 9 місяців тому

      Memories of a sweeter time.

  • @dizzle7558
    @dizzle7558 7 місяців тому +1

    Wow!..That was awesome🔥

  • @jeffreypowell1656
    @jeffreypowell1656 8 місяців тому

    Your reviews are extremely enjoyable to experience. Thanks for doing them.

  • @41Forethought
    @41Forethought 9 місяців тому +6

    Brandi Carlile has followed in Sarah's footsteps, promoting female artists in her shows and especially in her curated Girls Just Wanna and Mothership Weekend events. In fact, she often tells the story of seeing Sarah at the first Lilith Fair at 16 years old , strongly influencing her musical career and her activism.
    Sarah performed with Annie Lennox, Allison Russell, Wendy and Lisa, and Sista Strings (Monique and Chauntee Ross) during Joni Mitchell's first live concert in 20+ years at The Gorge Amphitheater in Washington, day 2 of Brandi Carlile's 3 day Echoes Through the Canyon concert. Day 3 featured Tanya Tucker and the country supergroup The Highwomen (Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, Amanda Shires and Brandi).

  • @alijafri2022
    @alijafri2022 2 місяці тому +1

    The percussive sound in the opening lines is a digital delay effect applied on her vocal track which is affecting higher frequencies in her voice and causing the more sibilant transients to repeat.

  • @adnap
    @adnap 9 місяців тому +4

    I love it when a band and its production are so next level tier, that even a classical musician can be perplexed by it.
    One of my favorite all time concerts is Mirrorball.
    Very talented musicians, indeed.

    • @moldytaco
      @moldytaco 9 місяців тому +1

      Mirrorball is incredible.

    • @Milohenry13
      @Milohenry13 7 місяців тому

      Sarah is classically trained and impeccably technical and skilled. So, yeah.

  • @hippie1959
    @hippie1959 9 місяців тому +6

    I was lucky enough to see her in the UK some years back. This is one of my favourite songs, but I would suggest listening to the piano version. There is so much more emotion in that one.

  • @CJmonkee
    @CJmonkee 4 місяці тому +1

    The 90’s were the best for Canadian rock. It was a high water mark for music in our country.

  • @iDEATH
    @iDEATH 9 місяців тому +4

    Sarah McLachlan is one of my favouritte vocalists ever. Her voice...just...I don't know, sends me. Incredible artist. This song is so hauntingly beautiful, but takes on an extra layer of darkness once you know what it's about. I always love that.
    I think one of the big reasons the arts are so often dominated by men is the same old "Great Male Variability Hypothesis." The mean average between men and women is the same, but women cluster around the mean while men show a flatter distribution. The result of the latter is more men representing in the extreme ends of the distribution, even though the average is the same. More male geniuses, but also more male idiots. Since we don't tend to lionize the latter, it can appear skewed only one way if you don't look deeper.
    This isn't limited to humans, either. This We see it all over, such as the tails of Rhesus monkeys in one notable example. In pretty much any way you care to measure them, length, shape, fluffiness, the tails of the males vary more and the females cluster around the mean.
    This can effect perceptions, of course, but that's whole other can of worms!

  • @sandracarter7231
    @sandracarter7231 6 місяців тому +1

    I was at one of the Lilith fairs. Sarah did a wonderful live performance. Listen to her some more!

  • @johnwest7993
    @johnwest7993 9 місяців тому +13

    It's hard to hit stop on her best songs. Yes, I'd say that's her signature style, and people love it. I imagine you will do Angel next, or Building a Mystery. They are well worth the listen.

    • @therealpbristow
      @therealpbristow 9 місяців тому +3

      Nah, "Ice Cream" should be next. Not one of her famous hits, but utterly delightful. =:o}

    • @eboethrasher
      @eboethrasher 9 місяців тому +1

      I'd imagine she won't do anything based upon how shittily she reviewed it. This song is one of her best songs and she panned the fuck out of it.

  • @kant12
    @kant12 9 місяців тому +5

    Sarah really is something special.

    • @surfpsych
      @surfpsych 9 місяців тому +1

      Yes. And so is this song, There's nothing else like it.

  • @viniciusmdc
    @viniciusmdc 9 місяців тому +2

    A Sarah McLachlan é a melhor! E essa música então... uma ótima escolha. Um abraço do Brasil 🇧🇷

  • @paulsander5433
    @paulsander5433 3 місяці тому

    I found this several months after it was first posted. Sarah's voice is one of my favorites. I first learned of this song when her band played it on a late night talk show when her "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy" album was released. The song appears on the album a second time featuring Sarah performing on the piano, no backing vocals or other instruments. It's also very nice. In most live performances, she shows off a little bit and people's jaws sort of drop.
    Loreena McKennitt's song "The Mummer's Dance" is worth a listen. It falls more into the world music pigeonhole than rock music, but it made the popular charts and was used in the soundtracks of some popular movies. You can find this song on her "The Book of Secrets" album. There is also a single version that is reduced in length by one-third (to four minutes), and it replaces a rich rhythm section of traditional acoustic instruments with an electric bass and a drum kit. The video is pretty strange and I don't recommend it for an audience of rock aficionados: It depicts a mummer's play celebrating a spring holiday several centuries ago.

  • @corepuncher
    @corepuncher 8 місяців тому +4

    "Will we burn in Heaven, like we do down here". Love that song. Witness.

  • @gabrielthomas581
    @gabrielthomas581 4 місяці тому +1

    Just listen to Sarah’s entire discography and you’ll be fine 🐺

  • @mikeconway9849
    @mikeconway9849 9 місяців тому +5

    Great reaction and analysis, Amy! I've always thought that Sarah had an amazing voice.
    If you are going to look at female performers, can I suggest Alison Krauss? She is in the country/bluegrass genre. Until recently, she held the record for the most Grammy wins by a female artist. Her count of 27 grammies was surpassed by Beyonce.

  • @davidemm829
    @davidemm829 6 місяців тому

    My gosh you are soooon animated and real wow..I'm sitting in the Washington coast.in my van traveling..around the country..

  • @StringTips-gr2ig
    @StringTips-gr2ig 4 місяці тому +3

    Sarah is the greatest female musical artist of all time imo

    • @renzero9206
      @renzero9206 4 місяці тому +3

      This 100%. My all-time fav. Writes the lyrics, music and produces all her music. As well as playing piano and guitar. And an all-round genuinely nice person to top it off.

  • @ShepardComN7
    @ShepardComN7 Місяць тому

    Her album, Fumbling towards ecstasy is one of my favorites of all time. She is so beautiful, I certainly can see someone deranged getting obsessed with her.

  • @CarlosNunez6673
    @CarlosNunez6673 9 місяців тому +3

    There are a lot of amazing Sarah Mc Lachlan songs you should check out such as : Angel, Building a mystery, Fallen, World on fire, Adia, I will remember you, Sweet Surrender, Good enough, The path of thorns (Terms) and Vox.

  • @ianmoffat4460
    @ianmoffat4460 9 місяців тому +6

    This is one of my favourite tracks. I think that the swirling effect is done using the Leslie speaker that uses revolving bass and treble speakers and is commonly used with the Hammond organ. I have a set of these. They can be connected to microphones, guitars or whatever too. The Beatles used this speaker quite a bit, as did a lot of musicians. They still do. Pink Floyd use them too. The revolving speed of the speakers can be varied. Liked your review a lot. Do try to listen to The Eurythmics, a duo with the female singer Annie Lennox. A good starting point might be 'Sweet Dreams. Good luck. I really enjoy the tracks that you both pick and review.😊

  • @WindmillChef
    @WindmillChef 9 місяців тому +1

    Amy,
    I think that your analyses of why the music sounds the way it does, how it is tailored to the message of the lyrics is spot on. Sarah McLachlan is an astute study of music and her music is, most of the time, far more than merely stylistic choices and emotional impact. She writes songs very cleverly. On this song I need a few more listens as I am not sure about artists who express lesser regard for their fans.
    McLachlin is a great artist and she is phenomenal in live performances, she grabs and captures audiences in intense ways but I agree somewhat with the comment below, a statement by her label that too many of her songs are sleepy and slow.
    For Vlad I return to comments I made several times when this channel started. All be it that this is a great sounding song, perhaps a very interesting one, introducing Sarah McLachlin to an unknowing person is to play the song "Angel", this song is the representation of who she is and her music, this is the song that catapulted her and put her on the map and it's an iconic song. I know you guys want to approach things a bit differently, and it serves all of us and the channel very well and we thank you, and that you don't want to cover the staple songs that all the other UA-cam reactors cover but this is a case where one song displays to Amy the music that this artist makes. And I realize that Sarah's port folio has grown to be quite diverse over three decades.
    I am still thankful to you guys for the video though.

  • @kellypickle
    @kellypickle 9 місяців тому +2

    I find pianists as percussionists themselves always have a great understanding of all percussion.
    And always have the best drummers and bass players Elton John
    Billy Joel
    carol king

  • @radiobrewster
    @radiobrewster 9 місяців тому +2

    Spot-on, brilliant analysis of one the most disturbing -- and achingly gorgeous - songs of the 20th century.

  • @adnap
    @adnap 9 місяців тому +2

    Me: I’ve known about and loved Sarah and her music, since the early 1990"s.
    Everyone:
    Umm.. she guilt tripped me into adopting a puppy.

  • @bearclawgirl6866
    @bearclawgirl6866 8 місяців тому +1

    This song still gives me chills

  • @renzero9206
    @renzero9206 4 місяці тому

    The best version of this imo, is the one she performed live on the Mirrorball dvd. The whole concert was amazing tbh, but Possession was incredible (especially that last note).

  • @stephenulmer3781
    @stephenulmer3781 8 місяців тому

    Oh my I love this song and a lot of her songs. "Adia" by Her is a beautiful song ❤

  • @allanaguilar6289
    @allanaguilar6289 26 днів тому

    I recommend "Angel" or "Do What You Have to Do" where it's just her and the piano. Her committing the catholic prayer "Prayer of St. Francis" to music and her singing voice is pretty interesting as well.

  • @mikedown3219
    @mikedown3219 9 місяців тому +3

    Sarah is fantastic live. There are two great live versions of this track on UA-cam from the Mirrorball and later Afterglow tours. I recommend checking them out. Also check out the live versions of Fear and Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.

    • @dogsmusicbookstravelscience
      @dogsmusicbookstravelscience 9 місяців тому

      The way she holds (and ups) that last note in the Afterglow show is simply phenomenal - she clearly had top vocal training. I'll get to the Mirrorball video soon, cheers.

    • @eboethrasher
      @eboethrasher 9 місяців тому

      @@dogsmusicbookstravelscience Mirrorball is her at the top of her game, IMHO.

  • @JG-fv9bv
    @JG-fv9bv 9 місяців тому +2

    The stalker killed himself before the court case went to court about Sarah using his threatening letters to her as the basis and insperaration for the lyrics

  • @geopapa80
    @geopapa80 9 місяців тому +14

    I'm waiting for your first Alanis Morissette listen..

    • @AppalachiaRRlover
      @AppalachiaRRlover 9 місяців тому +1

      Yes indeed Uninvited, Ironic, You outta know! Etc etc

  • @tgchism
    @tgchism 9 місяців тому

    I've always loved the song and her singing!

  • @Paul-D-Hoff
    @Paul-D-Hoff 9 місяців тому +5

    Many times in Rock music the instruments are on a equal footing with voices and sometimes above.

  • @alittlebitgone
    @alittlebitgone 9 місяців тому +3

    The drummer, Ash, was her partner and future husband when the song was recorded, considering the subject matter I've always liked the image that the aggressive drumming is his voice rising to defend or protect Sarah.

    • @Johnny_Socko
      @Johnny_Socko 9 місяців тому +1

      Interesting take! I always thought the driving drum arrangement seemed almost like a hip-hop rhythm, or at least a rhythm that was very popular in R&B songs of the time. The [then] contemporary beat drew you in...and then the lyrics and vocals made you say "Whoa".

    • @eboethrasher
      @eboethrasher 9 місяців тому

      @@Johnny_Socko It is certainly a drum loop for the most part.

  • @JG-fv9bv
    @JG-fv9bv 9 місяців тому +2

    For a completely stripped down and raw version of this , try Sarah singing this with just her piano on Later With Jools Holland

  • @Vader1138
    @Vader1138 9 місяців тому +3

    At that point drum machines were becoming more mainstream in pop music at least in the eyes of the producers in the industry. Now the norm but then still fairly new. Not a fan of the trap beat sound but look past it in Sarah. Her voice and lyric writing transcends all of that and this album was one of the best albums of the 90's. It hit a chord at the right moment I guess. This song does have a better version that was a hidden track at the end of the album. It is just her voice and a piano. It is my preferred version to listen to.
    So many good tracks from her. Just from this album alone I could recommend,
    Wait, Good Enough, Ice, Mary, Elsewhere, Fumbling Towards Ecstacy, and my favorite which is, Hold On. Based around a true story of a woman whose husband was dying of HIV and her staying by his bedside until he passed. Each day hoping for one more day with him. Powerful song.

    • @therealpbristow
      @therealpbristow 9 місяців тому

      "Hold On" is indeed a powerful so g.

    • @waynethera2712
      @waynethera2712 8 місяців тому +1

      Yea Fumbling is a great album start to finish and agree the hidden track and Hold On are extraordinary.

  • @Marnie-hates-winter
    @Marnie-hates-winter 8 місяців тому +1

    There are very few singers who have a good enough voice to make me like them just for their voice. I mainly focus on the instruments. I generally listen to heavy and/or complicated music. But Sarah McLachlan's voice is one that I just LOVE. I only ever listened to the album that contains this song. There are 3 or 4 other great songs on that. You will recognize it is her, but they do sound different. I would suggest that most solo singers who don't play an instrument are not going to please you, Amy, with the musical sophistication. One exception of an artist many people think fall into that camp is Tori Amos, and that is because she isn't just a singer. She is a pianist, and a brilliant one. It always annoyed me that people would lump her in with the female solo singers who mainly were melody based, and just had some session players hopefully putting a few decent chords and basic drum beat behind their songs. Whoever produced this Sarah McLachlan album did a far better job than average for a solo singer of the time. But still, it's all about the voice, not about the music as a whole. The instruments are there just to support her. I always thought of it as "a song" versus "music". I LOVE the song "Ice" from this album, but it's so far removed from rock music, that I can't recommend it here.

  • @MichaelHolzmeister
    @MichaelHolzmeister 9 місяців тому

    I'm voting for "Very well chosen stylistic technique specifically for this topic." Thanks for giving this tune a listen!

    • @eboethrasher
      @eboethrasher 9 місяців тому

      Nah this is what she sounds like.

  • @Johnny_Socko
    @Johnny_Socko 9 місяців тому +3

    I love this song so much. It's rare to hear something that is equal parts beautiful and creepy. Given the subject matter, I think this song was amazingly realized. I can recommend anything by Sarah McLachlan, but especially her earlier albums _Solace_ and _Fumbling Towards Ecstasy._
    For another beautiful-and-creepy song, I highly recommend "Bury My Lovely" by October Project, with vocals by Mary Fahl -- a rare contralto in pop music.

  • @babyfacemichael1
    @babyfacemichael1 9 місяців тому +1

    sweet song sweet video

  • @Rael_486
    @Rael_486 9 місяців тому +4

    From what I understand, the lyrics are based on a letter McLachlan received from a deranged fan. 😮

  • @scottstewart4387
    @scottstewart4387 9 місяців тому +2

    The main element of her music is the singing and the instruments accompany her voice .

  • @DC_Prox
    @DC_Prox 9 місяців тому +4

    Most of the song suggestions you're going to get for Sarah are her international hits, but I think some attention needs to be paid to her early stuff, which I think has more potential for interesting analysis, at least regarding composition and arrangement. Specifically "Steaming" and "Vox".

  • @davidstick9207
    @davidstick9207 9 місяців тому +1

    It gets creepier
    She woke up one morning and found a note...left by her stalker...and she used his words as lyrics. She discussed this when the album was released.

  • @Migtopia
    @Migtopia 7 місяців тому +1

    Ooooh!!! You should react to her song “Stupid.” ❤️❤️

  • @swissarmyknight4306
    @swissarmyknight4306 9 місяців тому +3

    That "percussion" you're hearing is called a delay effect on her voice.

  • @DC_Prox
    @DC_Prox 9 місяців тому +4

    I don't know if this is an unpopular opinion, but I think Sarah's first two albums are her most interesting and worthwhile works. Musically speaking, everything she's done since then has been "good", but very stock, very predictable, very (dare I say) commercial. I'm not saying she sold out, I'm just saying that her music seemed to become more of a consumer product than an artistic endeavour. I was glad that she got an international audience, but I'm saddened that it didn't happen until she started to water it down.

    • @eboethrasher
      @eboethrasher 9 місяців тому

      Pretty unpopular, yeah. To say Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is not good is quite an unpopular opinion.

    • @garybeltrand5802
      @garybeltrand5802 8 місяців тому +1

      @@eboethrasher Fumbling deserved the Grammy's much more than Surfacing imo, but she wasn't well know yet. It's a perfect album. Her earlier work was incredible, especially for her at that age, but Fumbling was when the genius talent all came together. After Fumbling, her sound did get a little more typical. Great songs, but less of the artistic edge and risk-taking. I remember back then a bunch of "light" female singers were getting big hits with songs used for shows like Dawson's Creek, so it was probably tempting to try to shift in that direction. Sarah's music is way above that stuff though.

  • @edsguerra
    @edsguerra 9 місяців тому +2

    Now please, please hear her song with Delerium, it's called Silence. xx

  • @norcalmudo6114
    @norcalmudo6114 9 місяців тому +9

    Please do Kate Bush the 9th wave.

    • @markwalton2184
      @markwalton2184 9 місяців тому +1

      The Ninth Wave is THE BEST suite of music written in the past 50 years. It is absolute perfection.

    • @leeshort1258
      @leeshort1258 9 місяців тому

      I agree that would be a great choice, and that something from Kate is long overdue, but I’m not sure I’d want to see it chopped into 7 different videos, I feel like it should be experienced whole. Lots of great choices for a first Kate song, I feel that Breathing, Sat in Your Lap, Get Out of My House, and Rocket’s Tail lead the list.

  • @Emi_M93
    @Emi_M93 2 місяці тому

    In my totally unprofessional opinion as I’m not a musician at all, everything you described creates a sense of foreboding that really helps you kind of feel the story of both the obsessor and the fear of the victim

  • @donventura1834
    @donventura1834 9 місяців тому +2

    I agree with other commenters, try 'Building a mystery'. It is great.

  • @Kieop
    @Kieop 9 місяців тому +2

    Nothing creative in the bassline? The bass DRIVES this version of the song. I realize my comment doesn't actually contradict your comment about it just pulsing along. But it is very creative. It moves all around in circles. It cuts out and kicks back in. It walks in places and then holds steady in others. I love that bassline.

  • @gwengoodwin3992
    @gwengoodwin3992 9 місяців тому +3

    I cherish every Sarah McLachlan song and especially the live performances of McLachlan and others from Lilith Fair. You'll find lots of her live Lilith Fair performances here on UA-cam. These are songs to nourish the soul. ua-cam.com/play/PLed12iyS7Ay9TmQ60uBxUYVDBNMRXYeN8.html Sorry for the link. I know you don't want to listen to them until they are part of your program here.

  • @altair8598
    @altair8598 9 місяців тому +2

    Like you, I'd never head of her before, so I am still learning through this channel, which is great. However although I found this track lyrically fairly interesting I didn't like the production much. Overall it seems fairly middle-of-the-road to me. Hopefully she has another to provide an example of her range.The 'crack in her voice' is very reminiscent of Dolores O'Riordan (of the Irish rock band The Cranberries) and even Sinead O'Connor. Good that you are investigating influential women singers/songwriters; it's true that men used to dominate in terms of chart sales but that has changed a lot since the 1990s. In fact even then I can remember when all the top 5 singles on a UK chart were all female.
    I think you've listened to Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Jnais Joplin and Bjork. Also influential in rock/pop has been Sandy Denny, Tina Turner, Debbie Harry and Amy Winehouse. I think you have done Tori Amos, but not one of her influences, Kate Bush! (Kate the first UK singer to have a self-written song reach No. 1 in the UK). Also interesting would be your analysis of a couple of songs by Susanne Sundfor who can jump an octave very effectively and is very creative though under-appreciated (despite several people doing reactions to her work - you'd be alright there with copyright). And Loreena McKennit, another Canadian who draws on Celtic themes for her inspiration.

    • @dogsmusicbookstravelscience
      @dogsmusicbookstravelscience 9 місяців тому

      Great post. Re this song, the piano-only version is both more delicate and stronger (in my opinion), so if you see the link, it's well worth clicking on it. Her live versions are also recommended. This studio version does not do the song justice, I certainly agree with that.

  • @themadmallard
    @themadmallard 9 місяців тому +1

    The success of the Lilith Fair is good, but it does a disservice to a listener if thats all they have ever heard of Sarah. Went to a concert of hers with a full band tour in the 2000s, and that was only 1 degree of separation from a straight up rock concert, and not wall-2-wall delicate stuff like what got radio play out of Lilith Fair.
    If any of you avoided Sarah because of not really feeling the rest of that stuff from Lilith Fair, you should totally give her another listen or goto a concert when she has a full band.

  • @willjohnson8446
    @willjohnson8446 9 місяців тому +1

    Love Sarah. Saw her at Lilith Fair in the 90’s. However, her beautiful song Angel was ruined for me by its constant use for an SPCA-sponsored animal anti-cruelty campaign that ran for years late at night on high rotation.

  • @baneverything5580
    @baneverything5580 9 місяців тому

    I knew about this female singer when she was still in high school. Her parents demanded she get an education first before continuing her music career.

  • @gablen23
    @gablen23 8 місяців тому +1

    Fantastic female singers who have not yet been featured on your channel: Suzanne Vega, Nina Simone, Tracy Chapman, Carole King, Laura Nyro, Natalie Merchant.

  • @davidemm829
    @davidemm829 6 місяців тому

    She's on your in US right now..alot in youtube

  • @mbadar6967
    @mbadar6967 5 місяців тому

    ✌️✌️✌️#BuildinAMysteryGoodEnoughOrSweetSurrendaNextPlease ✌️✌️✌️

  • @learnmusicwithme4170
    @learnmusicwithme4170 7 місяців тому

    The lyrics are based on the notes sent to her from the stalkers, they later tried to sue her for credits to the song.

  • @stevenblock9712
    @stevenblock9712 9 місяців тому +2

    Surprised and confused about your assumption that the obsessive person is a male. I love this song and I have never heard it that way. Sarah is all about strong empowered women and feminism in general.

    • @goldenageofdinosaurs7192
      @goldenageofdinosaurs7192 9 місяців тому +2

      Some of the lyrics for this song came from a note that had been written to her by her stalker. The stalker was a man. I think he tried to sue McLachlan, because she’d used his words in her song, but ended himself before the lawsuit went anywhere.

  • @rickpebbles2502
    @rickpebbles2502 4 місяці тому

    Curious, as a classical musician, can you actually enjoy modern vocalists?

  • @donnabertolotti8954
    @donnabertolotti8954 9 місяців тому

    I would so love to see your take on Queensryche's Silent Lucidity. And Traffic's The Low Spark of High-heeled Boys.

    • @mikeconway9849
      @mikeconway9849 9 місяців тому +1

      She's actually done Low Spark and enjoyed it!

    • @donnabertolotti8954
      @donnabertolotti8954 9 місяців тому

      Cool! I will look for it​@@mikeconway9849

  • @roybarbara4756
    @roybarbara4756 9 місяців тому +3

    Agreed, the piano version is much better..

  • @mauroverick1355
    @mauroverick1355 2 місяці тому

    Please react to live version of this song is awesome

  • @austenrichardgeorge842
    @austenrichardgeorge842 8 місяців тому

    Sarah is one of my favourite artists and yet the criticism is interesting because there is no song from Sarah that I ever hum to myself like Yesterday from the Beatles. Sarah has a good voice of course but not some sort of acrobatic vocalist. Yet I always like listening to her and in particular this album. My favourite song from her is Fumbling Towards Ecstacy. And again can't at all hum that to myself.

  • @branz211
    @branz211 Місяць тому

    It's a dark song imo and it maintains a quiet unease even as the percussion implies an urgency to move elsewhere, it can't. the voice invites you with It's beauty and seemingly affectionate words but it's just a mask. As you approach to listen closer to try to reveal the inner workings behind the "safe" tone, you shouldn't.

  • @davidemm829
    @davidemm829 6 місяців тому

    Mini guitar solo is out there, maybe never was real. The song is about a stalker fan she had and heater killed himself..true story

  • @peterhughes8699
    @peterhughes8699 9 місяців тому +1

    Is this one of Sarah's best songs ? Ho hum - at least it has guitar in it .Although they are lost in the mix as Amy points out :)

  • @chriszarzycki3476
    @chriszarzycki3476 8 місяців тому

    Sarah of course wrote the song, but to really sing it, I imagine Eddie Vedder signing this - I think it would give a chilling feel to it.

  • @netuno60
    @netuno60 9 місяців тому +2

    I knew Sarah but in a New Age phase. I like her voice and her composition. Never heard this song though. The voice is still good. The arrangements, the production, and the harmony are pleasant, but to me, something is missing in the song.

    • @baneverything5580
      @baneverything5580 9 місяців тому +1

      I saw her on Much Music in the 80s before she became a huge celebrity.

  • @195511SM
    @195511SM 9 місяців тому

    Are you ever going to conclude 'The Wall' ? I've been waiting for 'The Trial' for what seems like forever.

    • @andymccabe6712
      @andymccabe6712 9 місяців тому +1

      So.....why do you think that it MATTERS ......!?
      .... She'll get there ....just don't get run over by a bus.......!

  • @courtneysmith6082
    @courtneysmith6082 7 місяців тому +1

    Ethereal

  • @therealpbristow
    @therealpbristow 9 місяців тому

    Since folks have started listing female artists for Amy to listen to can I just throw in my vote for the woefully under-recognised Tina Dico. I recommend starting with "Count to Ten", or for a dramatic musical soundscape try "True North".

  • @allanmacbadger5692
    @allanmacbadger5692 9 місяців тому

    Sarah McLachlan AKA Miss Heavy Breathing 🙂

  • @eboethrasher
    @eboethrasher 9 місяців тому +1

    There is dissecting songs, and then there is just being plain rude when you feel they are beneath you.

    • @zimmy4868
      @zimmy4868 7 місяців тому

      So a person isn’t allowed to have an opinion? Weird take, but ok.

  • @gablen23
    @gablen23 8 місяців тому

    Hm, her voice(and maybe his music too) somewhat similar to Beth Orton, isn't it?