Singing A Song For You!

As everyone who knows me knows, I am so in love with music and particularly the classics. So, it is no surprise that I love Leon Russell and in particular, “Singing this Song for You.” I have a special place in my heart for this song as it touches on a relationship that dates from the late sixities with one of the most special women I have ever known. She and her family changed my life and I will be forever thankful to her and them. And thinking of them led me to peruse the net for this song.

Now two of my favorite versions and renditions are by Morgana King and Aretha. Neither of which are available for download on the web. That said, a classic is a classic, and there are many renditions of it out on the web for our reminiscing, viewing and listening pleasure. Many of these I haven’t heard or seen before and I was so pleased to discover them in my search for this classic.

So, if you love or even like this Russell classic, you should click on these links because you will not be disappointed and they get better as they go along. That of course is only my opinion, but as Blanche W. Cook would say it is “My opinion and a damned good opinion it is.”

The first version is by Usher. I had no real idea who he was, as I am deficient in pop culture knowledge, though I consistently score 90 or better on the New Yorker Quiz on George W. Bush (well I guess you know what I am focused on), but after watching and listening to his version of this song I am impressed. As you will see mostly I have found this to be a song for women to sing, but he did a terrific job and I will have to pay more attention to him in the future.

Next I have to say I was quite taken a back by Christina Aquilaera’s version with Herbie Hancock. Herbie is a favorite of mine from the sixties so I was quite taken with this teaming up. She really has a very good voice and with his styling this is a really credible version of a jazz rendition.

And just in case anyone was wondering just how “White” I am I offer up the “Michelle Kwan skates to Natalie Cole version.” Yes, folks I love Figure Skating and I think that Michelle Kwan is one of the best in what is essentially a white bread sport. So, there it is out. Natalie Cole’s version of our song for the day isn’t as soulful as it could be and I think that her father would have done a better job at it, but it is really quite good as the bar for this family is quite high. And as for the white bread skating it is as good as it gets. So, there!

Then we get to the Queen of Disco, and she is leaving disco behind and doing the bejesus out of this song. Donna Summer should have spent more time singing her heart out instead of being the disco queen. She has a tremendous voice and her unadulterated voice should have been heard by more of us. This version makes the case.

And what a surprise I had when I found this version by one of my favorites Ms. Nancy Wilson. Watching her styling I am reminded of Phyllis Hyman and why she idolized Ms. Nancy. This rendition reminds me of why I love Ms. Wilson and miss Phyllis so much.

Then we have the classic being sung by the classic, Ms. Gladys Knight. Watching Oprah’s face while Gladys sings this song, to her it seems, is just so wonderful and touching. And Gladys delivers as one would expect.

Now, I have left this version for last. I have been a Whitney Houston fan since I first saw her with her mother Cissy when Whitney was 13 years old. It was in a very small club on the Upper West Side, and it was very up close and personal. Cissy and Whitney sang the BeeGees hit “Staying Alive,” and let me tell you, you haven’t heard this song until you have heard it sung by them. I was totally blown away and hadn’t gotten the meaning of the song until I heard them do it. So, it breaks my heart what life has brought Whitney and it is with that in mind that I watched this video and cried. She is one of the greatest talents of our time and my heart breaks for her and her family. When she sings “Singing this Song for You,” your heart will break as well. Lord knows she means it!

For those of you who have stayed and taken this musical journey with me, thank you. As I said at the beginning this song has special meaning for me and so I dedicate this post to Sharlene, who I love and who has changed my life in so many ways.

I can’t thank her enough and I haven’t.

Thank you Sharlene.