The native Canadian folk-rock singer & songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie was a feature of the folk scene in the mid-1960’s and emerged at about the same time as Canadian contemporaries Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.
In 1963 she saw wounded soldiers returning from Vietnam, and this inspired her to write a protest song “Universal Soldier.” The song became a big hit for Donovan in 1965.
In the UK she is probably best known for writing and performing the title song for the revisionist Western “Soldier Blue” (1970.)
She also co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “Up Where We Belong” (for the 1982 movie ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’) with Jack Nitzsche and Will Jennings. The number went on to become a big hit for Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.
Last night (22nd September) the legendary performer was the big winner at the 2015 Polaris Music Prize awards. At the ceremony her latest album Power in the Blood was named as the best Canadian album of 2015.
Recorded in Toronto, Sainte-Marie enlisted three different producers for Power In The Blood: Michael Phillip Wojewoda (Barenaked Ladies, Rheostatics), Jon Levine (Nelly Furtado, K’NAAN), and Chris Birkett (Sinéad O’Connor, Bob Geldof).
We had a listen:
The album begins with the twangy and slightly Eastern-sounding ‘It’s My Way’ which was the last track on her very first album.
This evocative revision has impressive eagles gliding overhead and rust and dust in every corner. And, even though it looks back over more than 50 years of protest, there is still strong resolution in that voice. Perhaps now, though, it is a song of hope and liberation as much as a song of revolution.
The title track is a cover of Alabama 3’s famous 2002 protest song “Power in the Blood.”
The original always did sound like an authentic dance-song with rattle-pots and stone percussions. This new version is full of hardwood clacks and monophonic expressionism . It’s also filled with spirituality and light.
‘Love Charms’ has that irresistible thump you might expect. Maybe this is a Ghost Dance or an incantation to help protect us against the loss of our love inside. That voice trembles like a leaf on a stem. This is a wonderful thing.
“Ke Sakihitin Awasis (I Love You Baby)” has incredible words. Lovely imagery. And beautiful symmetry. It’s an incredibly rich painting, with hypnotic rhythms and cleverly worded subtext.
Drums, chants and poetic notions — important issues dealt with in every shaky breath… Yes, Buffy is now more relevant than ever…
Words: @neilmach 2015 ©
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