A friend gave me James Taylor's new CD "Covers" this weekend at her husband's birthday party (which, because of her gift, doubled as a getting the diss-draft-to-committee party for me too. Anyway). The whole "album" makes me think about "translation." One thing JT writes on the insert is this:
I've always thought that
writing an original song and reinterpreting
someone else's were similar processes; just
as making music is a lot like listening to it.
One of the tunes he sings with Caroline Taylor is "Sadie," by The Spinners. You can listen to that "original" on youtube here. And you can listen to the free snippet of the JT translation here at Starbuck's http://www.hearmusic.com/#PRODUCT395. And JT's producers let you hear and watch him and his band make "Sadie" here at his official web site http://www.jamestaylor.com/covers_video.php.
Pay close attention to what JT says on his video:
Sadie is sort of an odd tune to choose. It’s a Spinners’ tune, and uh I assume that it’s uh about Philippe Wynne’s mom. In a post-Freudian world, people are sort of phobic about singing songs about Mom. But we always loved it because it’s a great choral song.
But doesn't that make you remember him singing about his own Mama, in Portuguese, in "Only a Dream in Rio." Remember?
Quando a nossa mae acordar
Andareimoz au sol
Quando a nossa mae acordar
Cantara pelos sertao
Quando a nossa mea acordar
Todos os filios saberao
Todos os filios saberao
E regozilarao
I think it was Milton Nascimento or Fernando Brant or James Taylor himself who offered this translation:
Quando a nossa me acordar
When our mother awakes
Andaremos ao sol
We shall walk in the sun
Quando a nossa me acordar
When our mother awakes
Cantar pelo serto
She shall sing in the wilderness
Quando a nossa me acordar
When our mother awakes
Todos os filhos sabero
All her children shall know
Todos os filhos sabero
All her children shall know
E regozijaro
And they shall rejoice
So here's Sadie again, translated, reinterpreted, especially as you listen. Listen / make music / remember your mother in this "post-Freudian" world:
Sadie
In a world like today
Its a rare occasion to be able
To see young mothers like the ones
That were around when I grew up
But they live on in memory
To quite a few of us
And this song is dedicated
To those who cherish that memory
Early one Sunday morning
Breakfast was on the table
There was no time to eat
She said to me, Boy, hurry to Sunday school
Filled with her load of glory
We learned the Holy story
Shell always have her dreams
Despite the things this troubled world can bring
Oh, Sadie
Don't you know we love you
Sweet Sadie
Place no one above you
Sweet Sadie (Well, well, well)
Living in the past
Some times it seems so funny
But no money will turn your life around
Sweeter than cotton candy
Stronger than papas old brandy
Always that needed smile
Once in awhile she would break down and cry
Some times shed be so happy
Just being with us and daddy
Standing the worst of times
Breaking the binds with just a simple song
Oh, Sadie (Oh, Sadie, baby)
Don't you know we love you (Shell love us all in a special way)
Sweet Sadie (Well, well, well)
Place no one above you
Sweet Sadie (Sweet Sadie livin in the past)
Living in the past
Oh, she's never sinnin
In love she's always winnin, yeah
Sadie (My, my, my, my, my)
Don't you know we love you (I love you, mama)
Sweet Sadie
Place no one above you (I just cant forget)
Sweet Sadie (How you gave me love, oh, Lord)
Living in the past
If there's a heaven up above
I know she's teaching angels how to love
Sadie (Its a mean world without you)
Don't you know we love you
Sweet Sadie (All the love you showed)
Place no one above you
(Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Corp. (BMI))
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