[ad_1]
Now it was time. The "Fare Thee Well" tour of Joan Baez, this protest song icon, was stopped in Vienna. At two nights at the Konzerthaus, the 78 year old folk singer from New York is introduced as we like. Combative, aware of the story and never getting lost in the depths of a pathos. A kind of coloratura soprano accentuated the lowered voice of Baez. Two musicians, one of them his son, Gabriel, whom she tenderly called Gabe, completed the sparse folk guitar with all kinds of melodies sound. Soon, it was a sensitive solo on the Peruvian drum Cajon, soon a thoughtful piano pbadage, soon exuberant violin banjo. But, as expected, the visitors' ears focused on what came out of Bob Dylan's former mate's mouth. And it was "There But for Fortune," a song by Phil Ochs, which questions the lost opportunities. Baez made it in 1964 to Ochs' surprise the top 10 in the UK.
"Imagine" with a lot of authority
For nearly 60 years, Joan Baez has been at the service of socio-political improvement. It takes courage and probably some naivety. She always has both. No one else can interpret Richard Lennon's somewhat odd hymn, "Imagine," with more authority than Baez, who has spent decades writing about wars and political atrocities. Wherever it comes in, everything becomes its subject: the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, the collapse of communism, the war in Iraq, the Bosnian war, the human rights in China and in Burma.
And. And now Donald Trump, the isolationist. Against her badped a particularly old and well made knife, Woody Guthries "Deported (Wreck Plan to Los Gatos)". Again and again, she surprised. For example, playing only three of Dylan's songs, most sincerely "Seven Curses" from 1963: What a proud swan song to a death candidate who thinks of the right page. Although she also has contemporary repertoire. After "Another World" by Antony Hegarty, she said that she would have liked to be composed. And already the most beautiful lamentations flowed from his lips. "I need another world, this one has almost disappeared, still having too many dreams, never seen the light."
Then she took us on the last helicopter flight to Woodstock Before the storm. She graduated with Janis Joplin. Logical song thereafter: "Me And Bobby McGee" by Kris Kristofferson, who began his career as a helicopter pilot. Elsewhere, Baez has let his listeners revel in hippie reminiscences. "The House of the Rising Sun" was also missing that "Tell me where are the flowers". Her legs are a little tired by the many steps she has reached, said Baez. And yet, she still sang "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel. And as a last reminder, "Donna Donna", the old song of the calf, which leads to the mbadacre. He is up to date as always.
("Die Presse", printed edition, 27.07.2018)
Source link
