Multiple Versions Monday: Annie's Song
There's no guilty pleasure here ...
I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. If I like something, be it a song or artist, a video game, a dessert, or superhero movies, I own it. If it brings me joy, there’s no room for guilt.
So I feel absolutely no shame stating that John Denver is one of my many favored artists. He had the voice of an angel and a sound understanding of storytelling in song.
No guilt, no shame, no hiding my listens.
Annie’s Song
I was well aware of the popularity of Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” so I shouldn’t have been surprised to see so many covers of “Annie’s Song,” my favorite Denver tune.
While the song is a simple one, there’s a LOT of room for nuance and emotional delivery. It’s the emotion behind this song that makes it a favorite.
The Playlists
Listen with Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/annies-song/pl.u-9N9L8gWu1E6NgR5
And another Monday beings another multiple versions playlist. What say you? Is the original by far the best option? Or did a cover call to you?
And don’t worry, Lou, your reqest is on tap for next week. I promise!
Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies all day!
Goddamn if that isn't some beautiful natural imagery. Nobody did mountains and forests and springtimes like John Denver.
To the countdown:
5) Me First And The Gimmie Gimmies
Next.
4) Honey Ryder
Fun Fact: There used to be a football player at The US Naval Academy named Wave Ryder. No word on if he has a sister named Honey.
I thought this one was overproduced, and the vocalist wasn't really selling it IMHO.
Senses: 10% filled. Like a late morning, nearby a couple of trees.
3) Cameron Payne
I liked this one. Mr Payne has much different vocal stylings than Mr Denver. More of a smoky lounge than clear mountain air. But he makes it work his way quite convincingly. He's selling the feels, which means everything for this song. There's not a lot of production behind him to distract from the vocals, which IMHO is what this song is all about.
Senses: 65% filled. Like a big mural of a forest on the wall of your neighborhood bar.
2) Red Dirt Girls.
This is a love song, right ? And love is happy, right ?* The RDGs have the happiest sounding version. Its the only version that sounds like they're singing to someone still in the room. This interpretation works for me, and bonus points for not just trying the same thing as The Legend.
Senses: 72.5% filled. Like a warm sunny day, in some nearby woods that haven't been carved up for a new subdivision yet.
*although word on the street is that Only Love Can Break Your Heart.
1) John Denver
This song is nothing if it's not deeply personal. Its literally named after someone, presumably someone very real and near and dear to John Denver. He requires five different nature similes to describe how much she rocks his world, and we know that he thanks God he's a country boy.
As such, there's no way anyone else could sing this song so passionately, so convincingly, unless they also loved nature and someone named Annie just as much as John Denver did.
I feel like there is a palpable sense of longing, and loss in this song? Is Annie okay? John really misses her. He is just sitting around the cabin all day thinking up nature similes. Come back Annie, let him love you again.