Summary

The web content reflects on the musical influence of Lou Reed and showcases the author's journey through discovering the Cowboy Junkies and their collaboration with Natalie Merchant, emphasizing the enduring impact of these artists and the serendipitous nature of music discovery.

Abstract

The article titled "Paths We Take (Part 3)" under the section "When worlds Collide" delves into the author's exploration of music, starting with Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" and leading to a cover by The Cowboy Junkies. The author, intrigued by Margo Timmins' voice, discovers more of the band's music and is particularly moved by a duet featuring Natalie Merchant. This unexpected find brings the author's musical exploration full circle, highlighting the timeless quality of these artists' work and the interconnectedness of music across generations. The piece concludes with an invitation to readers to explore The Cowboy Junkies and expresses the author's profound admiration for Natalie Merchant's vocal talent.

Opinions

Lou Reed's influence on music and musicians is acknowledged as significant and ongoing, despite perhaps not receiving the commercial success he deserved.
The Cowboy Junkies, a band formed in Toronto in 1985, are recognized for their unique sound and longevity in the music industry, with Margo Timmins' vocal range being particularly praised.
The author is captivated by a specific duet performed by Margo Timmins and Natalie Merchant, indicating a deep appreciation for their collaboration.
Natalie Merchant is lauded as an exceptional vocalist, with the author suggesting that her singing could evoke emotion from even a mundane text like the dictionary.
The article encourages readers to explore The Cowboy Junkies' music, suggesting that their sound defies simple categorization, which is seen as a positive attribute.
The author expresses a personal connection to the music discussed, using emotive language to convey the impact of the songs and artists mentioned.

LOVE NOTES

Paths We Take (Part 3)

When worlds Collide

Although less commercially successful than he rightfully deserved, Lou Reed paved paths for more musicians than anyone can count. And his influence carried on into the new millennia.

As Sweet Jane ended, I looked to the right column on YouTube to continue my search, but I didn’t get far.

I don’t know why, but I stopped at a cover version of the same song by a band I had heard of but didn’t know much about.

My friend Hollie Petit, Ph.D. is some kind of sorceress and figured out where I was going with this. Other than this paragraph, I wrote this piece two days ago.

The three Timmins siblings, Michael, Peter, and Margo, along with Alan Anton, formed The Cowboy Junkies in Toronto in 1985.

Turns out this band is still kicking it almost forty years later. As I said, I knew of them but little did I know they came from my own backyard.

Margo’s vocals intrigued me, so I looked up some more of their music and was suitably impressed. Margo Timmins may not get recognized in the company of history’s greatest singers, but she has excellent range and a beautiful voice.

Yet, with all respect to Margo, it was a duet she performed that really knocked me out. She graciously shared one of her best songs with a singing dynamo. And out of nowhere, I had come full circle.

I was completely floored when my favourite singer, male or female, appeared on this track.

At 2 minutes and 20 seconds of this video, you will understand why.

Enjoy!

I’m sure this has been said by many others about others and about her. But if Natalie Merchant sang the dictionary, she would still bring tears to my eyes.

If you are not familiar with her work, I implore you to seek out her music quickly. On the scale of vocalists through time, Natalie, for me, is off the charts.

Pure magic!

And yes, The Cowboy Junkies are well worth the time to explore. Thye have a sound that is hard to pigeonhole. To me, that’s a good thing.

I hope you enjoyed this little trip around the world of music.

As always, thank you for reading and listening along:

Please enjoy all my LOVE NOTES here.

Paths We Take (Part 2)

And the Strange Twists of Fate

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