Tuesday, June 15, 2010

willowy coolness

This week's wickedly willow song is the fabulous Joan Armatrading singing one of her best known songs, "Willow". Armatrading is the talented British singer, songwriter, guitarist, and three-time Grammy Award-nominee, nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist; also received an Ivor Novello award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996. Armatrading currently lives in Surrey, England, where her farmhouse home includes a recording studio. Anyone who can write super lyrics, set them to music, dole them out with this kinda flair and lives in a farmhouse in England is in my willowy book of coolness.



I may not be your best
But you know good ones
Don't come by the score
If you've got something missing
I'll help you look
You can be sure
And if you want to be alone
Or someone to share a laugh
Whatever you want to do
All you got to do is ask
Thunder
Don't go under the sheets
Lightning
Under a tree
In the rain and snow
I'll be your fireside
Come running to me
When things get out of hand
Running to me
When it's more than you can stand
I said I'm strong
Straight
Willing
To be a shelter
In a storm
Your willow
Oh willow
When the sun is out
A fight with your best girl
Prettiest thing you ever saw
You know I'll listen
Try to get a message to her
And if it's money you want
Or trouble halved
Whatever you want me to do
All you got to do is ask
I said I'm strong
Straight
Willing
To be a shelter
In a storm
Your willow
Oh willow
When the sun is out

51 comments:

  1. Ivor Novello makes me think of the movie "Gosford Park" and the charming Jeremy Northam who portrays him in the film. Northum actually does his own singing and piano, by the way. I must post on the dashing Novello soon!

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  2. she certainly has an intriguing style to her singing...and a wonderul flow to her lyrics...

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  3. My favorite line in the song is "I'll be your fireside." what a wonderful poet and songstress.

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  4. Lori, I like "trouble halved". Trouble never seems so troublesome when someone is there with you to take half.

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  5. I listened to Joan Armatrading back in the 1990s, but had forgotten about her. "Willow" is one of my favorite songs by her. Thanks for the reminder!

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  6. I've got this song on one of my Lillith Fair CDs - it's one of my favorites!

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  7. Gosh, I hadn't thought about Joan Armatrading in a long time! I remember when she was on college radio a lot, & she sure has a distinctive vocal style. That's a lovely song; don't think I'd ever heard it before.

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  8. I was also struck by the "trouble halved" line. I was surprised yesterday when I read some people hadn't heard of Natalie Merchant and now here I am, never having heard of Joan Armatrading! Soulful voice. Going to listen again now.

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  9. Now, Joan I have heard of - and have been an admirer for years....plus, we were "neighbours" when I lived down in Surrey - many years ago!

    This is lovely....I am so happy you like her music! She is "cooly passionate"! And, you are so right - "trouble halved' is the best way to go.....now that I am newly-single, I realise it...but, life sometimes does these things to you.

    Hugs,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  10. I love this woman! I particulalry like Love and Affection

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  11. Those are some lyrics..so very accomplished..thanks for bringing Armatrading to mind..
    And Northam can sing too? I remember him as the (spoiler) villain in that old flick with Bullock, where she's the computer wiz...

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  12. You are aware that Joan has a new recording out? It is titled "This Charming Life" , something you dear Willow lead no doubt.

    Toodles,

    David
    http://www.globalaroundtown.blogspot.com

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  13. Dear Willow: Is cool! Strong singer Joan Armatrading; quintessential soul. The Willow song from 1978 top single from "Love and Affection" album. First female singer to be nominated for a grammy in UK. Starred in Hair in 1970 British production in London. This woman is amazing. I love her music. She is SO cool! Imagine getting fired for bringing her guitar to work! That's a lifestyle maybe hippy? Laid back mellow happening.

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  14. Fired for bringing her guitar to work? She obviously had the wrong job!!

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  15. They'll play an occasional Armatrading tune on my favorite station in Louisville WFPK.

    She has a very distinct strong vocal style. Nice song.

    I like your banner by the by.

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  16. As Joan Armatrading sang those last few lines, and then "...when the sun is out--when the sun is out".......

    I felt a peacefulness descend upon me sitting right here. it is as if my heart has stopped, yet still beats. And the world is OK!

    Thanks also (again) for the photo of the model up top. I do not remember her name or the photographer, although you did write about them. Her most "classic" face is reminiscent of
    Meryl Streep...at least I see it in her cheekbones and eyes.

    Your blog is a pleasure to visit.

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  17. Steveroni, you know, I felt that same peacefulness after that last line, as well.

    Meryl Streep? Maybe. The model in my header painting reminds me a lot of the Irish actress Susan Lynch. I like her in "The Secret of Roan Inish" and "Nora".

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  18. Golly but I'm woefully ignorant when it come to music! Lovely song!

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  19. I have a couple of tapes of Joan Armatrading! I haven't listened to them in years but I will have to hunt them up. I'll also have to find my boom box. Actually, I think this song, "Willow," is on one of them. She does have a fabulous voice.

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  20. I've loved Joan Armatrading since her first LP. Wish I still had it! I wrote her a letter once and she sent me an autographed 8x10. And I didn't even ask! She was living in the Caribbean at the time, I think.

    Thanks for this gem!

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  21. Joan is one of our secret gems. An artist who ALWAYS gives her best.

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  22. Oh, my goodness how I loved this song. And I haven't heard it in such a long time, so thank you for posting it!

    Have I ever told you how much I love your blog?

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  23. With all this "willowy coolness" I am so regretting that I didn't follow through with my plan to name one of my girls after my Aunt Willowdean. Everyone calls her "Dean" but I always thought with a name like Willowdean you should be called Willow. Unfortunately, when it came to girl names, hubby and I had a hard time agreeing.

    "I'll be your fireside" ~ LOVE it!

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  24. Hi Wilow, I discovered Armatrading in the early 198o's as a student of literature at Syracuse University. I love her songs, specially one called "Drop the pilot."

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  25. Ahh, Joanie, one of my all time favourites. First saw her in 1978....grossly underrated.

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  26. It just flows soooo smoooothly doesn't it?

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  27. Dear Willow, An icon in her own times! I have to confess that I had always believed JA to be American. How amazing to discover that not only is she British, but is almost a neighbour!!

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  28. She is a Gesamtkunstwerk!
    Thank you for posting about her.

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  29. I love Joan A - I've seen her a few times in concert and have most of her music. My favourites are 'the weakness in me' and 'down to zero' - both fabulous songs.

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  30. Ah Joan Armorplating! What a great voice she has.....she fell off my radar for some reason.thanks for the reminder.
    I saw her live in 1978 in Surrey at this outdoor gig in front of 200,000+ Souls (Dylan was headlining).Truely Wonderful.

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  31. Oh man. She is one of my all time faves. Several of her tunes are in regular rotation on the ipod.

    Now I get to add a Willow song. Yeah!

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  32. wonderful song and voice. Have always liked JA. And am again impressed by your finding all these Willow songs!

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  33. I checked out Natalie Merchant's cd "Leave Your Sleep" at your suggestion and downloaded it immediately. LOVE IT! Now on to Joan, thanks!

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  34. Mmmm... her "Love and Affection" is one of my favourites.

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  35. I've always liked her music. Makes me smile, all the willowy references out there. When we lived in VA, and the willows would do their thing, Eric used to say, "Mom, look--the willows are weeping."

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  36. Hello Willow,

    "Love and Affection" is the number I always remember from Joan; a lot of years ago!

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  37. Willow,
    What a great find. Joan is truly blessed with a great talent! A great song.... and its about YOU!
    :) The Bach

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  38. Such a treat to listen to Joan Armatrading. Hubby is more familiar with her music than I was but not for long now. I am so drawn to her voice and the words of the song.

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  39. Hullo Willow,

    I keep seeing your icon on blogs I have found so thought I would come and have a peek.

    Jings, I dont think I've ever seen such a following - more of an entourage really - but having had a quick look around I can see why.

    I've enjoyed what I hhave seen so far and will come back when I have a bit more time to explore some more.

    thanks and regards........Al.

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  40. Love Joan! I wondered what she was doing now. I had not kept track, so thank you! She provided the soundtrack to much of my twenties.

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  41. Loved how Ms. A used her gentle upper register when she sang the word "strong" - so vulnerable. Hey, can we expect a post about "Willow Weep for Me" some time? I know Mr Sinatra's is very famous but I'll bet there might be other renditions out in you-tube-land!

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  42. That was gorgeous! I'm hooked utterly! Thank you for the introuduction. It seems I am often saying that to you ... but, I am so grateful for the lovely things, written and sung, which you have introduced into my life.

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  43. "If you've got something missing" should be my theme here at the cottage...I am forever being called upon to find things...and I always do! Such a rich voice! I saw her at Lilith Fair in the
    90's. Thanks for the intro to this song.
    I must revisit THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH...magical work there!

    Alistair, what took you so long? ({wink}}

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  44. Love it, how neat all the "willow" songs. Have you heard Piper at the Gates of Dawn, by Van Morrison?

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  45. joan is looking and sounding more fabulous than EVER!

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  46. One of my all time favorite songs and singers...

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  47. I commented earlier before I played catch-up reading your posts and discovered you posted Another of my all time favorite singers and songs...Maddie Prior and Steeleye Span singing All Around My Hat brought me right back to the days when Mr O and I first met each other...still have all those lovely vinyl Steeleye Span LP's ...but now I listen on my Ipod:)

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  48. thanks for introducing me to this great singer-- don't know how I missed knowing about her as I have a lot of songs on my I-Touch-- loved the song and have put her on my I-Tunes list.

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  49. Joan is incredible. i love her voice and know this song already. nice pick.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)