Hive Open Mic Week 152 - Scarborough Fair - A cover of the Simon & Garfunkle interpretation of a traditional song
When I saw the theme for this week, ‘Scarborough Fair’ sprang immediately to mind.
Although at that point I really didn’t know if it was a traditional tune, or if it was from the pen of Mr Paul Simon and Mr Art Garfunkle, but the Mighty Wikipedia was quick to identify that the song has a history stretching back to 1670, with a version that we might recognise appearing in the 19th century, so I guess it can justifiably be called ‘Traditional’.
I did record this once before, some years back, and I think it's still lurking somewhere on my YouTube channel.
It’s been a favourite of mine for many years, and I can remember hearing it played on my Parents’ ‘radiogram’ along with many other songs that now tie me to my childhood.
I’m glad to have the opportunity to sing it as my Open Mic debut.
Many thanks to @anna-newkey and @steevc for pointing me in this direction.
(if you don't like the music, it's all their fault)
Glad to take the blame!! 😄
Nice work, Mr. O! 😍
Me too!
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I guessed that's a true classic. Paul and Art gave it new life and you have kept it going. Love your version.
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You've got some magic with that guitar, it's a spellbinding sound.
Thanks.
I actually recorded it twice to give it sort of an echo effect.
Can't plug in where I am, so no pedals.
We call this 'The Flintstones Method'..
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Hello there @steve-o2023
Welcome to Hive and Hive Open Mic community.
What a beautiful rendition of Scarborough Fair 👏
Top-notch!
Thank you for your beautiful entry! You did awesomely, I even listened to your video twice :D
Then I thank you twice. Lol..
Recording it has inspired me to go back and listen to some if the songs my parents used to play over and over.
Bread, The Carpenters, etc..
Thanks again..
Lovely recording, Steve!
Thanks Danielle.
Very much appreciated..
I'd forgotten about this song that was influenced by it:
Never heard this one before...
Fairly heavy influence I'd say..
Like I could be influenced by two bottles of Jack Daniels.. lol
I've listened to their album plenty of times, but that one stood out having just heard your version.
Fantastic recording Steve, but you are lacking in fairy lights....
Wonderful rendition of a classic folk tune. Your fingerstyle playing is beautiful, hauntingly melodic chiming notes some of which almost make me visualize the ringing of church bells in the theatre of my mind.
I remember watching a documentary about folk music which I believe was a 4-part BBC production where the musician Bert Jansch talks about showing "Scarborough Fair" to Paul Simon sometime in the 1960s . Paul went on to record it a made a lot of money from it, this song which he more or less stole from Bert Jansch. I guess you can't really steal a song that's as old as the hills and back in the day quite a lot of musicians "borrowed" heavily from old Bert. I guess it kind of works both ways tho as Bert is probably most famous for his cover of "Angie" which is a Davy Graham song.
Anyways, welcome to Hive open mic, you bring a very strong first entry, I look forward to seeing what else you bring to the table in the coming weeks.
Thanks for that.
I'm hoping to record a fair few more, but likely from different locations around Europe and Asia as I will be setting off soon on a lengthy solo motorcycle tour.
I do have a fondness for folk tunes, having been introduced to the genre by Seth Lakeman some years back, and that had me scouring YouTube for others..
That's a point..
Maybe I could look out for local folk stuff in the countries I ride through.
I'm glad you enjoyed my rendition, and I'll try to make the next one worth a listen..
Thanks again.
Enjoy your travels , will you be documenting your journeys in the Pinmapple community? Im looking forward to seeing what songs you find on the road, that is a really exciting journey you have ahead of you.
Have you heard this album by Andy Irvine and Paul Brady? Some wonderful tunes for the road here.
Still fairly new to Hive, and don't belong to too many groups..
If not already signed up to Pineapple, then I'll make a point of doing so.
Hope to set off around the end of the month.
Thanks for the link.
About to do some dull stuff, so I'll connect and leave it playing..
I just looked up Bert Jansch as the name sounded German to me.. and so it is, his family originates from my hometown Hamburg! How cool!
I shall check his music out.. 👍
Yeah, I think checking out Bert's work will inspire you as it did so many others. He was born up here in Glasgow and is thought of as a pioneer of fingerstyle guitar, one of the first "Davy Graham" disciples. As a young man Davy appeared in a BBC documentary which I believe was about the rise of the popularity of guitar playing in Britain. It aired in 1959 and I guess blew people's mind much the same as Elvis did the first time people saw him perform. Before this clip aired its unlikely many people new what fingerstyle guitar was and all of a sudden here is this young guy in a leather jacket playing something magical in what looks like an old tenement slum in Glasgow.
Checking out the albums Davy Graham and Shirley Colins put out should help you find some brilliant new songs to cover , same goes for Bert Jansch's band Pentangle, happy song hunting :).
Id recommend taking a shot at "Blackwaterside" ,I think that would really suit your vocal style.
Donal Clancy has a wonderful cover of this one.I have a feeling both versions are using open tunings most likely in the key of G or D.
Wow, thank you for those pointers!
That's really wonderful stuff! 😍😍
I well check them out for sure.
Have a lovely day, hope it's as sunny up your way as it is here today... for a change.. 😁