Some songs just get ya. I rediscovered an old favorite last week—"Nadia," from the album the late Jeff Beck made with Imogen Heap, among others, back in 2000. I listened to that song a hundred times when I was dating my last girlfriend, and I was afraid I'd never enjoy it again for that reason, but happily that's not the case. I don't know if you'll like it, but decide for yourself. Gives me the chills every time I hear it.
It was written by the prolific and celebrated World Music composer Nitin Sawhney, who recently became a member of Pink Floyd to do some work for charity.
Mike
Original contents copyright 2024 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)
Featured Comments from:
No one could do what Jeff Beck did on guitar. Lovely song this Nadia.
I remember as a young guy slow dancing with my girlfriend to Cause We Ended As Lovers being spun on a Technics turntable, Sansui amp, and a pair of JBL L100s. I chose that song to let her know that I knew our relationship was disintegrating.
Posted by: Jeff1000 | Friday, 07 June 2024 at 04:28 PM
How did I not already know this piece of music? Jeff Beck makes that guitar sound like a sitar. Or maybe it is a sitar that he has tricked into sounding like his guitar? And I love Imogene Heap -- she has been on constant rotation in our house since my kids introduced her into the mix about ten years ago. I love her "found sounds" additions into her work. Reminds one that music can come from anywhere.
Posted by: Benjamin Marks | Saturday, 08 June 2024 at 09:11 AM
Nadia sounds like something you’d expect from DJ Shadow.
The first time I heard Imogen Heap was on a trip-hop track by Urban Species called Blanket.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X-RQLBputLw&pp=ygUVdXJiYW4gc3BlY2llcyBibGFua2V0
Her hauntingly mournful version of Thriller probably spawned a generation of sad girls singing sad covers of pop and rock songs.
Posted by: Sean | Saturday, 08 June 2024 at 11:04 AM
Isn’t it Nadeeya? That’s what it should be if the song is about a river. But what do I know.
Posted by: Farhiz | Sunday, 09 June 2024 at 11:32 AM
Thank you for sharing Jeff Beck's cover of Nadia. This song is all new for me. I'm hooked. It's intriguing to watch the zoomed in segments of Beck's manipulation of the whammy bar and strings.
Posted by: jp41 | Sunday, 09 June 2024 at 03:48 PM
Music is so very personal. Which makes not a lot of sense, given how we're practically clones at the DNA level.
Thanks for sharing that JB song. When I get to hell, they'll be playing country-rap fusion and that song. My own listen to it a thousand times song is Diamonds and Gold by the Kenny Wayne Shepherd band.
It'll probably have the same effect on you, as yours did on me... My ignorant ears just heard the techno beat and just couldn't get past it.
Posted by: Kye Wood | Sunday, 09 June 2024 at 10:46 PM
The "Amused to Death" album by Roger Waters is a Jeff Beck hidden gem. Beck's guitar work on that album is beyond amazing. It's beautiful and haunting.
Here's Waters talking about working with Beck.
https://youtu.be/OptmPfEUzaU?si=KtHztuKFwFfWFjYo
The first few minutes of this clip is "The Ballad of Bill Hubard". The guitar is the perfect accompaniment to the veteran's story.
https://youtu.be/9XW6TQD9BOo?si=FSInqNZSOx4IG9M2
Posted by: David Raboin | Tuesday, 11 June 2024 at 08:54 AM