Jodi Heights – Blackbird (2024)
With a brief glance at her discography, and a bit of a listen, singer-songwriter Jodi Heights is no one-trick pony fusing several genres with an eclectic, experimental nature. Not only is she unique but she can draw you in with her powerful tunes wrapping you in kaleidoscopic waves of sound. Her original songs continue to astound one after the other… but what about her covers? Come with me as we delve into her take on the classic Beatles single ‘Blackbird’.
Following her well-received single ‘Full Moon Rise’, Heights turns to face one of the most iconic songs from the 20th century, ‘Blackbird’. Taken from The White Album, ‘Blackbird’ has a soft folk sound but, as with so many of Paul McCartney’s songs, there is a deeper meaning juxtaposing the light-hearted melody. He explains that “…I remembered this whole idea of ‘you were only waiting for this moment to arise’… the black people’s struggle in the southern states and I was using the symbolism of a blackbird…” (quote from udiscovermusic.com). Jodi Heights not only captures the essence of the track but brings new life to the melody.
Instead of adopting a folk tune, Heights inserts her signature blend of jazz and pop into ‘Blackbird’. Keeping the acoustic element, this cover opts for a piano-driven melody backed by bold drums instead of an acoustic guitar. Showcasing her classical training, Heights’ fingers glide across the piano with ease offering simplistic charm with a kaleidoscopic effect. Enhanced by her delicate vocals, she slowly winds her way into your heart filling it with warmth, but also a hint of vulnerability.
As with McCartney, Heights’ ‘Blackbird’ is soft and calm, but the profound theme is inextricably bound to its arrangement. She explains:
“There were two choices I made that felt important in my arrangement of the song. First, I selected a key that sits predominantly on the black notes of the piano symbolising the colour of the bird… Second, I changed the time signature… to help it feel out of balance or uncertain. The lyrics speak of flying with broken wings and teaching sunken eyes to see…. Success in the face of such difficulties takes enormous strength, and yet the original song is filled with such hope and beauty. I wanted to emphasise the tension between the two.”
Find out more about Jodi Heights on her official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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