EVA CASSIDY :  WHAT'S NEW?

guitar
Updated August 15, 2008
Image of a radioTENTATIVE RADIO INTERVIEWS, ETC.: I will be out of town for a while, so I will be unable to update further details -- sorry. Here are the things I have been told about:


Image of a CDSOUND CLIPS FOR THE NEW ALBUM: The web site for Blix Street Records now has sound clips for all the tracks on the SOMEWHERE album here. FYI, Amazon has the album listed but does not yet offer samples.


United States Flag"WADE IN THE WATER" TO BE FEATURED ON "AMERICAN ROUTES": The popular public radio program "American Routes" will feature Eva's recording of "Wade in the Water" in connection with a feature story about New Orleans and the challenge of rebuilding its cultural life. This program is broadcast on many stations nationwide, and their web site is www.americanroutes.org. The New Orleans program will be aired the weekend of August 22-24, 2008.


Question MarkBLOG REVIEW: I'm not sure how much focus I want to give to blog reviews. In rare cases they have become the equal in importance to print media, but most of the time they're pretty meaningless. While we're waiting, though, I thought the fans would appreciate another preview of SOMEWHERE. Scott of the Yahoo Group found a review of the new album on a site called Muruch. It's very professionally written and has some nice descriptions.


United States FlagPLACES TO WATCH, PLACES TO LISTEN: Now that preview copies of the SOMEWHERE album have been sent to potential reviewers and promoters, we can start watching for mentions in the media. In the Washington DC area, Richard Harrington will be writing about the album, possibly for the Washington Post(?), albeit this would be freelance since he recently retired from the paper. Mary Johnson, arts writer for the Baltimore Sun, and Michael Buckley, arts writer for the Annapolis Capital are expected to write about the album, as will Teri Winslow from the Bowie Blade and the Maryland Gazette. I hope Mary Cliff will play some excerpts on her "Traditions" radio program on WAMU. Miyuki Williams of WPFW may be previewing the album for her "Sunday Kind of Love" radio show, and David Furst with WAMU's "Metro Connection" will be interviewing Eva's parents for broadcast in late August. Elsewhere, watch for a review from Mark Bialczak of the Syracause Post-Standard.


IRISH WINDOW DISPLAY: From Gerard in Ireland, a snapshot of a window display including SOMEWHERE, in the lower right corner. He writes, "This was the Celtic Note music store in Nassau Street -the street where foreign tourist's buses stop outside Trinity College to allow the tourists to go shopping or see the Book of Kells in Trinity."

Snapshot of window display


Album cover for the new album SOMEWHEREThe web site "All About Jazz" has a good information write-up about the forthcoming SOMEWHERE album here. As I read it I thought it sounded a lot like a press release, and it turns out, that's exactly what it is. Check it out.


Album cover for the new album SOMEWHERENew SOMEWHERE page: More complete information about the forthcoming album SOMEWHERE is now found here. You can see a preview of the other images in the album booklet, including some of Eva's drawings. This page is a work-in-progress and I added some updates today.


COMMENT FROM THE WEBMASTER: As I watch the 2008 Olympic Games on television I find myself thinking about the Eva Cassidy fans all over the world. People from so many countries write in the Guestbook. Recently I was thrilled to see the first (probably) posting from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Other countries recently heard from include Germany, Norway, Belgium, India, Ireland, Italy, England, and France -- and that's just the most recent page! Not long ago I heard from Dave Marash, formerly of ABC "Nightline," who told me he'll be teaching journalism in China this fall, "and introducing people to Eva, for sure!" I think we all agree that Eva's music makes the world a better place.


United States flagFIRST US AIRPLAY FOR NEW ALBUM: From Elana: 'Bob McWilliams, host of "Trail Mix" on Sunday afternoons in Kansas, played "Early One Morning" yesterday and gave a big plug for the CD. You know Kim [Morrow] and that was one of her targeted radio hosts. She had no idea he would play it immediately and say it would be released Aug. 26. Now she is going to double-back and ask him to play at least one song per week until the release and trust he will pick other songs from the CD to feature. This was on Kansas Public Radio which has various stations throughout Kansas and is also heard in other bordering states.' I think that Eva's most devoted fans are going to be a big part of the PR process for this new album!


UK flag"FIELDS OF GOLD" WARS AT THE BBC: Agent Steve in York is back on the job -- I have always been able to count on him for interesting tidbits. 'About 3 or 4 months back, Bob Harris's usual producer was retiring or something like that, so they were doing a bit of a retrospective. Bob played Eva's FOG, and afterwards mentioned that he reckoned Pauly Walters and "Sir Tel" had "stolen" FOG from his show. All a little bizarre." I have to laugh -- those wacky announcers at the BBC are still squabbling over who discovered Eva? I researched this issue exhaustively a few years ago and reported the results on my "Fields of Gold" article. It wasn't either of those two, either! I also found that yet another BBC announcer played Eva's 'Wade in the Water' prior to the first broadcast of "Fields of Gold." Anyone know who it was? You'll find the answer on the Q & A Page.

Steve sent me a sound clip of Bob Harris' commentary, which I have transcribed: "It still sounds beautiful, doesn't it? It's Keith Grimes on guitar, by the way, I don't think I've ever credited him on the radio before, but he does add so much atmosphere, doesn't he, to Eva Cassidy's 'Fields of Gold' from her SONGBIRD album. We WERE the first to play that, I know that Wogan claimed it, but we were actually the first, not that it really matters that much. Paul Walters, who produced Wogan at the time, the late Paul Walters, listened to this programme regularly, he was a big fan of the Saturday night show, and he used to take across into Wogan things that he heard on our programme that he liked and thought would be suitable, so having played -- I think it was on Wogan's show two or three days later. And it still sounds beautiful, I've not played that for a long time, it's lovely to hear it again. 'Fields of Gold.' Eva Cassidy."


UK flagEVA MENTION IN UK'S DAILY EXPRESS:From Agent Steve in York: "It must be silly season again in Fleet Street, with Heath Ledger's death prompting an article in the Daily Express which includes Eva." Helen Dowd's article in the Express says: 'Looking at the life of Eva Cassidy, the blues singer who died of cancer aged 33 in 1996, her relative obscurity until 2000 is almost as heart-breaking as some of her melancholy songs. Her cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow was unearthed by Radio 2 and played by Terry Wogan and just a year later her gentle acoustic album Songbird sold six million copies in the UK. It also went to No10 in the charts in Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland. Her producer Chris Biondo’s words on her posthumous success could be applied to so many of those who died in obscurity: “She understood that being popular and famous was not all it’s cracked up to be,” he said. “That wasn’t what drove her to make music. There are singers who are successful now, popular now, who won’t be remembered like Eva. They don’t have the emotional impact.”' Did anyone else but me notice that the Biondo quote came from this web site? Without attribution, may I add? (Oh, and who's Heath Ledger?) (Added July 26, 2008)


BBC LogoFIRST AIRPLAY FOR NEW ALBUM: Sir Terry Wogan played "Red, Red Rose" on his radio program today. He is reported to have said: "Now this is an entirely new Eva Cassidy song.... A wonderful version of a beautiful song. That’s Eva Cassidy, that’s from a new CD called Somewhere. Ten years after the release of Songbird, the legend continues, a collection of 12 previously unreleased songs. Isn’t that wonderful, that’s really nice. We’ll have to be playing more from that, and don’t think we won’t." Oh, BBC Radio Two, I love you!


Album cover for the new album SOMEWHERE + Bumper Sticker that says, Another Eva Cassidy Fan = Heart image:
Eva's sister Margret asked me to announce that the EVACASSIDY.COM website is accepting advance orders of the new album SOMEWHERE. As an added bonus, they'll include a free bumper sticker with every order.


URGENT REMINDER: It's summertime in the northern hemisphere, "and the livin' is easy. Fish are jumpin' and the cotton's high," and so is the danger of melanoma. Today an article mentioning Eva was published in "Counterpunch" entitled "Baseball Caps and Sunscreen." You can feel free to ignore the politics, but the author gives us some excellent reminders that generic sunscreen and a baseball cap are NOT enough to protect us from the sun. Linda S. found another recent article about melanoma from the Washington Post entitled "Melanoma Rates Increase Among Younger Women." Please be prudent on these sunny days.


Album cover for the new album SOMEWHERENEW EVA CASSIDY ALBUM COMING AUGUST 26th: Blix Street Records announces the international release of SOMEWHERE, an album of twelve new songs from the Eva Cassidy "archives." Check back here soon for further details, but here's some preliminary information:


R I Double A LogoSONGBIRD WENT PLATINUM IN THE UNITED STATES: The album SONGBIRD achieved the million-album U.S. sales figure in December 2006, but I just heard about it tonight. This is exciting news if you believe, as I do, that Eva's music makes the world a better place. (Added July 5, 2008)


U S FlagINTRODUCTION TO EVA CASSIDY, FOR DAVID ARCHULETA FANS -- or is it an intro to David Archuleta for Eva fans? Thanks to Scott of the Yahoo Group for this discovery. The webmaster's write-up is excellent and the comments are fun to read. Reminder to all: Eva's name is pronounced EVE-ah, rhyming with Diva.


Bass clef imageNEW EVA SONGBOOK FROM FABER MUSIC: Lisa, a guitarist eager to perform all of Eva's arrangements with guitar accompaniment, recently contacted Faber Music to ask about future songbook releases. She received a prompt and polite reply that the company does plan an additional Eva Cassidy songbook, though no date had yet been set.


Heart imageTHE HEART OF THIS WEB SITE continues to be the Guestbook. Could anyone read it without feeling touched? What a blessing that every day new people find meaning and beauty in Eva's music.


MAYBE THERE WILL BE SOME EXCITING NEWS very soon, but in the meantime, I happened across a very sweet review of the AMERICAN TUNE album that I don't recall seeing before, from the Entertainment Weekly web site. Kristina Feliciano writes, "With a honeyed voice and not a drop of guile, Cassidy crafted singular interpretations of even wearily familiar songs. We may have lost this unapologetically uncommercial artist to cancer in 1996 (she was only 33), but her gifts carry on in posthumously released CDs like the winning American Tune. Cassidy's Raitt on time in bluesy bauble ''Drowning in the Sea of Love.'' She simmers in a sultry rendition of ''God Bless the Child.'' And her soulful ''True Colors'' beckons brightly despite its shopworn sentiments. Maybe that's why we love her."


United States flagDREAM MENTOR: "American Idol" finalist David Archuleta was asked, "If you could have any mentor, who would it be?" The seventeen-year-old singer replied, "I'd really like Eva Cassidy. {She's] someone I could really be educated by, 'cause she really understands music... What a perfect person to meet, if I could, but she's not here anymore." You have good taste, David -- her name is pronounced EEE-va, though. UPDATE: Larry King asked, "Who would you most like to duet with?" David Archuleta replied, "I'd go with Eva Cassidy." FURTHER UPDATE: Archuleta confused the ladies on "The View" by naming Eva as his own "American Idol." Apparently they hadn't ever heard of her and thought he was talking about DAVID Cassidy!?!?! In case you were wondering, he's no relation. (Updated June 27, 2008)


THE PUBLIC MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT EVA BUT the singers and critics do, not to mention the contestants in the singing competitions that are currently so popular around the world. Hardly a day goes by without some brief mention of Eva Cassidy in Google News. Here's a sampling of recent items:



Wine glass imageLISTEN TO EVA WITH MERLOT: Researchers recently released the results of a study analyzing the effect of music on the enjoyment of wine. According to the wine website "The Decanter," "The study, carried out by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh for Chilean wine company Montes, suggests that choosing the right background soundtrack could be crucial to getting the most out of specific styles of wine.... The research is based on the theory of cognitive priming, which holds that certain styles of music stimulate, or prime, certain parts of the brain. When wine is tasted, these areas are already active and have a corresponding effect on our perceptions of taste." What's the connection with Eva Cassidy? Apparently the Heriot-Watt researchers recommend accompanying Merlot wine with the following songs: "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding, Easy by Lionel Ritchie, Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy, and Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez."


Radio imageEVA ON PRIME TIME RADIO: Eric in Silver Spring has long been discouraged that the radio stations in Eva's hometown area, Washington DC, so seldom play her music. Recently he was pleased to report, 'The “new” classic rock station, 94.7, played her music during the prime time morning drive! And the dj, Weasel from the old WHFS, made a comment like: “I wonder if Eva Cassidy would’ve been like Norah Jones. Eva Cassidy was similar to Norah…but it just didn’t happen for Eva. We won’t know what Eva would have been like.”' (Added May 27, 2008)


GUESTBOOK CHANGE (SLIGHT): The most recent 30 messages are now shown in the Guestbook, instead of only 20. You can use the links at the bottom to read additional messages, and don't forget about the Guestbook Archive!


Poster EVA CASSIDY MUSICAL STILL TOURING: Now in its fourth season, the musical "Over the Rainbow: Songs in the Life of Eva Cassidy" currently stars singer and actress Faye Tozer, formerly of the pop group Steps.


US flagAMERICAN IDOL JUDGE FINALLY SAYS EVA'S NAME: "I like the kind of Eva Cassidy-type arrangement," said Simon Cowell, referring to a performance of "Yesterday" by Syesha Mercado (March 2008). Previously on the blockbuster TV talent show, 17-year-old David Archuleta had performed "Imagine" in an arrangement which critic Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times wrote was "basically copped" from Eva's recording. She also added, "Few people remember her now -- except singers, who treasure the subtlety of her arrangements and her pristine voice." (February 28, 2008). I myself did not agree that Archuleta made major use of Eva's arrangement, certainly not in the same way Tamyra Gray did years ago, but the controversy has probably caused a number of American Idol fans to seek out Eva's music.


BILLY RAY CYRUS AND EVA: Billy Ray Cyrus, famed for his hit "Achy Breaky Heart" and as the father of Miley "Hannah Montana" Cyrus, includes Eva's arrangement of "Over the Rainbow" on his new album, HOME AT LAST. Here are a couple of quotes from Cyrus, which have been reprinted several places so I am not certain of the original sources: "This was one of the first songs the folks at Disney strongly suggested I record," Cyrus said. "The producer of 'Hannah Montana,' Michael Poryes, heard me mulling it over and asked if I'd ever heard Eva Cassidy sing it. He burned me a copy, and I fell in love with her right there. I was intrigued by her story -- a woman who stood staunchly behind the integrity of her craft to the very end. My version is a tribute to a great singer who left this world too soon." Also, I just recorded "Over the Rainbow," and my inspiration was Eva Cassidy's version. She was a tremendous artist, maybe one of the greatest, only she wasn't discovered hugely until after she passed away. I'm a big fan of her version, so I recorded it for a new album that comes out in September on Walt Disney Records.


US flagPOSSIBLE EVA MOVIE: The trade magazine Variety reports that AIR Productions is working on a biographical film about Eva. 'AIR's Amy Redford, Irwin Shapiro and Rick Singer will produce. "We see this film as an uplifting story of indomitable human spirit and an insightful look into the life and personality of an amazing talent," said Redford, who just produced and directed "The Guitar."' Eva's family is supporting this project. As far as I know, there is no screenplay as of yet, due in part to the writers' strike. If this movie is made (and statistically, fewer than one film in twenty that is "in development" is actually filmed and released), I hope it will be wonderful and truthful and inspiring, and that only Eva's own voice is used. (Added December 19, 2007)


Amazon LogoAMAZON ASSOCIATES UPDATE: This website is pleased to participate in the "Amazon Associates" program as a fundraiser for cancer research. The year-to-date totals are shown in the "navigation box" on this page. Since the fundraiser began, we raised approximately $11,000 from Amazon.com, $350 from Amazon.ca, and £3,000 from Amazon.co.uk. This money has been sent directly to the melanoma research fund at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. When you're doing your on-line shopping, if you want to order ANYTHING from Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom) or Amazon.com (United States), and Amazon.ca (Canada), come to this website first and follow the link to Amazon from here!  It doesn't cost you any more money, and a percentage of your total order amount is automatically donated to this charity. These little bits of money mount up, and it's such an easy way to support a worthy cause with a special connection to Eva Cassidy. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your participation!


DUET POSSIBLE: One of Eva's friends in the local music scene was Mary Ann Redmond. I know for a fact that Eva admired Mary Ann wholeheartedly, because I once asked Eva who was the best, "absolutely don't-miss-this-one," local performer. She demurred, saying there were so many who were really wonderful, but said that if she had to pick only one, it would be Mary Ann Redmond. It turns out Mary Ann felt somewhat the same way about Eva Cassidy! The two women performed together at Fleetwood's in Alexandria in 1995. Mary Ann has added to her web site a video clip of a duet between herself and Eva from that performance. They are singing Eric Clapton's song "Tears in Heaven." The music is heavenly, but what I find most touching are the two singers' expressions of mutual admiration at the beginning of the clip. You'll want to listen more than once. (Note: For information about another "duet" with Mary Ann Redmond, visit the Questions and Answers Page.)


WEBMASTER'S EDITORIAL: May I please say a few words about copyright? This is not the place for an in-depth discussion of the nuances of copyright regulation. That information is available elsewhere, and I particularly urge you to peruse the copyright pointers on YouTube. I nevertheless feel the need to remind people that Eva's recordings are copyrighted; that the songs she performed are copyrighted to the authors; that her arrangements of public domain songs are copyrighted; that videos of Eva are copyrighted; that photos of Eva are copyrighted. While we're at it, please remember that the articles and images on this web site are copyrighted also. Either I personally wrote them or I obtained specific permission to reproduce them on the site.

Sorry to be such a meanie, but please stop suggesting that I use this website to promote illegal uploadings.


U S100% OFF TOPIC: I am currently engaged in a project to set the Bill of Rights to music, so that American citizens can easily memorize this important text. If this interests you at all (fellow members of the ACLU, perhaps), feel free to check out the songs on this page.


Peace

PRAY FOR PEACE


"Imagine all the people living life in peace."

Peace in many languages:
Hawaiian: "maluhia" (from Jan)
Danish: "fred" (from Henrik)
Finnish: "rauhaa teille" (from Annuka)
Spanish: "paz" (from Margot) or "felizidad" (from Kimberly)
Latin: "pax" (also from Kimberly)
Irish: "siochain" (from Yvonne and Gerard)
French: "paix" (from MP and Yvonne)
Croatian: "mir" (from Sasa)
Dutch: "vrede" (from Margot)
Swedish: "fred" (Katarina says "the same word as in Danish, but we pronounce it differently")
Catalan: "pau" (from Olaf>
Tlingit: "li-k'ei"(from Laurie)
Japanese: "heiwa" (from Fumio)
Tagalog: "kapayapaan" (from Lenette)
Portuguese: "paz"
Italian: "pace"
Hebrew: "shalom"
Arabic: "salaam" (from Todd)
German: "Frieden" (from John)
Hindi: "shanti" (from Debbie)
Welsh: "hedd" (from Paul)
Polish: "pokoj" (from Magda)
Urdu: "amun" (from Asad)
Swahili: "amani"
Esperanto: "paco"
Yiddish: "scholim" (from Don)
Indonesian: "damai" (from Marlene)
Mandarin: "ping-ahn"
Cantonese: "tai-ping" (from Cathy)
Russian: "mir" (from Joop)
Cree: "payutukayimowin" (from Don)
Hungarian: "beke"
Nepali: "shanti" (from Bernie)
Czech: "mír" (from Kamila)
Tongan: "nonga" (from Jan)
Korean: "pyong-hwa" (from Tim)
Somali: "nabad" (from Don)
Maltese: "paci"
Old English: "freod"
Cornish: "kres"
Breton: "pok"
Manx: "paag"
Occitan: "la patz"
Basque: "bake"
Cheyenne: "nanomonestoste"
Alabama: "oolakano"
Hausa: "salama"
Frisian: "frede"
Dari: "sulh" (from Kent)
Bengali: "sh 'anti"
Belarussian: "pakoj"
Hiligaynon: "paghidait"
Azerbijani: "sulh" (note: the 'u' should have an umlaut over it)
Welsh (more words): "Heddwch" and "Tangnefedd"(from Paul) Georgian: "mshvidoba" (from Don and Basiki)
Estonian: "rahu"
Latvian: "miera"
Aukan: "fii"
Cebuano: "kahusayan"
Chamorro: "minaguen"
An'dorian: "bip"
Kampangan = "kapayapan"
Kiribatese = "te katoang"
Wolof = "jamm"
Bangla = "shAnti"
Hatian Creole = "lape"
Xhosa = "uxolo"
Undu = "aman"
Malagasy = "fiadanana"
Nauruan = "iow"
Turkman = "parahatchylyk"
Northern Sotho = "kagiso"
Potawatomi = "e'tokmite'k"
Persian = "solh"
Filipino = "kapayapaan" (from Erwin)
Romanian = "pace" (from Walter)
Greek = "irini" (from Peter)
Portuguese = "Amor" (from Santa Rita)
Greenlandic = "Eqqissineq" (from Allen)
Lithuanian = "Taika" (from Ramunas)
Armenian = "Hashtootune" or "Khaghaghootune"( from Serjik)
Mandarin = "he2 ping2" (2 means second tone) (from Jonathan)
Thai = "santi" (from Pornchada)
Algonquian = "Aquene" (from Katherine)
Papiamentu = "Pas" (from Terri)
Slovenian = "Mir" (from Monika)
Norwegian = "Fred" (from Hartmut)
Turkish = "Barýþ" (from Hasan)
Kiribati = "Raoi" (from Don)
Nauruan = "iow" (from Don)
Samoan = "filemu" (from Mary)
Niederdeutch = frod (from Don)
Uighur = tiniglikh (from Don)
Maliseet & Passamaquoddy = sankewitahasuwakon (from Don)
Friulian or Frulan pas (from Don)
Sudovian = sampaka (from Don)
Africkaans = vrede (from Don)
Guarani = py'a guapy (from Don)
Ilongo = paghidait (from Don)
Kashmiri = aram (from Don)
Maori ( NZ ) = "Rangimarie" (from Stephanie)
Slovak – „mier“ (from Brano)
Turkish = Barýþ (from Hasan)
Ukrainian = spoìkiy (from Daria
Visayan (a local dialect spoken in southern Philippines) - Kalinaw (from Ian)
Pray for Peace in Tagalog = Manalaning para sa Kapayapaan (from Ian)
Pray for Peace in visayan - Ampo Alang sa Kalinaw (from Ian)


Thanks to everybody who is helping with this list! I'd like to see that beautiful word in other languages too -- you can e-mail me if you have any more to offer. (Yes, I could look them up, but it's more fun this way.) Be sure to put the word "Eva" on the subject line of the e-mail.