Jill Johnson singing "Boulder to Birmingham" for Polar Music Prize Laureate Emmylou Harris

Jill Johnson performing Emmylou Harris's song "Boulder to Birmingham" at the Polar Music Prize banquet 9 June 2015 at Grand Hôtel in Stockholm.
Connect with the Polar Music Prize:
Website: www.polarmusic...
Facebook: / polarmusicprize
Instagram: / polarmusicprize
Twitter: / polarmusicprize
Subscribe now to the Polar Music Prize on KZbin: / polarmusicprizeofficial
#PolarMusicPrize #EmmylouHarris #JillJohnson

[@rabbi120348]

I don't think anyone can really sing this song but Emmylou, but she came pretty darn close. Especially she's singing not in her mother tongue.

[@dougnewsam6905]

Lovely performance..... to be singing this in the presence of Emmylou, takes some doing .... and she did it beautifully. I wondered while I was watching Emmylou's face, what were her thoughts about listening to someone else sing such a poignant piece of her music.

[@lockwpa]

ELH is one of t he hidden American Treasures. She has touched the hearts of so many, and her legacy will be discovered over time by the new younger crowd. You're one of a kind, EmmyLou....I'll treasure the moments that I listened to your music forever - especially "Boulder to Birmingham." Everyone will cry over this song at some point in their life. I will always love you!

[@jamesdolan4042]

Yes, the wonderful Emmylou is not just anzAmerican but also a world Treasure, but she is not hidden.

[@TheMisfit291]

A song about losing the reason you breathe. The most devastating lyric ever written "The hardest part id knowing I'll survive." The only thing worse than my beloved Mary Jo dying is that I didn't.

[@melodiefrances3898]

You don't really know what those words mean until you live them. And then you do.

[@margaretross9150]

Who would have thought; a Swedish country singer. Such a beautiful song. I'm glad Gram had such a fine person as Emmylou Harris to care about him.

[@GOLVEL]

Also First Aid Kit are Swedish, I think...

[@kentbeery4697]

Standing in front of your Hero that just happens to be a Legend and playing one of her song's for her......Priceless

[@ngobenitlangelani2882]

The look on Emmylou Harris towards Jill is priceless, and she is still beautiful as always. ❤️

[@CastleMr40]

I interviewed Emmylou Harris in 1991, when I was working for a radio station in Norfolk, Va. She told me the same story about the origin of this song.

[@alastairclunie7232]

I lost my father in 2021 hours after he passed I could not get the line "the hardest part is knowing I will survive" Out my head thanks emmylou for your music ❤

[@ratter531]

Hello I lost my Dad in 1980 the sorrow never has left me,

[@TheChelden]

this girl is a real singer im in love Jill your smile

[@ngobenitlangelani2882]

It takes a real talent to cover a song in the presence of the owner, and Jill did it beautifully.

[@eckpolmick5080]

Jill's voice is much deeper than emmylous.

[@normancrew2739]

I think I read somewhere that Emmylou said shortly after Gram passed, when asked, what was she going to do now , and she said something like, ... I don't know, I thought I was going to be playing with Gram forever.

[@billcook7911]

Wonderful tribute to a great song and an incredible lady.

[@davidstuart401]

Emmylou sitting with Karl Gustav, King of Sweden, too!

[@solarpaneling]

Swedish with a trace of a country American accent. love

[@davidbergin6184]

Nicely done. Takes a certain amount of courage to cover an ELH song. She did it justice.

[@Ravenscaller]

Not just any ELH song but her signature song. Very well done. Check out the First Aid Kit song from the same show.

[@FlyingKeo045]

This is a very confident and bold rendition of Jill`s idol Emmylou` song while--- in the audience, is the great lady herself. Brilliant !!

[@eckpolmick5080]

This is good but not the best version. (Emmylou is sitting next to the king of Sweden, that old f....).

[@davidroga6508]

This version is absolutely phenomenal. A true tribute to Emmy. A brilliant song written by Emmy and brilliantly delivered. The emotion on Emmy’s face shows how good it is. Only Emmy sings it better. Jill comes very close to the original. This is classic.

[@JimmyJimmyRiddle]

the hollies

[@Scotsgrey13]

As someone has said, nice...but Emmylou made it a classic. I respect Ms. Johnson for doing this.

[@franhapner7942]

rRonnie he Franhapner o

[@TheRastler]

I suggest you have a listen to Jessie Buckley singing Boulder to Birmingham, this is good but Jessie is in a different class

[@usneod9329]

You're right she does a great rendition of one of my favorite Emmy Lou Harris songs .

[@SMART73ER]

I agree about Jessie - beautiful version

[@muttleydastardly3610]

I agree about Jessie Buckley, but Joan Baez is on the Platinum level if you want to grade classes.

[@randalldickson8841]

That might be one of the saddest songs ive ever heard. Very moving

[@celtglen]

Nice, but I feel this song needs to whispered not belted nor have a weird chord change in the middle. Sad.

[@ContrarianCorner]

Agree. The tone of the performance felt very inappropriate for the meaning of this song. On the other hand, I can imagine I'd be shaking in my cowboy boots if I had to perform such an iconic song in front of Emmylou herself.

[@FlyingKeo045]

Holly G---- Try turning down your volume and it becomes a brilliant rendition/cover and a great tribute to Emmylou and her song.

[@melodiefrances3898]

I think that if you sing this song, the song has to be more important than the singer. You should just be the vessel through which it moves.

[@lenaandersson9581]

Jill you sing this song so wounderful🎤🎸😢💖

[@theoriginalwaterbaby]

When singing a tribute song, please please please DON'T CHANGE THE WORDS!! Even little words... 😢

[@scottjohnson9642]

Its new years eve im in birmingham drunk since daylight and i dont have to be sober to cry when i hear this song

[@KR-kf7fy]

Jesus can help you man.

[@scottjohnson9642]

@@KR-kf7fy thanks but i aint lookin for roses or water im just tryin to see whats next much love to you

[@dreadnaught90]

I agree it' will always be Emmylou's song but...this is a fantastic version! Great band too.

[@Lisa0529]

What a beautiful rendition, by a beautiful woman, of a beautiful ode to Gram Parsons.

[@robertross3026]

My favourite ELH song sung beautifully.

[@diegoshepherd3464]

Amazing voice. You know that you are good when you can hit an Emmylou Harris song out of the park. Great job,

[@idasnow2081]

Beautiful Boulder to Birmingham. I don't want to hear a love song I got on this airplane just to fly And I know there's life below me But all that it can show me Is the prairie and the sky And I don't want to hear a sad story Full of heartbreak and desire The last time I felt like this I was in the wilderness and the canyon was on fire And I stood on the mountain In the night and I watched it burn I watched it burn, I watched it burn I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham I would hold my life in his saving grace I would walk all the way from boulder to Birmingham If i thought I could see, I could see your face Well you really got me this time And the hardest part is knowing I'll survive I have come to listen for the sound Of the trucks as they move down Out on ninety five And pretend…

[@robertthole695]

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@onlywatching6504]

The best sequence is from 2:51 The song transpose, and the steelguitar harmony is magic.

[@dianeboud6772]

That was so beautiful ❤

[@barbaracassello4818]

So beautiful!!!!

[@lindafish7672]

I think she probably loves hearing others do this song. It more than like means a lot to her that others feel and see the significance of the song.

[@michaelloof6693]

jill johnson probely only female singer can singer this cover best av all.his so close original..

[@jamesokeeffe3216]

Two much music the words are the most important:

[@melodiefrances3898]

Agreed. The song should be done as simply as possible with the singer taking almost a back seat.

[@joakimhagberg3252]

Du är så Bra Jill .

[@JohnSmith-td6dn]

This is nice but; it's just not Emmy Lou...

[@PixelatedSpirit]

It's not supposed to be. It's a song written by Emmy Lou and performed by Jill Johnson, making it a cover. No more, no less. :)

[@voderick]

stop use drugs jr....

[@melodiefrances3898]

I agree. This song is best done when it is allowed to just go through the singer.

[@whiskey6actual]

did not need the story at the beginning -- we all know it was about Gram

[@pamberinehondo9447]

firebase delta Perhaps it was for the room full of Swedish people who may not have heard the reference of the song to Gram !!

[@FlyingKeo045]

Not everybody new-I liked the explanation.

[@jamesdinkins9391]

thumbs way up!

[@deqaabdullahi407]

Fin rost

[@kerryg100]

She must be laughing inside every cover of this song I have ever heard nothing compares to the Original. ..even lucinda Williams could not get it...One of a kind maybe someday..

[@ESPirits87]

+kerry evans A perfomer like Emmylou, she don't really feel like laughing at people covering her songs, she feels 100% proud inside, i can tell you for sure, doesn't matter who covers the song, to hear someone sing something you have created is problaby one of the greatest things an artist can feel.

[@kerryg100]

+ESPirits87 if you say so Obviously you do not know what this song is about......Gram parsons. ......

[@rabbi120348]

+ESPirits87 Virtually everything ELH covers, she does better than the original. From "Makin' Believe" to "Casey's Last Ride," she's just the best.

[@cjcarp9438]

Well I know 100% what this song along with "Tulsa Queen "and almost every song on Her first 3 Albums ( Not counting " Gliding Bird " ) delt with and if they didn't they were songs She sang with Him or were Written by him. So Yes She owns this Song lots of people say " Red Dirt Girl " is Her Sig, Song I'd say this one is BUT everyone has experienced loss and I'm pretty confident everyone would walk from " Boulder to Birmingham" to see a Lost Loved One so anyone who performs this can put the Sadness the Original had NOW is it as Good ? Well if your a Huge L. Williams Fan you would probably say yes if not ?

[@cjcarp9438]

I kinda have to recant a bit of what I wrote I just heard the " Hollies " perform this and I'm still kinda shaking my head I just wanted it to Stop Stop Stop. ( Although that's a Great Song )

[@TerryTerryTerry]

Nice

[@robertdunham5677]

Bam

[@DaraM73]

Tragic

[@Amigo4621]

Whats the matter with the king? Seems, he don't like music. Terrable.

[@margaretross9150]

I see him being a gracious host to this wonderful event.

[@steveduncan9256]

Fuck 😱who is this?