Joan Armatrading- Willow REACTION AND REVIEW

[@davidchaplain6748]

Oh, yes please. Anytime, anywhere. Joan is amazing.

[@sean---the-other-one]

One of her most beautiful songs

[@davidallen3490]

Joan is amazing. Thanks for getting back to her. She has so so many great songs.

[@Brian.Thomas1]

Great review! I read that Joan actually wrote this song in Florida. She was in Palm Beach, in her hotel room and there was a storm outside. There was a willow tree outside and it inspired her to write this song.

[@sheldonhowells3083]

It's great to see Joan Armatrading back on the channel, Justin! She's such a good songwriter! I think you would also love the title track, "Show Some Emotion".

[@frugalseverin2282]

I love her music, she has a great vocal range and is a mean guitarist. I recommend 'The Weakness in Me'.

[@keithjones7390]

This lovely song from one of Joan's best albums, Show Some Emotion. Many really strong songs including Mama Mercy, Opportunity and the wonderful title track. Always plenty of interesting tunes from Joan.

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Hi Justin. Dave from Beyond The Sea. One of my favourite Joan songs. I like your soft rain comparison. I have always taken this to be about loyal friendship. When i saw her live a few years ago at London's Royal Albert Hall, this was the song the crowd were calling for, and she sang it as an encore (with plenty of us singing along). Wonderful, underrated singer, musician and songwriter.

[@wallbangerreactions]

I've seen her twice in concert and this song has a special place in her concerts because the crowd sings along. My appreciation of the track has changed because of the live experience. BTW, I love your "motherly" interpretation. I never heard it that way before, but I suspect you've hit on the meaning.

[@volkerthienenkamp9720]

Simply wonderful. Next stop „The Weakness in me“?

[@thomassharmer7127]

She has such beautiful vocal control and emotional expressiveness. "Dancing with subtlety": perfect description.

[@jtenaz]

I recommend the song, Eating The Bear, with Andy Partridge (XTC), at the guitar.

[@saturninebear]

This was a delight. Not listened to this one for many years. If you do another JA track, I hope it's "The Shouting Stage" (my favourite).

[@shawnngatai4745]

Thanks jp😊

[@UniversalCat]

Lovely tune. 🎶😌

[@minkhollow]

This was one of Mom's favorites.

[@mcolford]

Beautiful choice. Joan has so many great songs. If you want to see something special, check out the KZbin video for Joan's song Stronger Love (Live) featuring Elton John. It's really lovely, and a unique pairing.

[@maraboo72]

I love this song. How not? And for me the live performances top the studio version because of a more intense atmosphere.

[@yw1971]

Used to be the main song on every Friday evening back then.

[@stevemarchant3670]

a long time since i've listened to this gorgeous song. What I noticed were the spaces in the arrangement - something acceptable 50 years ago (yikes! did I just write 50 years ago?) but listeners in this era don't have the patience in general - everything is faster - see the same thing in films too. The song probably goes on a minute too long even for that era

[@benoitdesmarais2948]

Classic album, not a clunker on it. In the 80's, she recorded a couple of songs with Joe Jackson on the piano (Talking To The Wall, sorta latin jazz feel à la Night & Day, and Love By You, piano/voice, one of her best songs), and there's also The Shouting Stage, with Mark Knopfler on guitar. She never got really big, but she always had the best musicians playing with her. There's good stuff on all her 20th century albums, but the last 20 years saw a dip in production values and lyrics writing unfortunately. That is still 15 good to great albums to draw from, from blues to rock to folk to synth-pop to almost-punk and reggae, she did it all!

[@stevemarchant3670]

JP - if you see this would it be trouble you to get back to some 10cc? Their music was idiosyncratic even back in the seventies but characterised by exceptional songwriting and 4 vocalists at different times and sometimes in the same song. A good start would be The Wall Street Shuffle - the lyrics being clever and topical then and now or 'Silly Love' to hear a quintessential pop band rock out a little

[@kschulwitz]

I think she's speaking from the POV of being the lover on the side. Not the best or first, but happy to be there as a second option. A shelter in a storm (through difficult times) and not casting a shadow when things are sunny (good times). A willow not quite being a shade tree...I'll be here for you whenever and why ever you need. Yet will not intrude on your relationship or your life until called to do so. Does this come from a place of confidence or desperation? Maybe just pragmatism of acceptance of the situation. I also think this song is speaking to a female lover, not that it really matters. The live version from Royal Albert Hall is so much better!

[@mattperegrine873]

It's been a great reaction morning JP with this, NicknLex with The Smiths and A&A with Roxy music. Today is gonna be a good day!

[@samuelmregister]

Glyn Johns production

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

Battered my cynicism to a pulp.