Essra Mohawk - "Change of Heart" (her Cyndi Lauper song)

[stay780]

I noticed the hiccup Essra did, so I am wondering if she wrote this with Cyndi in mind for her and that this was actually a demo for her to sing to?

[jezkn]

>...but the fantastic band that accompanied her (as at Trafalgar Square) with the amazing guitar licks of Rik Derringer and those two drummers.This in no way detracts from this brilliant (original) performance. (and great guitar work), which clearly influenced Cyndi's arrangement (and even her whooping!).

[jezkn]

Thanks for drawing my attention to this. Yes - Essra Mowhawk is one of those legendary names you've heard of but can't quite remember who they are. I'm not going to get into whose version is better - but she certainly deserves more credit for writing this fantastic song. However since it hasn't been said yet, it wasn't just Cyndi that made this song more widely known ...>

[Thej03p]

Wow, I knew the version of Cyndi and I loved it, now I listen to the original song, and I say IT HURST MY EARS..!!

[fecinny]

@Thej03p Sorry you feel that way but hopefully you can appreciate how little Cyndi strayed from the original which is very telling...

[MisterBlue24]

@fecinny Telling in what way??? It's not as if Cyndi recorded the song without her permission. You seem to be extremely pissy about the whole thing, and I don't understand why. When an artist covers a song, they tend to make lyrical changes to it so it flows better for them. Essra got a credit on Cyndi's album and shared in the royalties from the single. You're trying to make it sound like Cyndi intentionally and deliberately ripped her off and that isn't the case at all. Grow up a little.

[fecinny]

@MisterBlue24 We're all love the Cyndi version! My point is the single sounds so close to the demo so obviously team Epic didn't have to stray too far. You're assesment is not correct and as a former music publisher, it's not true that artists "tend to make lyrical changes."

If you care to hear a song that is quite different from the demo, listen to Essra's "Stronger Than The Wind" that both she and Tina Turner recorded.

[MisterBlue24]

@fecinny Ummm... yeah. Artists do make lyrical changes so they can be credited as co-writers of a song and garner more monies from the sale of a single/album for themselves, otherwise they wouldn't receive as much because it isn't their song to begin with. If you were really a former music publisher you would know this.

[triptoheaveandho]

@Thej03p t

hey are so similar though... just a difference in timbre of voice

cant imagine why you doint like this one... they sound vertually the same in arrangement

[triptoheaveandho]

@Thej03p t

hey are so similar though... just a difference in timbre of voice

cant imagine why you doint like this one... they sound virtually the same in arrangement

[GERRYv88]

@Thej03p No offense to essra, but your right cyndis version is way better. cyndi's vocals were made for this song.

[ginesik0]

people prefer cindy's version because they have never known any song from essra.

cindy is a great girl and an american icon, but essra is more fascinating and interesting, she's usually called "the secret diva". "Primordial lovers" is one of the greatest records that i've listened in my life!! Thanks, essra!!

[JoggynSmyler]

for some reason I'll never forget the day I heard THUNDER IN THE MORNING broadcast over WMMR back in the 70's..amazing...I just loved it and never forgot it.. Enjoy my PACK IT UP song..song about going home...everyone is determined to go home..so I also gave the song a determined sound...you'll see what I mean.. ENJOY!

[inousch]

Wonderful Frank, thank you, have a nice weekend! Ine*****

[nycboy31]

It sounds like something Pat Benatar, Laura Branigan, Heart or Vixen would have sung in the mid 80's but i feel like it needs a little more "drama" (background vocals, guitars, etc) I like it though. Thanks for sharing. :-)

[findeluz]

I prefer Cyndi's version. I love her voice, the vocal tics (or hiccups, rather) she adds to the song, and the percussion on it is amazing. This original version by Essra Mohawk sounds even more dated than Cyndi's version. Just because she wrote it doesn't make hers better. We need look no further than Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix for that lesson.

[DangerousBastard]

Nobody will every out do Essra. Cyndi Lauper is great and everything, and some will always prefer that version because they're used to it, but this is the real thing from the person who wrote it. This is the original.

[fecinny]

Thank you and I could not have said it any better!

[boyblue922]

Thanks for posting!

[JJRocker9]

Her voice isn't processed at all on this. Yes, the music is very "'80s," though. I'll give you that.

[MathewRusso]

Essra did the vocals for women's rights on schoolhouse rock, and now this same person wrote the lyrics for Cyndi Lauper, another woman of social change in today's unequal world... Music has a way of always finding itself full circle.

---Mathew.

[fecinny]

Right on Matt!

Essra's been a pathfinder for years and relishes in the power within... "If it's truth that you're looking to find, it is nowhere outside of your mind."

[BylliCrayone]

LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!

[fecinny]

NP, unlike you, I am open to all comments and will leave your's up. It's not a contest but merely a forum to celebrate great music. On a personal note, having worked with Cyndi Lauper at several NY Musica Awards shows, I can say that she couldn't have been any nicer!

Thank you for taking the time to listen to Essra Mohawk's song...

[julioyahooanswers]

amazing song

[fecinny]

Grazia!

[Lavxtee]

Astonishingly, Essra doesn't sound anything like this--this is processed beyond belief. And it's no way one of her better songs. Anyone who doesn't know about her should listen to her real true stuff-primordial lovers,stunning, beautiful, real music, not this phony sell out crap. this is not her as she is, in my opinion. it's pandering to idiots with no tatse.

[Lavxtee]

that's taste, sorry.

primordial lovers came out in about 1972 ish and it's one of the greatest records of that decade. essra mohawk is another album, also killer, a few years later.

[ANEWWORLD2012]

She was with Harry on WOODFEST ! AWESOME

[kleina24]

Great video and song Frank!!!

[DangerousBastard]

Essra is quite awesome man, this rocks. :-)

[fecinny]

I wouldn't lie to you...  Thanks!

[BienGrandote]

Hi fecciny, Essra have a beautifull voice and is a talented artist. I love Cyndi Lauper and this is a great song writed by Essra

[fecinny]

Some have called it the best song of the 80s. It's got everything a great pop should have - don't you agree?

[bookkeeper57]

Hi Frank: finally got around to hearing this! I like this cover better than Cyndi Lauper's cut of it. Unique voice: she sounds like a blend of Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper and Chrissie Hynde.

[Aerialgrrl]

I hadn't heard of this lady before and I thought I knew a lot about female songwriters.\! Thanks for this, very raw but shows up the song structure nicely.

[fecinny]

She's also known as "The Secret Diva" despite a resume that impresses beyond. Thanks for the comment.

[bsedits]

What a pleasure to hear that version !!! Thank you so much for posting this !

[fecinny]

You are welcome.

[filsdelalune]

She's good, but Cyndi rules!!! Thanks for posting it!

[cyndifan1]

I LOVE CYNDI!

[lauper4]

Cyndi the best!

[KaikeLauper]

Thanks! Is a great song!!!

[fecinny]

Much appreciated.

[AnnaKarina2]

AWESOME!!!

[fecinny]

Agreed. Thanks for stopping by.

[Prettyflowerchild]

this is excellent, meow

[fecinny]

Glad you like it.

[barbrbette63]

GREAT video,GREAT song !!! THANKS!!!!!

[fecinny]

I can only take credit for the vid...lol

It is the legendary singer - songwriter Essra Mohawk we can all thank for this nugget.

[baldyholly79]

I think its great mate, really, its testament to her great songwriting and feel for a song that this was a huge hit, virtually unchanged. Youve made a very good video, drawing attention to her talent.

[fecinny]

Well said!  Thnx.

[art4life4me]

This is an eye-opener. If she recorded this before Cyndi, she should get the credit for the arrangement and the vocal style as well as the song. Cyndi hardly changed a thing.

[fecinny]

I agree Essra's original already had everything in place to make the song so radio-ready. However, Cyndi delivered an absolute smash to the world and helped this gem see the light of day. Thank you Cyndi!

[GavintotheFuture]

Essra Mohawk rockz

[GavintotheFuture]

thanx

[Eclectic1970]

I forgot about this song, I thought Cyndi wrote it . You  learn something new everyday.

[essenciallove]

This song is really good. My favorite by Essra I think. Waiting for a change of heart from somebody...hope to get it! Thanks Frank! Love you.

[Finallybenunderstood]

highly underrated, this woman Ezra in my mind, anyways..'tis great, and I thankyou!!

[fecinny]

Yes, she's quite a talent. Thank you.

[VenusGrnys]

Thanks Frank!

;o)

[sekata426]

Great song, as always sings like she means it! fantastic.

[daytonscott]

Was this a demo or on an album?

Regardless, The Divine Miss Essra kicks ass! "Sufferin' 'Till Sufferage"... nothing more to say!

[youngstown1977]

great

[JP5466]

Catchy tune... good hook.

[Seric927]

She may have wrote the song, but I'd rather listen to Cyndi Lauper's version. Much better, in my opinion. Some singer/songwriters shoudl stick to writing. No wonder I have never heard this lady sing.

[52barney]

you haven't heard her because you're

just another mainstreamer

[YellowTexasRose90]

love the song , very deep.

[Izzielotzafunnies]

This is really good I love it..smiles

[perromanchado]

superb :-)

[Prettyflowerchild]

gives me chills, this is fantastic!!

Thanks, Frank <3<3<3<3<3

[fecinny]

PFC - I am glad you enjoyed it!

[fecinny]

"If it's truth that you're looking to find,

it is nowhere outside of your mind."