His physical stillness lends enormous strength. Boe, the singer, is not the story, the song is. Boe seems to know this better than almost anybody of his caliber. For example, compare his "Bring Him Home" in which he barely moves to fine singer Colm Wilkinson who's all over the place. The emotional power of prayer is perfectly revealed in Boe's version, while Wilkinson's is a stage performance. Actors speak of being "in the moment." Very few singers are in the moment as Boe is.
I'm a great fan of Alfie Boe's, vocally, but I should prefer to see a bit more physicality. Here he looks as if he were standing at attention or facing a firing squad! Great on a CD; less so visually.
@sverigregrabb I'm also a great fan of Boe, but I like his stillness. To me it internalises his incredible technical skill, without making a spectacle of it, or making a spectacle of himself. Nothing gets in the way of the music and his wonderful sound.
@imratherpartialtotea Indeed that is another way to look at it, and I'm tempted to agree--about Boe's technical virtuosity, certainly. I also agree that far too many contemporary singers (and, regrettably, actors as well) make rather ridiculous spectacles of themselves, emoting all over the shop! Hope Boe's enormous talent will be suitably appreciated.
Mr. Boe has a very nice voice, but the power of this song is in it's stark confrontation of life's hardships: this sanitized version-- changing 'sinners' to people, removing the reference to the 'cow stall', leaving out the line 'Jesus was happy with poor simple things'-- rob it of most of it's dramtic power, leaving it merely a pretty tune.
Well, it's SORTA an Appalachian tune...read the Wikipedia article on it. Just fragments of the tune were collected by music "collector" John Jacob Niles. He composed the vast majority of it, and indeed is the credited composer and lyricist. While he was born in Kentucky, he studied music in France and Cincinnatti, and sang opera in Chicago.
@Oruboris Alfie sang the first and the third verses and sang both correctly. The word "sinner" does not appear in any of the verses. "Poor on'ry people is correct. "Cow stall" was not mentioned because that is in the second verse. As for "Jesus was happy with poor simple things" that linw does not appear in my copy of the song which is part of the John Jacob Niles songbook.
Thanks for posting this angelic song. Our church choir had a musical presentation and one of the male soloists wandered up and down our center aisle as he sang. First of all, it is very hard to sing accapella and second, it was hard to sing as he walked. The sounds that came from his heart were incredible...I had never heard this song and it was so very appropriate for our program called, "Christmas Treasures". Most of the songs made me want to cry while others lifted my spirits. Merry CHRISTmas
Boe does my favorite version of this beautiful song. Perfect!!
ruthbarefoot 3 months ago
There is no other words to say but this is amazing!!!
MoonlessdarkVI 5 months ago
His physical stillness lends enormous strength. Boe, the singer, is not the story, the song is. Boe seems to know this better than almost anybody of his caliber. For example, compare his "Bring Him Home" in which he barely moves to fine singer Colm Wilkinson who's all over the place. The emotional power of prayer is perfectly revealed in Boe's version, while Wilkinson's is a stage performance. Actors speak of being "in the moment." Very few singers are in the moment as Boe is.
comsources 6 months ago 4
what innocent eyes...
L1C1T1 1 year ago
I'm a great fan of Alfie Boe's, vocally, but I should prefer to see a bit more physicality. Here he looks as if he were standing at attention or facing a firing squad! Great on a CD; less so visually.
sverigregrabb 2 years ago
@sverigregrabb Maybe those Songs of Praises Directors were as mean as a firing squad hehe.
welshboi82 1 year ago
@sverigregrabb I'm also a great fan of Boe, but I like his stillness. To me it internalises his incredible technical skill, without making a spectacle of it, or making a spectacle of himself. Nothing gets in the way of the music and his wonderful sound.
imratherpartialtotea 1 year ago 7
@imratherpartialtotea Indeed that is another way to look at it, and I'm tempted to agree--about Boe's technical virtuosity, certainly. I also agree that far too many contemporary singers (and, regrettably, actors as well) make rather ridiculous spectacles of themselves, emoting all over the shop! Hope Boe's enormous talent will be suitably appreciated.
sverigregrabb 1 year ago 6
Mr. Boe has a very nice voice, but the power of this song is in it's stark confrontation of life's hardships: this sanitized version-- changing 'sinners' to people, removing the reference to the 'cow stall', leaving out the line 'Jesus was happy with poor simple things'-- rob it of most of it's dramtic power, leaving it merely a pretty tune.
Oruboris 3 years ago 3
@Oruboris I agree wholeheartedly. It is an Appalachian tune---leave the Appalachia in it!
sanjuancb 1 year ago 2
@sanjuancb
Well, it's SORTA an Appalachian tune...read the Wikipedia article on it. Just fragments of the tune were collected by music "collector" John Jacob Niles. He composed the vast majority of it, and indeed is the credited composer and lyricist. While he was born in Kentucky, he studied music in France and Cincinnatti, and sang opera in Chicago.
ZelphKinderhook 5 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Alfie Boe
@Oruboris Alfie sang the first and the third verses and sang both correctly. The word "sinner" does not appear in any of the verses. "Poor on'ry people is correct. "Cow stall" was not mentioned because that is in the second verse. As for "Jesus was happy with poor simple things" that linw does not appear in my copy of the song which is part of the John Jacob Niles songbook.
worldtraveler5 4 months ago
Thanks for posting this angelic song. Our church choir had a musical presentation and one of the male soloists wandered up and down our center aisle as he sang. First of all, it is very hard to sing accapella and second, it was hard to sing as he walked. The sounds that came from his heart were incredible...I had never heard this song and it was so very appropriate for our program called, "Christmas Treasures". Most of the songs made me want to cry while others lifted my spirits. Merry CHRISTmas
tchr6798 3 years ago
amazing version, but i also wished he had sung the 2nd verse....
bleudj 3 years ago
Wish he'd gotten in the second verse though
LadyVader33 3 years ago
For some reason, I prefer hearing a male voice for this song. Well-done!
LadyVader33 3 years ago
Thank you. My pastor used to sing this from the pulpit when I was growing up. It is a very beautiful song in its simplicity.
jon1444a 3 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this! It's my favorite Christmas song. Alfie sang it beautifully!
worldtraveler5 3 years ago