Sarah McLachlan - River

[IIIERILEVIII]

junk

[TomtheDH]

I love both Joni and Sarah's versions. Sarah has more melancholy (that's part of Sarah's overall style). Joni's is great as the original we all loved; it's like the Beatles they will always be the original and the best version of any song for most. I did have the great pleasure of posting a version from Cindy Alexander (winner of NBC's Star Tomorrow), which was posted on xmas day 2011.

Search YouTube for "River Cindy Alexander".

[villagescribe]

I'm partial to the Joni Mitchell version but this is very good.

[MarinaTheEevee]

I love it

[atis377]

Sarah i love your song so good!!

[Psychotisk]

@atis377 It isn't her song.. It's Joni mitchel's.. Sarah just made a cover..

[JDGFGE]

Love it.. sad song so matter who wrote it, Sarah does a beautifil version of it.

[Tamastara]

Stop hating. Joni Mitchell would say you guys are acting like tourists. =)

[Jay435]

Why didn't she do her own version instead of aping Joni Mitchell's original. I'm not a fan of "American Idol" but they got it right when they said "make the song your own".

If I'm going to listen to someone's imitation of a grand mistress' material, why not just listen to the original which is what I originally set out to do on Youtube so I'll shut up now and say bye. BTW- my humble credentials - 45 years in the music industry as a performer for what it's worth.

[Tamastara]

@Jay435 I've been a fan of Joni Mitchell for over 20 years, & her songs were some of the first I ever learned to play. I like McLachlan's version; I'm not offended by it. What I DO dislike is Crosby Stills Nash & Young's version of "Woodstock." There's an example of making the song your own, but it's nothing compared to Mitchell's own performance of it.

[Janer369]

@Tamastara you know she wrote woodstock for the boys CSNY... she was pretty bummed when she missed it so she wrote that song from their stories...

[Tamastara]

@Janer369 I do; I think there's a YouTube video where she explains that to the audience.  However, I'm not positive but I've always had the impression that her version was first. It's possible I'm mistaken, but I would still consider it HER song since she wrote it. =)

[tvmouth]

nice try Sarah... but it lacks the true emotion that the master Joni Mitchel brings to this masterpiece - Joni rules and there is NO 2nd best

[redone2422]

Sarah has a beautiful voice, but Joni's original is from her soul. Joni sounds like she is singing the song for no one but herself. I personally think Robert Downey Jrs version is better than this one..again..sung from the soul. you can feel it.

[xtremeskilzfrombirth]

@redone2422

this is sung from the soul too. i dont think anyone would try and cover this song if they werent willing to put their soul into it

[BrianNeal]

I don't know, but the way I feel right now, I really do wish I had a River, that I could skate away on!

[BOSAHK]

@BrianNeal You can't skate on water dumbo the elephant clown. Trolololol

[BrianNeal]

@BOSAHK Um, I think I was referring to skating away on a FROZEN river! DUH! LOL

[Jay435]

@BOSAHK LOL you musn't be Canadian, we skate on frozen rivers up here in winter. Oh yeah, we created hockey this way as well.

[Dcblaze2]

@Jay435 ohyeeaaah! lol go canada <333

[razrv3lc]

Why is everyone saying the original is better? The music, definitely. But the singing? Sarah's voice is so much better! The original wasn't bad singing, but it just seemed bland or something. If there would've been more of an echo to the original, then it would've been a lot better. The best version is of Sarah McLachlan playing this just on piano. It sounds so much better than the Wintersong version.

[1005allie]

Saddest, and most beautiful song.

[campaign4liberty]

Stop The Wars!

visit LibertyPoet(dot)com

[GeorgiaGrier28]

67 people hate christmas...

[KareyR2]

My all time favourite song...no matter what season!!!! So haunting and melodic. I always wanted to skate to it....down a river, I could skate away on!!!!

Thanks

Karey

[22xoxkikixox95]

it's not christmas, but i can't help but the listen to this song in the middle of the summer.

[Mackers2317]

for SOME reason I get goosebumps from the Joni one and not this one. Joni is just so real

[eldadmi]

It's a good cover but I really like Travis cover for this song

[meghanthemonkey]

Absolutely Beautiful :)

[navarre96]

its well sung but i like the Robert Downey Jr Cover it works better with his voice.

[boxer12350]

@navarre96 Agreed! His cover is truly INCREDIBLE! Not for an actor, but for a person! Period!

[K00JIE]

Joni Mitchell has 100 times the vocal diversity than Sarah . I used to listen to Sarah alot and personally I think her singing is weak in comparison. She sounds the same over and over, different lyrics, same sound. Dull, dull, dull. Joni is far more versatile and Sarah is a caged vocalist.

[asquare176]

both Joni and Sarah are both accomplished artist with different style of singing.. the the most important that this is a great song that Joni Mitchell wrote.. I actually like the Travis Barker version.. again a different style of singing but the melody and lyrics stands up.

[filtereyeblind]

@asquare176 travis barker covered this? isnt he a drummer

[FlufferBatter]

Did't Twila Paris sing this song?

[FlufferBatter]

This is no "Joni". She does try a little too hard.

[albatross7677]

Good cover. In fact all her covers are good.

[lesismor54]

Ever got to a Joni Mitchell concert? Her voice is amazing.

[AnimeGoddessTai]

=( Im having the saddest most horrible Christmas....watching my family fall to pieces as Im stuck in the middle.........this song is everything Im feeling right now...I cant help but to cry...I wish I had river...

[Redekah]

The cover by Angus Stone is something to listen to as well. =)

[berlinmitte10117]

This was the version at the end of this weeks Holby - fabulous!

[TheIrezasRise]

@berlinmitte10117 I begged my mother to tell me what it was. My uncle came to the rescue. xD

[raraand]

+ i think the piano in Mitchell's version adds something, which this song doesn't have

[raraand]

Joni mitchell has a much sweater voice. not saying Sarah Mclachlan has a bad voice - that would be stupid. I just think its a little boring, no offence.

[nikkibf9]

@raraand erm, not to be rude, but you meant "sweeter", right? Not "sweater"?

[raraand]

@nikkibf9 yea I ment sweeter, but i'd love to have a sweater voice :)

[raraand]

@nikkibf9 ofc :D

thank you - i think

[kurtrshirey]

This is a fine cover but has anyone every heard Emily Saliers do this song? It is impressive as well.

[defygravityy]

This song breaks my heart

[ShiningSmileStar]

peace, love, hope

#heart

[eamonosu]

best version ever

[rhcpallthaway]

All of the covers and the song in general is amazing. But, in my opinion, Robert Downey Jr.'s cover is the best, but that's just my opinion.

[Sducky76]

@rhcpallthaway - Love that version!

[boxer12350]

@rhcpallthaway yes... his is truly amazing!

[MrEllenwork]

I love this version -- another good one though is kd lang and madeliene peyroux's duet.

[Cplus69ify]

good song great voice thankyou.. peace...

[convoluteddreams]

this is probably one of my favorite Christmas songs.

[ThePaczki]

Is the two minutes of silence following the song for effect?

[OtherSarrah]

I need the chords..

[Kellogs43able]

sarah is canadian, so is joni,,,,any wonder why they both do excellent versions??

[wb12337]

L O V E L Y

[geniegogo]

I like when artists cover Joni Mitchell. Now where is that Nazareth cover of Joni... XD

[cinchum]

Beautiful rendition of my favorite Joni Mitchell song.

[jeiks1992]

This is the most beautiful song ever made! This song has the CRY-factor!

[madonna69sarina]

Sarah is incandescent, Blessings to her.

[bhunjan]

First heard this song on an episode of ER about five years back. I can't remember much of the episode but remember this song bringing tears to my eyes and I was only about 12/13 at the time. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL x

[jminto88]

hey thanks for uploading it .nice to hear a song you havnt heard,,i just love her singing and songs .you relize your not alone .we all have felt like this ,the human race is the same all around the world,,i always tell my kids never fell to sorry for your self there is always someone worse off than you,,be thankful your loved,,and blessed,,

[rflatley]

I feel that Joni did it with so much heart and longing...I wish I had a river. Sarah flattens it. It seems to be more about her voice than the story. Oh Joni...I miss your voice.

[ghventer]

absolutely stunning

[iamandrewssoul]

instead of fighting i'm just gonna say thanks for the post.

[fins59]

Love this song by Joni & love Sarah Mac, but the sound is distorted, it's a shame, please repost with the audio at a lower level so that the peaks are clean.

Thanks fins

[caramelizeme]

ouch-this is good. one of her best

[VALMARIESASK]

Annie Lennox and Roxette... I'd LuV to hear their versions of this.... and really anything from Joni Mitchell and pouir Sarah McLachlin.... LoReaNNa (Canada)

[juliaagordon]

For me it lacks the feeling of Joni Mitchell's....it's bland. Sarah's a better singer but for me that's irrelevant.

[anrphotographer]

I love this song. Its so beautiful....so is she...

[BookLoverforLife]

I love this song so much, I personally think this is the best version.

[joliukas9]

incredible voice, very soft and pure...it makes dreaming or thinking about something really beautiful..

[butfulmuzik]

Nobody but Sarah has covered this song as tenderly and beautifully. It reaches so deeply into your heart, it hurts. What a combination--two exquisite artists, one to create and the other to interpret so beautifully. It really tells the true feelings about the holiday season. Brilliant!

[musiclovingchick6]

ooohh i love this song!!! i never knew what it was called though

[honpas]

The voice of an Angel it's pure & simple.

[xsbumpkin]

I just wish I could skate, period. And if I could skate, and had an IPod,and could find a frozen river, I'd skate away to Sarah's beautiful voice.

[TheBajsii]

i love this song...he's got voice of an angel :))

[Elliesboy]

its a she

[choklitkake21]

GREAT SONG.

[christentze]

im 99% sure sarah's an angel put on earth, disguised among us.

[jherold68]

sarah's really great...but nobody beats Joni

[thewilddivine]

One of my favorite songs to listen to this time of year.

[TheNigelr]

Yeah, but Joni wrote it...........Love to all

[LuthienofOssiriand]

Merry Christmas everyone!!! :)

[melimunchh]

:)

merry christmas to you too

[magdam92]

I wish I knew where is my place;(

[aboo12195]

magdam92, so do we all hun!

[NewDirection4us]

Sarah sings this song better than anyone. And it's the best song written by Joni.

[XXdinosaurmeXX]

THis is better than joni

[dillikins]

Oh I wish I had a river

I could drown myself in...

[Hambar7]

Oh I wish I had a river

I could skate away on....

[GoddessLoved]

my fav song for this time of the year

[Whatshername81]

Wow....I really like this version, but I do have to say I prefer Paul Byrom singing it. His voice just works this better in my opinion.

[Larriel89]

I want to know who thought Sarah McLachlan wasn't worth 5 stars.

[Musiklovr93]

my favorite song by Sarah

it's georgeous

[NYmom1]

oh for crying out loud, Joni Mitchel wrote wonderful songs but her voice can't hold a candle to Sarah McLachlan's

[raegoat]

I personally disagree. Joni's voice was beautiful, and she had amazing range and control.

But it's a matter of personal preference and taste.

[ritalayman]

Couldn't have said it better myself...NYmom1.

[wellershill]

@NYmom1 Only Joan Baez eclipses Joni.

[mskitowhawk]

@wellershill YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! THERE IS NO ECLIPSING JONI TO DATE! JUST COMPARE THE BODY OF WORK PRODUCED BY EACH. GEEZ I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION BUT JONI AND JOAN ARE NOT IN THE SAME LEAGUE. JONI IS THE BIG BANG COMPARED TO THE ASTERIOD THAT IS JOAN.

[wellershill]

@mskitowhawk I see your point. Voice - Joni is a great jazz singer - Joan has a great classical voice with better purity, tone, quality and timbre. More difficult to achieve that. But both great in their areas.

[chefstevie1]

@NYmom1 They are both wonderful

[girlznguitarz]

@NYmom1 Maybe you havent heard much Joni stuff.....there`s no better or worse, they are just different voices. Joni was massively famous...I named a daughter after her.....

[CandiceFoSho]

@NYmom1 but what about the keyshia cole?

[prayershawl]

@NYmom1 Joni is the bomba!!!

[tamroluluromtakankav]

@NYmom1 she sings it very good and everything but it is not possible to compare Joni to her ! don't be upset sorry but that's the truth.she create the hole epoch and plus after her youth she started singing jazz songs.and many other things ! but Sarah is very good singer too ! i love her blackbird so much !

[macvjohn]

Just beautiful!!!

[HalleJem]

This is amazing and I love her she is just so breath taking!

[cathrine001]

I think this is an excellent version, and I like it - I think there is room for both singers. Normally, I don't like "other versions" buyt this is an exception.

[jumbojimmy]

this cover sounds very similar to Angus Stone.

[hopeintennessee]

It is not always a competition... you can appreciate different covers without taking anything away from anyone else

[36midnight]

I totally agree on that!!

[girlznguitarz]

@hopeintennessee Wholy agree...very true.

[RenoRaider]

terrible cover. this is an acoustic song not some recording studio abortion.

[ritalayman]

I love Joni, but, come on...Sarah's voice is like an angel...there is no comparison...sorry Joni

[slownoman]

sorry, sire ritalayman, but if Joni hadn't created it, it wouldn't be there to cover. Covered beautifully, yes, but Joni charted the river that Sarah sings down.

[36midnight]

I am a Sarah McLachlan fan!!. And I think her version is hers and I really like it!!. Ann Wilson ( from HEART) also does an awesome cover too!

[Imogence]

I love Sarah- but she can't touch Joni Mitchell. Like it isn't even worth the consideration. Joni's heart scraping wail is far deeper than Sarah's light voice.

[anthonypi]

Agreed..everybody who covers this song just sings it..Joni SINGS it.. and everybody always plays it to fast..slow down and feel the song... sure Sarah can hit some great notes but it isn't the same...

[eamonosu]

oh yes she does ; )

[eamonosu]

im a joni mitchell fan, but this girls voice is better and she singes it really well.

she has a sexy voice which just made me realise how sexless joni mitchells voice is

[RenoRaider]

no she doesnt. what she has is all that background bullshit. Joni sings it with just a piano. No comparison. She cant touch Joni.

[moonflower0924]

Beautiful! i wish i had a river that i could skate on too.

[legendkiller2004]

This is from ER season 13. I've almost finished watching it and I've just ordered seasons 14 and 15. I can't believe Kerry Weaver has left!! Love ER!!! Its the best!! Anyone else out there remember this song from ER?

[bbnbeef]

You shouldnt compare this with Joni's Joni's version is hers and this is Sarahs I can well appreciate both. Joni's stands out for all of the things that make her great. Sarah will never be Joni and I dont think she is trying too I do think this is a wonderful cover and Sarah does a great job with it.

[TrinityBloodRox]

the second 'fly' is UNGODLY LONG! I WISH I COULD DO THAT. im sittin in here sinin along and i can only make it like 3/4s of the way through that note. XP

[branhammie]

Mmm, it's okay. I feel like she's kind of lacking the emotion needed for the song.

It was a personal experience for Joni so of course she's going to portray it better.

Either way, it still sounds pretty good for a cover. (:

[decesq]

this version is well done, but it is hard to compete with the best song from the best album of the greatest singer-songwriter to walk the planet.

[RenoRaider]

arrangement sucks. dont like it.

[roberthlubnaomi]

why does she use the word christ on this song and the other ones?

[1yitka1]

I like both....maybe the voice of Sarah is even better!

[hayashiyoshimi]

beautiful song☆

[qcubed692141128]

joni was better...period

[trashyourself7]

teach my feet to flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­yyyyyyyyyyyy home

[musicitron77]

i like her voice.

[sp8ced21]

good song but its a cover from a song by joni mitchell

[catinapoke]

Yes, its in the description.

[CygnusRoc]

No disrespect to Joni Mitchell, but I honestly think Sarah McLachlan's version is far better.

[asit1]

Suit yourself. Its a matter of choice. But Joni is a Giant quite literally and figuratively the rest will come and go.

[wahkimoocow]

sarah mclachlan will stay

she is great

[TheLibraryCat19]

Sarah McLachlan is increadible. This is my favorite song off of her Wintersong album, but absolutely everything she does is wonderful. Thank you for posting this, sasukeuchiha2007.

[themagicalstorm]

not like it

[dandoc0]

its james taylor.

[norwayreport]

Thanks, Sasuk... simply wonderful.

[calvintoronto]

I heard a guy do it, on the radio. Is anyone familiar with a male version of this? He sounded like he could be country, though he didn't make this into a country song. If you know, please post!

[calvintoronto]

I will reply to myself!

I just read that someone said Robert Downey Jr did a version, but I thought that was a joke. But I checked it out...and that is the one I heard! It is AMAZING!

[totovillefranche]

stupid me, didn't read until the next line, sorry

[calvintoronto]

Don't matter! I didn't know about the Herbie one, so I watched it. I like HH, but I find CB Rae's voice far too thin for the song; she doesn't hit the notes. HH's playing is so discordant that it would likely work better without singing. Joni Mitchell's original version is great.

[totovillefranche]

Watch Herbie Hancock - although his version doesn't sound country: Good luck

[daisy76123]

i dont like the pic at 0:02

[domesticsunday]

Merry Christmas to all of you! Warm wishes from

Toronto, Canada!

[chokerry]

Ok, Canucks. How many of you actually did skate away on a river when you were young? I see many raised hands. I miss my cold country. Thank-U, Joni.

[catboy126]

Sara Bareilles also does a pretty good version.

[PerfectLie]

Her voice.

Is.

Love.

<3

[berryvale]

one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs and Allison Crowe performs it beautifully

[simfreak56]

I want to skate away too. I don't know where I'd go. Just far away from here.

[clucaspik]

Wherever you go .... there you are.

[PeelTower]

You poor dear...what a terrible life it is for all of us in our screwed up societies. More more more money money money bigger better ...it all seems so meaningless. Try love, it worked for me.

[robertgharford]

It's no good skating away. I tried and just got snowed under.

[treg1980]

I'm a huge fan of both Sarah and Joni, but have to admit that Sarah's version is the better one. Probably because Sarah's voice is much better than Joni's, but I love both versions a lot!!

[kevincostnermyhero]

Have you heard Robert Downey Jr.'s? Absoutly beautiful.

[Forestski]

This is an excellent version of River. My favorite version, however, is by Heart. Ann Wilson's vocals are stunning. Joni's version ain't bad, either!!

[blushrush08]

Beautiful version of Joni's song. Can this song be done wrong? So good......always cry good tears.

[iain5517]

Travis did an amazing cover of this song too. Think you're right - don't think it can be done badly.

[Xtinaguilera16]

michelle's version is best!!!

[racheljlc]

/The lady can sing, and hitting those high notes

but I like Joni Mitchells better, maybe 'cause I grew up with it....Blue still holds up

[msthing57nc]

Beautiful version. I love Joni's too.

[wilsparky]

When music is good. It is soooooooooooooo good.

[svea123]

Sarah, isn't dead....lol

[mbbrennan]

I want to skate away

[jordanrivers1]

and go where?