Mary Margaret O'Hara on Night Music

[CombePeter]

Such genius.

[oldtongueout]

someone must have a video of her performance of "body's in trouble" on the (in ireland) legendary 'late late show'. i remember it well, i was 11 & started getting into 'alternative'music - it was one of those identity-forming moments when i looked across and saw the ashen-faced horror of my parents also watching her. it also turned out that the TV performance managed to attract complaints about putting an "ill woman" on TV! we're so used to 'eccentricities' now but back then...!

[TonyShow82]

That's the voice of Dren from Splice. That's a little trivia for you.

[killyrboyfriend]

What a tour de force, what a beautiful woman, what a voice!

[EnergyPimps]

@popvids40 it's not so simple. plus, i expect he's just as glad he wasn't dragged along for the eons it took to complete. i don't have a problem with that, it's arguably a masterpiece. Clearly a case of art rather than product.

[EnergyPimps]

@popvids40 there's a nifty word: fatalism, cabalism and fables all rolled up in one neat little... waitaminit, are you sure that isn't a typo?

nevermind, it was meant to be.

ha ha

even funnier, though, is the image of Andy and MMO on their respective hydraulic pedestals, rising and falling according to your whimsical admiration...

except you make him sound so serious: "such a wise and intelligent writer of meaningful music," like he wants taking the piss out.

[lanidracl]

Thank you love, for being so beautiful and giving us this.

[my57bug]

What is the name of this song?

[EnergyPimps]

@my57bug when you know why you're happy

[vootie99]

Why doesn't she have 8 or 12 albums out by now? Oh I wish she was more prolific...

[misteromeara]

what the hell is up with his hair????????

[Jefgg]

Why does she need to use her middle name? Is she trying to sound as Irish as humanly possible. 

[misteromeara]

@Jefgg she's trying to balance out the pretentious twits who use only one name like prince, madonna, cher...

[Jefgg]

@misteromeara Good point. Maybe she should add a hyphen and another last name.

[rickkemp1]

@Jefgg She probably doesn't want to be confused with Mary O'hara.

[Jefgg]

@rickkemp1 Good point. I forgot there was a folk singer and harpist named Mary O'Hara.

[37valpal]

I now play with Rusty( Mary Margaret's )guitar player in this video. I do see the inspiration in this song. She is awesome and so is he and the other musicians, this is a beautiful piece of music that everyone should completely enjoy. Music is a part of life we will always remember and never forget and hopefully allways learn from in the future.

[MrChiffy]

she's kinda hot

[BenNCM]

@MrChiffy kinda? she's absolutely divine!

[lospolacos]

I´m speechless at her genuine talent !! Thank you M2OH and keep on making songs, please !!

[clambake33]

This mesmerizing song sung so beautifully is able to transport me to a time and a place where I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

[elfyboy]

When you recognize something intangile in a song you've never heard before -- that's the true joy of art. The simple, spellbinding beauty of her phrasing, the haunting melody and that intangible quality render this piece transcendent.

[wakygee]

...and Singer!

[wakygee]

Wow, I just keep watching this over and over....and it's on my mind all day;

What an Amazing Artist!

[colossusx7]

she is my great grandmother

[Dandysrecords]

@colossusx7

You are so lucky to have such a stunning verbal art angel as a grandmother I tottally love and collect all of her music but it is very very hard to find Send her my best wish from over the pond in the uk. phil@dandysrecords

[DancingSpiderman]

Wow, purty cool original, MMOH. It's great when people take their act on the road beyond the high school music / drama department. Cutey with a nice voice and an even weirder movements on stage than Natalie Merchant. I LVOE MMOH .

[vootie99]

i wish she would record more... >sigh<

[xiaoyudi]

one of the few songs in the world that resonates through my bones...

[xiaoyudi]

she is so unique that haunting voice harmonizing with that steel guitar i am moved to tears...spiritually transfigured such talent in that family...i get a kick out of her sister catherine o'hara

[realtruetube]

already answered one year ago: "Dark Dear Heart", thanks rickkemp1

[realtruetube]

Does anyone know the name of the song she tried to sing at John Candy's funeral?

watch?v=KOere1NrLXU

[photoartist3d]

She's the subtle voice compliment to the jazz band, The Henrys. A great artist of restrainded brilliance.

[steinber]

loveherloveherloveher...

[ivebeenthere1]

unique but varied....an awesome talent

thanks for sharing this Gem!

[ballybrusa]

she seems to be sleep singing

 awffull

[SurveyofFilmMusic]

Jaysus that hair on Sandborn!?

[lilianamaya]

Beautiful voice!

[tayloreh]

Saw her last night and got to be a singin' guest on stage... (as a big batch of the audience did). Irish madness it was!

[thebigm]

weird comments - awesome video by an awesome performer

[lospolacos]

Hi! If you are M2OH and you are reading this ... ¡You have a huge fan in Spain waiting for a new album!

[shiramorrison]

Going to see Mary Margaret perform tonight in Saskatoon- her first show here ever!!

[yuggapukka]

The incident with Andy Partridge seems as related to his unhappiness with her working style as any intolerance over religious beliefs. From what I have read, their hands-on working relationship lasted one day and technically he was let go by her manager. It seems ridiculous to condemn or judge either of them for something that took place on a single day over twenty years ago. The truth is they were deeply incompatible as collaborators, the deep reasons for that won't flatter either of them.

[chrook]

She's brilliant. Could care less what Andy Partridge thinks. I worked on her 'Body's in Trouble' VDO. She was really nice to work with.

BTW - I know one of the guys in Blue Rodeo. In the late 80s he met The Edge at a gig in London and asked him what he was listening to. He said "Miss America".

[afmafmafm]

What's the name of this song?

[PaperbagMary]

It's "When You Know Why You're Happy", from the album "Miss America" (1988).

[bryanferryfan]

Well this all happened twenty years ago. It really doesn't matter. All these people are better off than me. So I really don't care what they disagreed about.

[EnergyPimps]

@bryanferryfan interesting criterion. except you cared enough to tell us you don't care; and to tell us why you don't care. so, at least you know that.

[kingazzaman]

I'm afraid Mary dropped considerably in my estimation when I found out she sacked Andy Partridge (Former XTC) as producer of "Miss America" because she found out he was an atheist. She also sacked Andy's co-producer for his religious beliefs.

What a shame the beauty of her music has been tainted by her bigotry. She'd be deservedly sued within an inch of her life for that these days.

Andy Partridge wrote the song "Dear God" as a response. Probably the most scathing anti-god song ever.

[DALSU]

agreed didn't know she was such a douche bag. will still listen to her music....

[rickkemp1]

The truth is that Partridge and others of his entourage were making fun of her for praying daily at a Catholic Church. I wonder what he would have done if she were a devout Muslim, praying six times a day. If he had been more respectful and tolerant, himself, he might have held onto his job. Or, maybe the truth is that he didn't have the talent to produce Miss America, he simply didn't measure up. After all, under MMOH's direction the album became one ot the greatest of all time.

[kingazzaman]

Andy Partridge - "didn't have the talent" to produce Miss America?!!!

LOL!

That's the 1st time in history that I've heard anyone suggest that Andy Partridge lacks talent.

Sorry to tell you this but Mary Maragaret (I am the right hand of ecclesiastical justice) O'Hara is not even a blip on the talent radar compared to Andy.

She was praying 5-6 times a day and the laughter was of frustration at the slow schedule NOT Mary's faith!

She acted like an arrogant prima-dona - end of story!

[YuVaughn]

@rickkemp1 Muslims pray 5 times a day... not 6... But yes he did need to be more respectful of others beliefs...

[EnergyPimps]

@kingazzaman 'Unique' is too common a word for MMO, she truly is; and not compartmentalized, art and spirituality not separate. As an atheist myself (with a spiritual bent), I doubt Andy was sacked just because MMO 'found out,' as if she has a standing prohibition on non-believers. Still, to facilitate the artist a producer must be sensitive, and atheists often manifest a cavalier superiority toward belief; I expect MMO recognized an irremediably toxic situation and nipped it in the bud.

[EnergyPimps]

@kingazzaman oh and BTW 'these days' are not significantly more litigious than 'those days,' so perhaps it's not true... regardless, i bet his pink slip didn't let on anything more than 'artistic differences.'

[TashJonesUk]

did she compose the music or direct the musicians with it? cos the music is really unique.

[rickkemp1]

both

[richbraz]

Thanks so much,incredible stuff! Even better than the album version!

[spi666]

wow, spectacular. what a journey.

[peter1krausz]

she actually did some songs with the and The Henrys, but they are only available on CD, i didn't find any video

[sptfgpn]

Good candidate for ECT.

[rickkemp1]

She moves much better than you know.

[riffs66]

totally!

[EnergyPimps]

@sptfgpn if anyone hears a different drummer, it's MMO

[lovethemack]

hey she is very good in a new way, i like it

[lizly7]

Recently I saw her sister, Catherine, at the Apple store in Santa Monica. I asked her to please tell Mary Margaret that she is still well loved and that her fans would love another album.

[gibsondrummer]

she's like nick drake an artist so totally and completely original that there is no way for any record co. asshole to figure it out. why?

[stacksovids12]

there is something special about MMO, she is so cool, amazing voice and such a lovley "aura" for want of a less corny word.I would love to have the chance for a few minutes chat with her, she has a charm I cant explain, possibly her modesty, and her album Miss America is a must have item. What a contrast to the posturing bluffers out there with all the castumes and enhancements but NO talent

[NickJxuk]

wow

[gibsondrummer]

why haven't i heard of this woman before now? her voice is angelic . wtf is wrong with the music industry! we are subjected to garbage from american idol while people with this kind of talent struggle , i came upon this completely by chance ,.

[NOSTRATION]

she kind of oddly reminds me of Ellen Paige...

[dnote321]

this woman's voice might be the best i have every heard i just stumbled on this wow what a jewel to find!

[JamesSighs]

....there is but one lp, but one lp won't do....

[leamanc]

Is she ever going to make another album?!?

[neilipatterson]

She doesn't veer off on a scale or an emotion just because she has the chops for it. Every utterance seems needed. Think of a jazz singer scatting here there and everywhere. Sometimes we listen and think .....why are they doing this?!!! It would seem anomalous if she indulged in anything like that. Ahh she's great!!

[neilipatterson]

Incredible yes. I think "her voice" is a slightly misleading way of taking onboard what she does. It's definitely not wrong to say she has a good voice. To be precise though she seems to be living totally inside of the song and doesn't ever reach for something that isn't totally 'right' and keeping with where she is headed.

[surfmcgoogler]

This girls voice and musical sensibility are incredible. Some people don't get it however. I guess I can understand that, maybe. To me, she is just about the best voice i've ever heard. It is funny how I came across this linked with Sean-nos singing.

[MikeJ532]

the show, night music, came on at 2am were nothing else was on, and made you focus on the art being performed. Much of it was beutifull.

[caudillo1]

Mary's tremendous. I just want to give props to that slide player. Absolutely stellar.

[stacksovids12]

I LOVE this woman, she is so original and has such a modest attitude, so often the way with real talent, its the ones who posture and are loud mouthed that are invariably talentless bluffers

[tml1019]

is that don alias?

[scmm42]

>>is that don alias?

Yes it is. He was a regular in the Night Music band.

[tml1019]

incredible! Thanks for the quick response!

[CuddlyBadger]

@tml1019 That man is so scary it makes me want to cry.

[jdolew]

My favourite song off Miss America is A New Day. Any chance of posting it? It's a bouncy, upbeat number. Thanks for posting.

[girlfury1]

she is unreal...I wish she would have put out more albums..I bought this one the moment it hit the stores...but being from Toronto it wasnt difficult to know who she was. She is brilliant!

[EnergyPimps]

@moohoo08 i un-spammed you, not because you're right (you're not), but because your opinion, stated once – well, sorta four times, but all in one post – is as valid as any other. it is, after all, just your opinion. that's all it is.

[wot2wot2]

sometimes its difficult to listen to songs like this,somtimes music can be too good to listen to, it might even kill you.

[searcherboy]

@wot2wot2 I know exactly what you mean.

[puckeylut]

Why have I never heard of this girl? She's amazing!

[truthgirl2]

She's inscrutably beautiful and transcending. How can I see her live?

[raggedy]

Ugh, so great.

[CanterburyLSD]

Brilliant!!!

She's as beautiful as her music... :)

[StephaniedeBruijn]

this is such an amazing performance.. this woman transports me places.. she's incredible. thanks for posting this:) XX

[achin70]

Not many albums have knocked me sideways. Miss America was one of them. Thanks for posting the video, it's great to see her performing live.

Blessings,

Andrew

[radamez2]

Music doesn't get better than this.

Why are there no shows like Night Music any more?

[caudillo1]

Night Music was one of a kind. It was only possible thanks to heavy sponsorship by Michelob. If this type of thing does happen ever again, maybe it would be on cable or the web. Definetly not on network TV.

[guitaress1]

WOW

[Raymantico]

I watched this show and made a videotape. Watched it again a few times and lost track of it. But ever since then I find myself singing this every so often. A lasting impression, something timeless, such heart and soul.

[ORCA4312]

Does ANYONE have a video of her and Catherine together? I just think it would be very cute and fun.

[jwmaslen]

dig the 'saw' doctor on lap steel

[frankinbolton]

Now that's a true songbird. Can't believe I just heard of her recently on CBC's Vinyl Cafe. (94.1fm on sat/sun...great show). Luv ya Mary!!!!

[in2itivelady]

Me too! I heard it and was instantly drawn in. She's just stellar.

[sardini]

Thanks for posting. This is such a great video.

[rudyvandam]

Drunk, stoned, whatever.....

AWESOME

[Cruentus1]

Nope. She's always like that.

[knifecut]

THANKS FOR POSTING!!!

[Syphonaptera]

Oh besides, I do not know what her cranium's are thinking but in her mind she is bashing one's face into the floor!! No offense here....it just crossed my mind...hihi.

[Syphonaptera]

Wow, very excentric and beautifull...and so is her voice and music!! :) This Mortal Coil did a beautifull lounge version of Mary's Lift you up.....divine...both...

[helkel11]

what a star she is! magnificently effortless heights she reaches. so gifted. more please.

[LilacNell]

Thank god for Mary-Margaret - she has the spirits in her!

[kuapo]

It's pure delight to see her facial gestures during the introduction.

[casperinfinito]

miss america la mejor cantante y misteriosa que a parido canada.

[blindhobosam]

no words.. most amazing music ever

[ech1961]

unearthly and absolutely mesmerizing.

[karenzipkas]

found her youtube is brill!!!!!!

[msc50]

Yes, her Folk Fest performance was scattered and uneven, but I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her voice is still exceptional. I think that was a Prince impersonation she finished with. Odd and funny and one of a kind.

[orangemonsters]

i saw her @ the Edmonton Folk Fest and she sounded like she was off her medication.

[ajmitchiavelli]

She's as beautiful as her music.

[johnnytototengo]

brlliant

[sdwproductions]

such a gorgeous gift

[mitzi141243]

My Oh My - been looking for anything by MMO'H for an age - this is heaven!

[returnsanecho]

i've seen her around the environs of toronto, no one else notices. i stare a bit she's a star to me, an enigma more and more with each passing year.

[emilysong]

Brilliant.