Judee Sill - The Kiss

Here is Judee Sill, recorded in London in February of 1973 for the "Old Grey Whistle Test" TV program on the BBC. There are other clips and songs from this session and the one before it, but sadly this is the only one that has been released, at least as far as I know. Judee visited my radio program (The LA Litehouse) on KPFK in Los Angeles in early 1970. She sang a number of songs, and talked about who she was and where she came from well before her first album was released. She was perplexing and enchanting all at the same time. She was determined to be successful as a musician, and by my reckoning, she seemed well on her way. Her songwriting skills and her sense of perfection were a wonder to behold. She was also a wild child and very much a rebel in her own way. She was 28 years old at the time of this recording. A very rare talent.

Sadly, it was all over in 1979 when she tragically passed away.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Judee
• Sill
• The
• Kiss
• music
• 1970
• pop
• KPFK

[MrCoalescent]

This is a song and performance of such luminous transcendent beauty it makes the tears spring and flow down my face. Just for the record - and no offence intended - I'm a straight, atheist, 60s-survivor, rock-guitarist, but this turns me to mush and I feel the tender surrender she offers, which makes me long for the absolutes - and absolution - such as religion holds out to those whose intellect doesn't prevent their embracing it. This is transformative music sanctified by love.

[jacksilverbirch]

a fitting response to this video cannot be expressed in words...

[nijoekun]

今朝のバラカンモーニングで初めて知った。通勤のクルマ運転中だ­ったが、攻撃にはやる心を洗われたような。

[MaggieC11]

Just beautiful...how did I miss this back then?

[edgroove7]

never heard of her before but this is brilliant in it's simplicity, RIP Judee. Makes me wonder what would have become of such a talent and then I look around today and want to never switch on a radio or TV ever again for the sheer lunacy that we assume to be talent.

[earrelevantmusic]

Heavenly!



[MrCoalescent]

It's dogma and belief, hierarchical and manipulative power structures, reductionist precepts and intimidatory edicts that I take deep and serious issue with. Apart from the little good that religion achieves at the grass-roots level amongst the people, I think Religion is a huge con. Its "understanding" is infantile, yet its inculcation is totalitarian. Spirituality, faith, need none of this, they just understand that we are all a tiny part of a mutable order, a dynamic cohesion that we desire.

[MrCoalescent]

@sodiumoxybate: I understand how the potent imagery from a Catholic upbringing retains its influence - that, after all, is the whole idea ("give me the child and I'll give you the man" etc). To an extent, this must permeate all of Western culture through the art, architecture and music that has been bequeathed to us in the service of religion and these are extremely resonant concepts. As for atheism -v- faith, I don't think these are mutually exclusive.

[sodiumoxybate]

@MrCoalescent - I found your comment from 5 months ago very interesting. Raised as a devout Roman Catholic (though not one now), my childhood was pervaded by the themes and imagery Judee uses so much in her lyrics, and their power is strong indeed, and never leaves you. As for faith vs. atheism, that's a very interesting topic but probably not for this forum :-). Judee's life was all too short, but she left us with this piece of perfection.

[sodiumoxybate]

I remember watching and being mesmerised by this performance on OGWT in 1973. It's always been my favourite song of Judee's, though people tend to know her for 'Jesus Was A Crossmaker'. Though I admire many singers and songwriters, few have that rare power to reduce me to tears - it is a unique gift indeed, yet this song does it every time I listen to it, and I listen to it a lot, and it feels good. Thank you Judee.

[17205513]

@MrCoalescent I couldn't say it better!!!

[281153]

Wow! What can I say.....gulp! I was totally mesmerized listening to her. Wonderful!