This morning Brandi Carlile’s “Beginning to Feel the Years” came to the top of my iTunes shuffled “All Songs” playlist. I instantly knew I wanted to post the song with a few loving words about my husband Danny. So I searched for a video. In the process, I went on a little YouTube sidebar binge, watching other Brandi Carlile videos, including her Late Show with David Letterman performance of “Keep on the Sunny Side” with The Avett Brothers
Another video in the sidebar that caught my eye was simply titled, “Brandi Carlile – When We Were Young.” At first I thought she had covered a Killers song with a similar name. I clicked. Nope. It was Adele’s “When We Were Young”—completely different song and one of my favorites on 25. Brandi had posted the video as a way of asking Adele, who had covered Brandi’s “Hiding My Heart,” to contribute that cover to an upcoming benefit album for War Child, an organization that supports the families and children whose lives have been torn apart by war.
Brandi Carlile is one of my favorite artists—how did I not know about this tribute album dedicated to such a good cause? I wanted to search for more info, but I needed to head out the door. Later in the morning, I picked up the New York Times, and there on the inside cover of the Arts section was an article about Brandi Carlile and how she enlisted all these all stars to contribute covers from The Story album to the new benefit album, Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of the Story (An Album to Benefit War Child). I can’t wait to hear Dolly Parton’s version of “The Story,” The Avett Brothers take on “Have You Ever,” the Indigo Girls sing “Cannonball,” and, yes, Adele’s “Hiding My Heart.” This may quickly become one of my favorite tribute albums.
Danny and I have over 20,000 songs in iTunes. I often think the app and I are in total sync or that it’s trying to send me a message. Sometimes it’s downright eerie, like when I start humming the first notes of the next random song before it starts playing. Is it possible for a human and an app to be on the same wavelength? Do I have the iTunes shuffle algorithm in my brain? This morning, the message was received: you need to know about Brandi Carlile’s new album. So thank you, iTunes. And YouTube. And the New York Times. And Brandi Carlile.
And here’s one for the man I’ve been in sync with for twenty years.
And I’m beginning to feel the years
But I’m going to be ok
As long as you’re beside me along the way
Going to make it through the night
And into the morning light
GET Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of the Story (An Album to Benefit War Child).
