What A Voice! Joan Osborne & The Funk Brothers Deliver A Fantastic Performance Of This Jimmy Ruffin Soul Classic From The 2002 Movie "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown". Hear it on internet radio kvkvi.com
To be honest, I've never heard of Joan Osborne until a friend of mine told to watch the movie, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown", and wow she really knocks it out of the ballpark, what a outstanding performance!!!!!!! Yea, she does own the song now.......
I am 64 years old and just now starting to listen to her about 2 months ago . since then i have been listening to anything and everything she has done . yes she is good damm good .
I used to listen to her with her band in little clubs and bars in upstate NY in the early ‘90s. Her voice certainly did fill the venue. About 5 years later One of Us was released and it did not show off her voice at all, but it went to #1 with 6 Grammy nominations. But it’s always great to have a hit.
Me too!!! Today was the first time. It just showed up when I was listening to another song. So I thought "let's check out how this lady does this old classic". Wow!!! Love that voice and the power that you know is there and she controls very well. I plan on finding out more about her.
And... It wouldn't have been the song it is to begin with..... But Joan's vocal strength takes the intensity of this song to a whole new level that may not be matched again....
The perfection of Joan Osborne's singing together with the high standard of musicianship has produced a video of unbelievable quality. The whole song was performed so well and an absolute joy to watch.
I've got goosebumps running down my arms. What a beautiful voice and a tight backup band. She's got white soul too. Everyone's dressed for success also. Classy performance.
When Joan sings that song, she owns that song. And those old pros in the orchestra play with absolute perfection. I have loved this video since I saw it on PBS TV a few years ago. Thank uou for posting it.
Recent Comment: My God, what a clip! Absolutely perfect playing and singing, I think Joan Osborne deserves credit for holding her own amongst some of the best musicians ever, the whole thing was so perfect, so moving, a real treat! Thank you for posting this. cruithneuladh
Soulful, powerful, blistering. Joan KILLS this song with a voice that is silk and sandpaper, in a breathtaking arrangement that this song needs and deserves.
Absolutely outstanding! Joan slayed the vocals and The Funk Bothers... WOW! Just an amazing group of musicians from day one and still showing their chops when this was recorded. No wonder they are legendary. Wish I'd have been there live.
Well, I've got a confession....up until a couple days ago, I'd never heard of Joan Osborne. Now, all I can say is......where in the hell have I been?? Incredible performance of a TRUE classic....and she's HOT!! (if I was only 30 years younger....)
Recent Comments: MusicMike...you’re our hero for providing one of the best videos on you tube.....the incomparable funk bros with Joan on this timeless classic.... R.I.P. Pistol Allen and the departed bros....you'll never be forgotten.... nyc1rob " What Becomes of the Brokenhearted " has been one of my all time favorite songs forever .........but when I saw Joan & the Funk Brothers do this in the movie I was absolutely blown away !!!!!! It actually brought tears to my eyes!! 7seadog
Me, too. I listen to every note she sings, the consistent strength of her voice, her command of that terrific rasp, and how she dials the song up to that powerful conclusion. It blows me away every time I hear it. I recently saw "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" (only after 18 years), and Joan Osbourne's performance is the best by far - with apologies to the great Chaka Khan.
Just Excellent ! To be on that stage with those musicians must be quite an honor. Joan osborne is wonderful ! All the experience of those talented musicians and all their talent is astounding !
I thought that I was crazy one Listening too this tune over and over Joan(GodBlessUSista) MyGod she and the FunkBros killed it what a performance. Also Standing on the Shadows of Motown was awesome.
An iconic Motown song that this lady just grabs, doesn't let go, and then launches into space! Wow! How many singers can glide in and out of a rasp like Joan Osborne does? And with a supporting cast that includes the fabulous Funk Brothers, how can you possibly surpass perfection? I've been to the mountain top!
Oh, god, former music industry exec who once did marketing for Motown (yikes, 70s, Smokey, Abner, et al) so was drawn to the film. ALWAYS a Jimmy Ruffin fan. Saw this white chick come on stage for this performance and thought, wtf?, and was completely blown away. Maybe the only time that I thought a cover was better than the original. (Sorry Jimmy...). Joan, my dear, beyond masterful...
Like most songs with horn backing this is in the key of B flat, he lays on a fat F creating a sonic tsunami giving Joan Osborne a broad tonal plain to vocally emote on this Motown classic.
There aint nuthin' better than seeing AND hearing musicians doing their thing like this, all coming together to make these AWESOME sounds. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!
The strength of Motown was that as an artist you always had to be better because of the talent around you. Joan rose to the challenge and they let her in. Magnificent
I consider myself cognoscenti if rock and Roll and folks There is simply no finer cover of a song than this. It is riveting stolen from Jimmie Ruffin and ownEd for antiquity by Joan Osborne I can remember like yesterday when where and with whom I heard this. Brought tears to my eyes like watching La Traviata for the first time
What a fabulous cover of Jimmy Ruffin's classic song, Joan Osborne with the the superb Funk Brothers backing including the great base playing of Bob Brabbet now sadly gone as of most of the original Funk Brothers, fabulous.
This is a perfect example of how music has de-volved in the last 20 yrs. These flavor-of-the-month "musicians we have today with their auto-tune and canned back-up should not be in the same building as the fabulous Funk Brothers, Joan, and all of the artists from this era. I weep for the future of great music and real musicians who work hard at their craft. Not some no-talent pretty face jumping around.
All I can say is WOIW!!! My jaw dropped when I first heard this. I still get chills from hearing this! It's rare that someone can cover a song,makes it entirely their own but still stay true to the original. I'd give them a standing "o" just watching the video...I'm glad for technology that not too long ago, this would'vre been a "you just had to been there" moment...
This song is curious because its about the broken hearted - it should be sad but its not - its uplifting because its sung so perfectly and backing is so rich, intricate melodic, funky and then the camera angles are delightful - all those close ups on instruments and I love the fact that all the musicians are sitting down just like they are doing another hard days work; when you can play like that there's no need to stand or strut. I agree with other comments here - one of the very best EVER
Absolutely epic! And like a true talent, she makes it look completely effortless! I bought her "Relish" cd years ago and discovered that the 'hit' song on the cd (One of Us) was the least representative of her style and her incredible talent. Saw her on tour for that cd, at a small venue and was utterly blown away.
As a widower for the last two and a half years I have asked myself the same question that this song asks, "what becomes of the broken hearted" during the course of every day since the passing of my wife. This song is done so well that it brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Thanks for your comment. Peace 💚
This is why the British invasion never topped, notwithstanding Erric Berden, The American Motown sound. The Funk Bros. were unsurpassed, and Jimmy Ruffin was the best. Great job from Joan!
![Joan Osborne - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted (Live) - [STEREO]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
