Martha Wainwright performs Nick Cave's classic, the Ship Song, in front of a live studio audience on Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight. Absolutely sublime, heart-wrenching, and unforgettable.
I think you can see how good it was by his reaction, live and only learned that day. I can't listen too it more than once at a time, it wrenches my heart so much.
Martha sang this on Tuesday night (the day after this show was recorded) as an encore in Brisbane at the Tivoli. I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful it was. She is unbelievable.
Thanks for posting and yay Adam Hills show for asking her to sing it (as she explained to her Melb show audience on Fri night) - as resulted in her including it as la magnifique(!) encore amid the fabulous acoustics of the Melbourne Recital Centre. Great night, stunning encore.
My god - I am a huge Nick Cave fan and feel her voice is just about perfect - real passion, well done Martha, I am not usually kind to those who cover Nick Cave.
@RyanOuellette89 Having had a look at both Ryan I can't agree. I think this version is felt, nuanced, spontaneous and masterfully interpreted. I like Camille's version, but I found it tired in sections that she felt confused by. Not being aggressive with this feedback btw. thanks for the comment to engage with ...
@Onyx1378 watch leonard cohen's dvd, i'm your man, she sing's leonard's "the traitor" it's probably one of the greatest vocal performances i've ever seen...there's plenty of other huge songs on there as well
I just listened to more of Martha. I slightly modify my comments, but still cannot undestand her lyrics. Her voice comes from very good vocal chords in a large head space. I do like her attack but... pulease articualte more clearly.
Her diction and affectations are dreadful. Give me Eva Cassidy any time Sorry folks who have commented before me, but I make my comment upon being an absolute fan of wonderful women singers, and she aint one, and I have been so since 1962 when I discovered Joan Baez. Nah... I'm not a fuddy duddy.
