Blows my Mind that over 5000 of you took the time to watch a little video I shot 30 + years ago before anyone had really heard of the Rankins and they where still selling cassettes out of the trunk of their car. Thanks for watching this, or for that matter, any of my videos......without you, there would be no reason to post ;)
+Harry Jamm, thank you so much! When my nephew became a minister in northern Cape Breton in the summer of 1991, I was visiting, and he took me to see the Rankins in concert at the Neil's Harbour Community Centre, and it was love at first listen for me. SO much talent in one family.
This woman had such a phenominal voice,(God rest her soul), while another member of her family has taken up the torch today singing the same song with the same power and conviction, it is clear that - rise again - is possible such as the song states, and why it brings tears to our eyes. WE are the torch bearers for each other in this life, for the hardships that we live each day and the things that we experience and share in order to pass them on to our family - in the faces of our children - . This is a most awesome and incredible song sung by Raylene Rankin, may her spirit run free, for she is still among us in the face of Molly Rankin, though she has her own style being much younger, she carries the same vocal potentials. It is awesome to hear her sing. God bless them all for the wonderful joy they bring us to hear their voices blend in chorus in songs that bring us such pleasure.
I hope I get the chance to shoot video of Molly some day as well then..... I'm limited to where and when I can shoot these days by the fact that I mix sound for Live Bands at a local bar on Fridays and some Sat nights..... but I still get out as often as I can to shoot video 35 or so years later, so I must enjoy it on some level :) Thanks for watching
OMG. What a powerful moment in Canadian music history. Such talented musicians, such poignant lyrics, and an unforgettable melody. What a family! I'm still crying.
Defiantly.... the band has seen more then their fair share of tragedy. Luckily, they left behind music that will live on and inspire many who never had the privilege of actually meeting them
I bought one of those cassettes in Dingwall in the summer of 1991 and treasure it to this day. Unforgettable voices and music. It breaks my heart to listen to Raylene sing or John Morris on the piano and fiddle, but you are right, we have the music.
My sister and I used to sing this in the parking garage of our building (for the acoustics!) when we were very small for my mom. It was one of our school choir songs. We loved it ( likely sounded terrible) and we couldn't really comprehend the lyrics at that age, but now it makes sense why my mother loved to hear us sing it.
R, I P Rayleen & John Rakin You are now free angel spiritsdoing God' s work & singing your kind of music with the other free kind angel spirits like yourself and having a paty. Your legency will live long for many generations to come Always & 4Ever Fondly Remembered Now And Always Love Peace Hope R.I P to all Brave Souls of 2020 ( covid19 & etc) Love Peace Be with you Always & 4 Ever Eternally Love XOXOXO DANICA
I moved here to Cape Breton from Halifax in 1991 and as soon as I heard the Rankins, I loved them. It was devastating when John died and then Raylene passing on was another devastation. I really miss the Rankins and know it will never be the same without them. I miss their type of music and the way they sang it and they put their heart into it.
Glad you found the video. There's a few more already up in the channel if you use the search feature and I think I still have one or 2 left on tape to encode once I get caught up with all the newer stuff I've shot. Thanks for watching! 😄
Beautiful song on the meaning of life. Makes you reflect on your forefathers and the legacy we can leave, if we are lucky. My family came from Mabu, so we have a special attachment to the Rankins. So, so sad that we have lost John Morris and Raylene. Raylene’s beautiful voice is revealed through this song. Thanks for posting.
This song, by any other singer, would still be a great song. But when Raylene sang it she made it hers. I NEVER get tired of hearing it. She left her legacy for us to enjoy. Peace to you Raylene. I hope you're still singing, wherever you may be.
This song makes me ball, and was always playing as I drive around the maritimes with my parents in the 90's. I want my father daughter dance at my wedding to be to this song.
Michele Hynes This is one of the most emotional songs I've ever had the privilege to see let alone record. That's the first thing I usually notice in music myself, so I knew the moment I first heard them that they where going to resonate with a LOT of people. Glad you found and enjoy the video..... Sorry if it made you cry :) (but I think that's what its supposed to do)
I love your music The Rakin Family Xoxoxo Danica Then Now Always & 4ever . Since the beginning of time ! Love Peace be with you all! RIP IN PEACE 2 ALL BRAVE SOULS OF( covid19 & etc) LOVE DANICAXOXOXO
Harry,This has to be one of the best videos of the Rankin Family and particularly of Raylene. It captures the emotion she put into this song. I was fortunate to see them in 1993 and they were fabulous. Thank you for sharing this video with the world.
Thank You for the kind words. I think this is likely the best video Ive shot to date for the same reasons you cited.... you can FEEL the emotion, not just hear it. I remember the hairs standing up on my arms, and tears welling up in my eyes as I shot it and 26 years later, it can still bring that same feeling back.Glad you found it, and Thanks for watching ! :)
Thanks for sharing this video I used to love listening to them back in the early 90s. Listened to them every day in 1993 while I was building a silo on a farm up on Mabou ridge. As far as I'm concerned Cape Breton has to have the best singer's per population of any where in the world
Wow.....35000 + views now....... I never would have thought that many of you would find this in the short time you have. For those who stumble upon in in the future or revisit it again, make sure you listen far enough to hear her hit and hold "the note" (you'll know it when you hear it, but for those who are impatient, start at around 4:20). If your mind was blown before that stage, then you are in for a treat. Enjoy and Thanks Again for watching! :)
First time I ever heard this song was actually at a school concert here in Toronto, and I was blown away by it. Then I looked for the original, and you can imagine my reaction!
Glad you enjoyed it..... I know its not the same as being there, but its as close as I could come to sharing the experience with those who were not lucky enough to be in the room that day :) Thanks for watching and taking the time to post
Thanks for the compliment on the video.....I'm REALLY glad its being enjoyed and received so well, and that you even compare anything I shot to the work of people who actually get paid to do it :)
Harry Jamm We love the Rankins. Of all the songs they did, this is my wife's favourite. We have seen them on stage a couple of times, and have seen videos of them. But when I shared this with her, all she could say was "Oh my goodness!!" God keep you well, Raylene, and John Morris!
:) They were still selling cassettes out of the trunk of their car at the time, so this was just before the rest of the world outside Nova Scotia found out who they were. Glad you found it. Thanks for watching
I remember this show like it was yesterday, good ol' Bruce Jacobs on bass playing that wicked Kubicki Factor that I ended up owning shortly after. Dear Raylene, still kills me to see that face and hear that voice, poor John Morris, then tragedy for Raylene, too much for one family.
I know :) Its probably one of the best performances I will ever capture in my life..... was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time (with a camcorder) :)
Halifax Nova Scotia at The Pub Flamingo for The Showcase acts of the 1st East Coast Music Awards (Before anyone really had heard of them outside NS) They got their record deal soon after I shot this
Thanks :) I have the original video tape it was recorded on, andits backed up on a DVD as a AVI besides the version here, so its as safe as I can make it :)
Does anyone know Cookie's vocal register? Thank you. I love then and I am sorry I did not get to see them. God bless this lovely family. And thank you for the music for all times. Love from Ontario.
I was apart of the Ulster Youth Choirs' 20th-anniversary concert where we finished with this song. Sung by 3 choirs, junior, training and main choir; along with the alumni choir. It was truly a magical moment that I will forever remember. Here's the link if you're interested: facebook.com/flynnperformingarts/videos/1120891054773563/UzpfSTEwMDAwODMxMjg4Mjc0NToyNDY4MTIzMzUzNDc0NzM3/?id=100008312882745
Nice to see a that their music has such a far reaching fan base and is being enjoyed by so many outside of the Maritimes. I know they don't need my help spreading the word anymore, but when I shot this video, they were still selling cassettes out of the trunk of their car and we're just starting to get noticed outside of Cape Breton. It makes me happy that it's still being enjoyed today, and has reached many more then the 300 or so people orinally in attendance. Glad you found and enjoyed it...Thanks for watching
Cape Breton ....... what can anyone say ? ....... most talent anywhere , Rankin's .... Rita .... Aselin ..... Ashley ..... and the list goes on and on , for a small place , there sure is plenty talent there .
@@harryjamm 4 + years later and the hay is finally in !! lol . I'm back for more of that good Cape Breton music .... Hope you are still around and doing well .
I'm still alive and kicking! Glad to see you are still enjoying it. I have some Minglewood from last months Liverpool show that will be up soon.... Just busy with a backlog of video from the summer. Good to see the Hay is finally in.... Enjoy the down time!
Still wonder how we didn't all get thrown out by the fire marshall, it couldn't have been legal to have that many drunk musicians all crammed into the Flamingo :) lol Fortunately nobody was moshing that night, it was the Flamingo afterall.
Glad you found it. Was a good weekend of music and my first ECMA related shoot. There are more or them and the other showcase bands from that night and others in the channel if you search. I really need to do a better job of organizing stuff to make it easier to find :) Thanks for watching.
no idea.... I'm just the guy who pointed the camera in the right direction :) But they were def ON that night...... its still one of the best times I've seen em myself
She couldn’t hear herself over the noise of the audience. She’s leaning close into her monitor so that she keeps singing on key. Nowadays we have ear monitors 😊
No control over that.... they were def drunk though.... storm raging outside so most decided they might as well wait it out in the bar, and what else is there to do but drink in that situation :)
