Ed and Ben II by ~dcantoni
©2009-2010 ~dcantoni

ben harper eddie vedder duet

 keller1 wrote: 
Really?  Jackson Browne? Wow. I don't mean any disrespect by this - but maybe it's a generational thing.  Jackson Browne and his great band would be the last thing on earth I'd compare Ben Harper to.  Harper's guitar players make noise with their Devi-ever stompboxes...  Mark Goldenberg (Jackson Browne's band) is an unbelievable technically trained studio guitarist who can play in any style, sight-read anything put in front of him, and do it with emotion and musicality.  He doesn't depend on noise boxes.  the rest of his band ditto - they're refined and calculated where  Harper's band is like a garage band on meth - just going for it -  barely in tune.  It's like trying to compare Steely Dan to the Ramones IMO.   Or  Larry Carleton to  Pearl Jam   They're two totally different things. ( IMO)

Jackson Browne is part of the whole southern CA  JD Souther/Bonnie Raitt /John Hall /Don Henley songwriting tradition. Their perspective as writers is totally different,  the music is much more mainstream/commercial (I don't mean that in a bad way) . But mostly- Browne is a totally different kind of singer. Laid back and easy to listen to - I'd compare Jackson Browne and James Taylor -  their styles are very similar - they "sing" where Ben Harper screeches and screams. I've never heard Jackson Browne cut loose and scream or even push his range -  Harper does it with regularity.    That's not to say you're wrong - I would not say that because there is no right or wrong here — you think they sound similar... so to you they do.  And -I've been listening to Jackson Browne for 30 yrs or whatever - I didn't know Ben Harper existed until a a year ago and know very little about him.  My total frame of reference is Jimmy Kimmel and  Austin City Limits (better... still bad... but much better than Kimmel)    Best Regards .

Ran to the computer to comment on this song, only to discover I'd done that in February.  Well, it's March, and I still LOVE this beautiful song!  Thanks for playing it!

Love this song!  It actually inspired me to write a new song.  When I first heard it, I picked up my guitar and couldn't put it down for hours.  It's hauntingly beautiful and Ben's voice is perfect.  Both the song and his voice remind me of Nick Drake.  Exceptional!

Twice I've seen Ben Harper play live, and I'd go see him again - no question. 

 bloughmee wrote: 

Whew ... where to start.

I think that there are a lot of similarities between Ben Harper and Jackson Browne.

Both are talented.  Harper's band is better, but that's just my opinion.  And I've seen em both live.

The bottom line is good songs.  Browne has a few, Harper maybe a few less, but this is no slam dunk, my friend.

I tend to find Ben Harper a bit all over the place.  Some I cannot stand and others are great.  This is later.  A well deserved 8.

 OldFrenchie wrote: 

I agree wholeheartedly! This song stops me in my tracks, every time. I'm forced to listen and enjoy. The deep feeling in the song is incredible.

Bleat bleat bleat....

Well said .
OldFrenchie wrote: 

Not seen any live performances and apparently I'm not missing much, but perhaps that allows me to rate this song for what it is.. and that's a 7.

 Mugro wrote: 

I don't want to offend you Mugro - one person's coal is another's diamond and everyone has their own taste in music.. it's totally subjective.. but I'm not seeing it or hearing it.   He really looks uncomfortable on stage - like his mommy is making him sing at the garden club or something.  He might be a talented songwriter but as a performer, honestly - he drew my pity as a performer.  He is so completely out of his league I found it embarrassing to watch him struggle.  Sort of like watching George Bush butcher his way through a sentence - he tries to make a point but has such limited vocabulary he is unable to.

 rocklandlove wrote: 

Stylistically - yes.

 wrangler wrote:  

I just caught this dude on Jimmy Kimmel - honestly felt pitifully sorry for him and his band.  They looked and sounded like a bunch of terrified kids in high school playing at their first dance.  Just awful  - amatuerish.   I find it hard to believe an A/R pro at a major record label would give this a second listen, much less sign him.   As a songwriter, maybe there's something there... but if y'all remember Burt Bacharach, one of the greatest writers of the 60s...  he didn't try to sing his own material b/c he knew he couldn't cut it.

And it's not like Ben is a dynamic performer with at mediocre voice... he's a terrible performer with no ability to sing.  I hate to put it that way - but today the bar is so high.   Heard Jackson Browne tonight on Soundstage (PBS) - now there is a talented singer-songwriter with an unbelievable band.

 jwb wrote: 

BINGO. 

 robco1 wrote: 

Very ironic.  The main criticism I and some others have with Ben Harper is that his singing lacks soul, or any emotional involvement of any kind, for that matter.  This particular piece is exemplary in that regard.

Is it just me, or do you find yourself thinking of Cat Stevens when you hear this song? (perfect segue would be into "Into White"!)

Awesome follow-up to Todd Hannigan.

Darn, I always seem to miss this song! 

Yes indeed.

OldFrenchie wrote: 

 OldFrenchie wrote: 

I like this song, but it gets more airplay here than it should.

A nice sentiment, but melodically and tempo-wise it doesn't cut it.

today i was pissed at the world and this song reminded me why i was and still am so bitter

Odyzzeuz wrote:

There you are, now you go turn yourself.

JohnBauer wrote:
That's damning with faint praise!

Beats the socks off Nick Harper's Blue Sky Thinking. I like it. Haunting strings. Soulful vocals. Are the rest of his tracks this good?

Odyzzeuz wrote:
I don't think we need any more knobs round here.

Heath Ledger directed a very, very beautiful music video to this song. It's worth searching for on youtube.

the more I hear of Ben Harper, the more I like. What a talented artist!!