'Tennesse Waltz'

[Andrew]

Hi All,

I'd really love to hear Hayley sing a cover of the following very famous song, co-written by country music star Frank "Peewee" King, who died in March 2000, aged 86. 'Tennessee Waltz', became a number one hit in 1950, when Patti Page recorded it. I first heard the song performed as a duet at an 'open mic' evening in 2003 by two very talented musicians.

I really think Hayley's voice would be suited to the mood and tempo of this beautiful song. The arrangement could be changed to include only 2 instruments for accompaniment- an acoustic guitar and a bass.

Listen to a rendition of 'Tennessee Waltz' here:
www.mmjp.or.jp/amlang.atc/audio/tenness.htm

Tennessee Waltz
by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King[/font][/color][/size]

I was waltzing with my darlin' to the Tennesse waltz
when an old friend I happened to see.
I introduced him to my loved one,
and while they were waltzing
my friend stole my sweet-heart from me.

I remember the night and the Tennessee waltz.
Now I know just how much I have lost.
Yes I lost my little darlin' the night
they were playing the beautiful Tennessee waltz.

I was waltzing with my darlin' to the Tennesse waltz
when an old friend I happened to see.
I introduced him to my loved one,
and while they were waltzing
my friend stole my sweet-heart from me.

I remember the night and the Tennessee waltz.
Now I know just how much I have lost.
Yes I lost my little darlin' the night
they were playing the beautiful Tennessee waltz.

Here are the chords for the song:

Moderately slow
3/4 | C | C | C | C ||
||: C | C | C7 | F | C | C | G7 | G7 |
| C | C | C7 | F | C | G7 | C | C |
| C | E7 | F | C | C | C | G7 | G7 |
| C | C | C7 | F | C | G7 |
1. | C | C | 2. | C | C ||

Regards,

Andrew

[portia]

I heard Leonard Cohen do this song and I can't imagine Hayley being able to sing this well.

[Andrew]

Hi Portia,

Thanks for your feedback- that's an interesting comment. Did you hear a live rendition of the song?

In your opinion, do you think perhaps that the song is not suitable for Hayley to sing, due to the style/ subject matter of the song, or due to the key the song is written in?

Certainly, Patti Page's version of the song is written in a key which one might argue is more sympathetic to a contralto voice range, as opposed to that of a soprano. I'm sure however, the song could be transposed to a different key in order to suit a soprano voice too.

Portia, in your view is the genre of country music (in general) a viable option for Hayley?

Post your comments in the appropriate thread:
'Is country music a viable option for Hayley'

Regards,

Andrew

[portia]

Yes, I did. I don't think Hayley can get the feel of country music, nor could she get the jadedness of the song. The closest she got was I Say Grace which I thought was really rather weak and the subject matter is much lighter than Tennessee Waltz.

[stevemacdonald]

I prefer "Dark Waltz".

But before we make too many assumptions about the types of music Hayley won't rightly get the feel of, consider how effortlessly "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" came to her and how convincing she was as a ghostly alt-rocker in wuthering, wuthering, "Wuthering Heights". Methinks we've just scratched the surface of her flexibility. Variety might turn out to be her middle name and I would encourage her to try everything.

We all know that American country music has its roots in English, Irish and Scottish folk music -- so Hayley is not exactly entering a forbidden planet here. If she were to record "Tennessee Waltz" as a duet with fellow Kiwi Keith Urban it might put her over the top.

[Andrew]

Hi there.

This is all good constructive criticism... huh? Just what Forums like this are made for! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Hmm... Portia, I'm not sure it's fair to compare 'I Say Grace' (a more positive song- where Hayley sings about a Love that she has found with a hint of "Gospel mama" in there!) with the sad, contemplative (and indeed as you suggest "jaded") "tears in your beer" style of 'Tennessee Waltz' (a song about a lost love) I agree with you that perhaps the song is not an easy one to sing.

Just to keep a healthy argument going here, personally I think Hayley handled 'I Say Grace' very well! There again, I may be biased because I love Gospel style songs and want to hear many more from Hayley!

"As I went down in the river to pray..."

Regards,

Andrew

[Andrew]

stevemacdonald said:

We all know that American country music has its roots in English, Irish and Scottish folk music -- so Hayley is not exactly entering a forbidden planet here. If she were to record "Tennessee Waltz" as a duet with fellow Kiwi Keith Urban it might put her over the top.

Hey Steve I like your ideas!

The suggestion of Hayley singing 'Tennessee Waltz' as a duet with Keith Urban sounds fantastic!

I hope both Hayley and Keith read this!

Regards,

Andrew