As Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize builds toward its finale, Local Spins asked a performer in this week’s WOOD TV8/Talsma Concert Series to offer up her playlist of favorites, from Patsy Cline to Coldplay.
The Local Spins Guest Playlist: Kari Lynch
EDITOR’S NOTE: To coincide with the sixth annual ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids — which features 86 music entries, busking stations for songwriters and this week’s WOOD TV8/Talsma Concert Series at Rosa Parks Circle — Local Spins asked some ArtPrize-related organizers and performers to submit their current playlists of favorite songs. Consider it music to ogle art by.
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Kari Lynch
Grand Rapids country singer Kari Lynch is as passionate about her music as any West Michigan songwriter or musician, something that’s helped catapult the Kari Lynch Band to the top of the region’s country music scene. As part of Wednesday’s “Country Night” in the WOOD TV 8/Talsma Concert Series kickoff show, the Kari Lynch Band will take the Rosa Parks Circle stage in downtown Grand Rapids at 7 p.m., following a 6 p.m. set by Annabelle Road.
Local Spins asked Lynch to offer up her Top 10 list of tunes as a Guest Playlist. OK, she actually submitted 11, squeezing in new local duo WilsonWhitley as a current favorite. Nothing wrong with that. There’s even a Spotify version of the entire list for your listening pleasure. (Check out other Local Spins Guest Playlists here.)
By the way, the winners of the $2,000 in five categories in the ArtPrize song contest sponsored by St. Cecilia Music Center will be announced on Friday, along with the big ArtPrize winners. Read more about the song competition in this Local Spins story. Now, onto Lynch’s playlist …
1. “Crazy,” Patsy Cline — I will never forget sitting in my grandma’s car and hearing this song for the first time when I was 6 years old. I remember my grandma saying, “I know you love to sing, Kari, and I think you oughta hear what singing is all about.” She slipped the tape in the cassette player and I fell hard in love. I was absolutely wrapped up the entire two-and-a-half minutes it played. Simplicity. Just good lyrics and music. Every time I hear or sing this song I go back to that moment. Patsy Cline inspired me to start writing music … and I will forever be thankful for that. It’s wonderful to have this song and feeling to go back to when I think about the moment I knew music was going to be a huge part of my life. Also, you have to love music that was recorded in one take, no Auto-Tune or frills, just one take on a great song.
2. “Make You Feel My Love,” Bob Dylan — I think this is probably the most beautiful love song ever written. The first version I heard of this song was the Garth Brooks version (which is lovely). This is one of those songs where lyrics and music come together like magic in the most simple way. It’s brilliant. There is something about this song that makes me stop in my tracks: the sure sign of a good song. It’s everything a love song should be and I don’t think I have ever listened to it without tearing up at least a little.
3. “Say It To Me Now,” Glen Hansard — The opening scene of “Once” when Glen Hansard is singing this song and pouring every last bit of his heart out onto a street of people walking by, just vulnerable, exposed and covered in the emotion behind the song makes me fall to the ground and just hold my heart. My God. That is what a song is suppose to do to you. I could watch him perform this song a million times and it would still bring me to my knees and just kill me every time.
4. “Everything’s Not Lost,” Coldplay — Coldplay is my favorite band. I think Chris Martin is a genius and an amazing writer. I don’t think there is a writer/band that is better at making music and lyrics work together to create a stunning piece of work that you feel from every angle. For me, songs are good songs when they say something in a beautiful or different way, but say it simply. “Everything’s Not Lost” feels like a conversation. It’s so simply powerful. To be honest, this song hit me at a time when I really needed it. I think the universe does that with art. I think that’s why we hear a specific song when we need to hear it and we think, “It’s like this song was written for me and describes my life exactly.”
5. “Colors,” Amos Lee — I’m a big Amos Lee fan. “Colors” is the first song I heard of his and it’s still my favorite. I’m sure some of that is due in part to it being attached to a certain, memorable time in my life. I appreciate simplicity in music. I appreciate a song that is as powerful as a full arrangement as it is with only the artist and a guitar. The acoustic version of this song is my favorite. This is one of those songs for me. Honest and beautifully written about losing love and how it makes the world go gray.
6. “The Highway,” Holly Williams — “The Highway” is the title track off Holly William’s latest album. I’ve only known about Holly Williams and her music for about two years now and she is one of my favorites. “The Highway” is wonderfully written about the love affair that musicians have with the road and how missing it is missing home. Holly wrote this song after she had been off the road for while and was wondering how and if she’d get back to it. I was driving back to Michigan from Nashville when I first heard this song and I cried like a child at how powerful it is to long for the road like you long for love. The piano that comes in at the end kills me in the best way.
7. “When You Come Back Down,” Nickel Creek — Beautifully written. No matter what, you have to appreciate the exceptional musicianship from Nickel Creek. I was 18 when I heard this song. I know a song will stay with me forever when I hear it and it takes me right back to the feeling and the moment when I first heard it. This song makes me remember what it is to be green, to dream big and how free and pure and beautiful the innocence of youth is.
8. “Nothing Fancy,” Dave Barnes — I love this love song. Dave Barnes is a supa songwriter. I always imagine writing a love song that does for other people what this song does for so many. It’s the simple lyric, simple guitar and simple message that makes it special. Love is a magnificent and all powerful thing; it’s so big. But it’s simple when it comes down to two people and being in love. It’s not flashy. Real love isn’t always well-dressed and sparkly; it doesn’t have to be to be amazing and life-changing. I think “Nothing Fancy” captures that so well.
9. “The River,” Garth Brooks — This is my theme song for life. Garth Brooks, along with Patsy Cline, has been one of my biggest inspirations. I heard this song for the first time when I was in middle school and I’ve since listened to it every time I have ever felt defeated. I think anyone trying to do something in life that seems unreachable can relate to this song. You have to do it, that one thing you are passionate about, that one thing you were designed for. You have to do it for no other reason then that you just have to. “You know a dream is like a river, ever-changing as it flows. And the dreamer’s just a vessel that must follow where it goes.”
10. “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” Bonnie Raitt — I’ve been singing Bonnie Raitt songs since I was a little girl. She’s been a huge musical inspiration of mine. I appreciate how raw this song is. Someone just laying it down, understanding what the situation is and accepting the pain and reality of it — giving up on someone you love because they will never love you back. That stuff is hard to write about, it takes a brave heart to be that honest.
11. “Feels Like Love,” WilsonWhitley — I may be a little biased about this Grand Rapids based duo, as they are two of my friends, but they are fantastic and this song is a reflection of that. Lucas Wilson and Hannaniah Whitely make up WilsonWhitley. Both of them are wonderful singer-songwriters on their own and when they join forces, it’s pretty darned great. “Feels Like Love” is their first single and it’s well-written musically and lyrically. These two are a fine example of the local talent here in Michigan.
Listen to the WilsonWhitley song here (or in the Spotify playlist below): http://wilsonwhitley.bandcamp.com/releases
KARI LYNCH’S LOCAL SPINS GUEST PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
Kari Lynch
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
