from AMERICA
Written by Paul Simon
Closer was released in November 2003 and was Josh Groban’s sophomore cd. After a couple of months in the Top Ten, it zoomed at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 at the dawn of 2004. Produced by David Foster, that milestone cd eventually sold over six million copies in the US alone. That triumphant chart performance led to a high-profile tour that sent the young singer all over the US to perform at sold-out venues. His tour was captured on Groban’s next cd/dvd entitled Live At The Greek. Recorded at Los Angeles’ infamous Greek Theater, Live At The Greek delivered top ratings when broadcasted on the PBS “Great Performances” series, became an out-of-the-box best-seller and was certified six-times platinum.
The core of Live At The Greek was made of songs fromCloser, a few classics from Josh Groban plus a couple of new tracks. David Foster along with Humberto Gatica were in charge of the music production. As a result, the recording was top-notch with Josh’s voice delivered in all its magnificent power and class. The gifted singer was at his peak and Groban was supported by an outstanding band with the impressive Tariq Akoni on guitar and an orchestra that increased the power of music on display.
Among the great moments on Live At The Greek, this weekly review selected a stunning, piano/voice rendition of ” America .” The Paul Simon timeless masterpiece fits Groban like a glove. Groban’s piano playing was noteworthy and his vocal performance was nothing short of brilliant. Groban added the right amount of intensity and power to Simon’s famous lyrics and brought the adoring audience to its knees.
On a more personal note, this review is dedicated to the memory of the late Courtney Blooding (March 4, 1980 to May 24, 2016) who passed away a few months ago. Courtney was part of Foster’s team at the time of the release of Live At The Greek. She was a dear, friendly soul who will be remembered by those lucky enough to meet her. R.I.P.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Josh-Groban-America-Live-at-the-Greek.mp3|titles=America|artists=Josh Groban]
Lead Vocal & Piano: Josh Groban
Produced by David Foster & Humberto Gatica
Lyrics
Let us be lovers, we’ll marry our fortunes together
I’ve got some real estate here in my bag
So we bought a pack of cigarettes, and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America
Cathy, I said, as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburg
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
And I’ve come to look for America
Laughin’ on the bus, playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gaberdine suit was a spy
I said be careful, his bowtie is really a camera
Toss me a cigarette, I think there’s one in my raincoat
We smoked the last one an hour ago
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field
Cathy, I’m lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I’m empty and I’m aching and I don’t know why
Countin’ the cars on the New Jersey turnpike
They’ve all come to look for America, all come to look for America
[Instrumental break]
Countin’ the cars on the New Jersey turnpike
They’ve all come to look for America, all come to look for America
All come to look for America