Written by David Foster & Eric Benet

“Hurricane” was the title track from Eric Benet’s 2005 album. For that record, Benet worked extensively with David Foster who co-wrote and produced some of the material including “Hurricane.” In 2007, Dutch jazz singer Alex Ryon released his self-titled debut album that included a wonderful cover of “Hurricane.”

Benet’s original was given an acoustic soul treatment in the tradition of soul greats like Bill Withers, while Alex Ryon gave it a groovy jazz treatment. Ryon’s very good vocal performance plus the jazz combo backing him up truly brought the song to another dimension. There’s also a great guitar solo toward the end that echoes Pat Metheny’s style. Ryon’s take on “Hurricane” is more sheer evidence of the weight and substance of Foster’s songbook. Sure he writes pop songs, but always with depth, originality and class that make them unique. “Alex Ryon” also presents other well conceived
covers of pop classics like George Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun,” Boz Scaggs’ “Harbor Lights” and Michael Franks’ “Soul Mate.” If you’re looking for new talent in the pop/jazz world, give “Alex Ryon” a listen. You won’t be disappointed.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/hurricane.mp3|titles=Alex Ryon|artists=Urricane]

Lead Vocals: Alec Ryon
Electric Guitars: Martijin Van Iterson
Acoustic & Electric Guitars: Wim Bronnenberg
Grand Piano, Keyboards & Fender: Hans Vroomans
Bass: Udo Pannekeet
Drums: Marcel Serierse
Drums: Chris Strik
Percussion: Arthur van den Enk
Tenor & Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet: Tom Beek
Backing Vocals: Wies Ingwersen

Arranged by Udo Pannekeet
Produced by Udo Pannekeet & Alex Ryon

Standing here in disarray
A calm serenity
The winds of change can devastate
And it took this much for me
With nowhere to run and no reason left to hide
Gonna hold on
All the walls around are broken down
Now I can hear the rising sun

Surrounded by everything I want
But nothing that I need
I was blinded by the absurdity
Losing all identity
Sometimes what you fear the most is what you need
To find that road
Right around that curve a lesson learned
Now that I have the eyes to see

A hurricane, a hurricane
Is sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
A hurricane, a hurricane
Is sometimes the only thing that brings you back again

With poison toys I’d isolate
But the wind was strong and true
But now I see where the tree house is
‘Cause they only blocked my view
I’m spiraling down but so oblivious
Got to find my way home
There’s a heart that bleeds trapped in me
But how do I break this shell of stone

A hurricane, a hurricane
Is sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
A hurricane, a hurricane
Is sometimes the only thing that brings you back again

Sometimes I cried, the tears wouldn’t fall
And sometimes I tried to break those walls
And feel your love
But I came alive
When I finally found my way

A hurricane, a hurricane
Is sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
A hurricane, a hurricane
Is sometimes the only thing that brings you back again