Alison Krauss
Category: Uncategorized
There was a post recently on Street Prophets, asking readers about “Music that Moves You Spiritually.”
What music moves you? What music inspires you? What music has helped you get through tough times, or captured the joy you felt would make you burst?
One of my answers is Alison Krauss. The first time I heard her music was on the soundtrack to Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, and I’ve recently picked up some more of her songs on iTunes. She has a gorgeous voice. Now, I know that at least half of the time she is singing about Jesus, and I’m not Christian. But this really doesn’t bother me. Her music gives me a sense of peace.
Here are a few videos that feature my favorite songs of hers:
This gentle, soul-searching song seems incongruent with the tone of the Tonight Show, where Krauss performed it. But I guess she’s cool enough to pull it off!
This YouTube video shows nature footage from the BBC, with Krauss’s song in the background.
A love song!
October 9th, 2007 16:19
I like Allison Krause a lot too, Shelby, and find her to be a refreshing voice in a field where there is often a lot of show-offy singing.
October 9th, 2007 18:24
I have a fair number of A.K. CDs, (easy to do, since she’s been recording since she was 14). I would guess that around 10% of her recordings is religious music.
I personaly would recommend her old stuff (start with the collection: “Now That I found You” from 1995. Which you can see some of her roots - not enough as she is a great fiddle player.
Her upcoming (later this month) CD is a duo with Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. -
October 9th, 2007 19:19
When she visited our town to preform the first time she was shopping in one of the local quilt shops when the owner called the police to have “a scrawny blond with dirty feet” removed from the store. She sang to a sold out crowd that night and she forgave the town on the spot because we loved her so completely.
October 9th, 2007 21:50
Ms. Kitty, StevenR, and Jacqueline, Thanks for writing in! It is great to hear from other UU fans of Krauss. That story about her being kicked out of the shop is wild!
October 9th, 2007 22:39
I absolutely ADORE Allison Krauss’ songs. If you like her stuff you might also like the music that the trio known as Nickel Creek make. Unfortunately they are going on an hiatus for an undetermined amount of time.
Anyway, to answer the question… what music moves me. A lot of the music by the prog metal band, Tool, really gets me inspired both physically and spiritually… particularly this song called Parabola.
“Swirling round with this familiar parable
Spinning, weaving round each new experience
Recognize this as a holy gift and
Celebrate this chance to be
Alive and breathing,
the chance to be…. Alive and breathing
This body holding me
reminds me of my own mortality
Embrace this moment, remember:
we are eternal, all this pain is an illusion”
lyrics by Maynard James Keenan
October 10th, 2007 00:03
Hearing AK sing “A Living Prayer” is almost enough to make me convert — what a gorgeous song!
Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of inspiration from the music of Krishna Das. I especially recommend his “God Is Real.”
October 10th, 2007 11:48
Thanks for all the music recommendations!
Steven R, I listened to some of the songs from the “Now That I Found You” collection this morning, and my favorite was “I Will.” Julian, I agree the lyrics of Parabola are beautiful. Jim, I listened to Krishna Das’s “God is Real” this morning, and downloaded it (wonderful music for meditation!) Das’s website is very interesting too.
January 21st, 2008 00:43
I love Alison Krauss, especially “Down in the River to Pray”. My favorites though are Dolly Parton, Jim & Jennie & the Pinetops, and Neko Case. Although Neko has not recorded nearly as many old-time gospel songs as Dolly or Jim & Jennie, she has made a few. But I really love Dolly’s: “Shine”, “Travelin’ Thru”, “Hello God”, “Raven Dove”, “Go Tell It on the Mountain”, “John Daniel”, “Stairway to Heaven”, “When Jesus Comes Calling for Me”, “Shine On”, “In the Sweet By and By”, “There Will Be Peace in the Valley”, “The Seeker”, and “Wings of a Dove” (all available on iTunes).
January 21st, 2008 00:56
P.S. I also love Krishna Das’ and some neo-Pagan music, notably Gwydion Pendderen’s “Songs for the Old Religion” and Sharon Knight’s “Incantation”.
February 22nd, 2008 18:56
I found this blog when I was poking around for Alison Krauss related stuff. I’m a real fan, have all her CDs (even the early ones) and have seen her a number of times. I’m not Christian (Jewish, actually - read on), but I totally enjoy her gospel stuff. I once spent time talking to Ron Block (who is in the background in your picture), who wrote, among other religiously infused songs, There Is A Reason, and effused wildly about his work. … Here’s a story you might enjoy: Last year I found myself in a small Southern town for about a week. Needless to say, there were dozens of Baptist-Church of Christ-etc. mega churches all over the region, especially out on the State Highway. In Town, I found a beautiful old Presbyterian Church, as well as a small Catholic Church and a stone Lutheran Church, all in the older, more residential part of town. On the outskirts of the residence I drove past a Unitarian/Universalist Church and, further out, eyed a Bahai Faith center. I said to myself: “So where’s the Synagogue?” and started over to the Unitarian/Universalists, since I figured they would be pleased to tell me if, indeed, I could find a minyan. Well, the Unitarian/Universalists were closed for the afternoon, and I figured that I would be at bay for the next few days but, I drove around a little more and lo and behold found a handsome little reform synagogue, which I had missed (it was right in Town, around the corner from the Lutherans). Had I not found the Synagogue, I would have ended up in the back row of the Unitarian/Universalists, keeping within the Pentateuch, where I know I would have been welcomed.
February 24th, 2008 17:16
Hi Sam,
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve heard from a number of non-Christian Alison Krauss fans through this post.
I enjoyed your story about looking for the synagogue in town and figuring the UU church could be your next stop :-) My husband is Jewish and we had our wedding in my church; my experience has been that many Jewish people attend UU congregations (whether as members, visitors or supportive spouses) and welcome.