Photo courtesy of MichaelMcDonald.com
(May 13, 2020) In these unusual days in which we're living, we find ourselves seeking comfort food -- the things of our youth that make us feel a bit safer and in control. Many of us are feeling the same thing about our music now, as we seek the great songs of our lifetimes, basking in the joy of their familiarity.
Legendary singer and songwriter Michael McDonald has been doing a bit of that, too. During the coronavirus pandemic he has been capturing some of his recent live recordings of classic songs -- especially those that lyrically touch this moment we're in -- and has released them to his fans. Last month, we heard his passionate take on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and today he has issued a slowed down, soulful take on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic, "What The World Needs Now."
(May 13, 2020) In these unusual days in which we're living, we find ourselves seeking comfort food -- the things of our youth that make us feel a bit safer and in control. Many of us are feeling the same thing about our music now, as we seek the great songs of our lifetimes, basking in the joy of their familiarity.
Legendary singer and songwriter Michael McDonald has been doing a bit of that, too. During the coronavirus pandemic he has been capturing some of his recent live recordings of classic songs -- especially those that lyrically touch this moment we're in -- and has released them to his fans. Last month, we heard his passionate take on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and today he has issued a slowed down, soulful take on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic, "What The World Needs Now."
This is a song that has, at times, been recorded in a too-glossy fashion, removing the true impact of the pleading lyrics, but McDonald and his band do it great justice, capturing both the hope and the challenge of the words with a fantastic performance. Check it out below.
Michael McDonald
"What The World Needs Now" (Live)