There's an interesting facet to musical covers; often done by artists trying to demarcate themselves further in the scene, their creative take on an original hit can bring out even more from an already established classic. This is certainly the case with Laura Pursell's cover of "Shooting Star," an acclaimed hit from Bob Dylan. It's no small feat to cover a song that got shortlisted as 'one of the greatest songs' from the iconic singer-songwriter in the 80s, after listening however, we wholeheartedly believe this serves as a genuine homage to the evergreen, and here's our take on it.
Perhaps it will be apt to quote the saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" in briefly describing Laura Pursell's musical career: being the daughter of the famed pop-music composer and pianist Bill Pursell, the American songstress has been consistently active in the scene since the 2000s, publishing several albums and singles (collaborating with her father in many of them). In the last two decades or so, her musical catalog has crossed multiple genres while sticking close to roots; from the lush and velvety records such as "It Had To Be You" in her debut album that immediately transports to the golden Swing era, her more recent releases such as "Ode to Billy Joe" blends blues and Americana with a sophisticated fusion of Jazz in its arrangements. Her previous album "Shooting Star" (which also first featured the said cover) saw the vocalist tap into Country & Western realms with compelling performances, resulting in several breezy and polished numbers namely "Some Day Soon" and "Both Sides Now."
Taking the seventh position of the aforementioned album, this rendition of "Shooting Star" follows earnestly in the footsteps of its inspiration; it begins with a relaxed acoustic guitar playing the recognizable melody, and subdued percussions set the backdrop cadence. The vocals are immediately riveting, serving as a graceful and mellow presence over the spacious instrumental giving ample room to the airy performance to capture attention. An electric guitar introduces a grabby and stimulating solo towards the end, offering a nice flourish. This version effortlessly breathes a new life into the memorable songwriting, narrating a tragic and timeless story about a relationship that met an abrupt end, written from the perspective of a heartbroken lover still coming to terms with it.
You can listen to "Shooting Star" on Spotify and stay in the loop with Laura Pursell on her Instagram.
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