Friday, March 27, 2020

Music legends John Fogerty, Brian Wilson, and others hook up with Rolling Stone to present "In My Room" series as a form of emotional relief from coronavirus




If you could use something besides news related to the coronavirus -- and who couldn't these days -- how about a musical interlude from an American treasure?

We are talking about John Fogerty, who has been turning out classic tunes since 1967, when he was the creative force -- singer, songwriter, lead guitarist, producer -- for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Fogerty recently hooked up with Rolling Stone (RS) to play three CCR classics -- "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," "Bad Moon Rising, and "Long As I Can See the Light" --  as part of the magazine's "In my Room" series, which is dedicated to helping Americans survive the most dangerous public-health threat of our lifetimes. (See video at the top of this post.)

At age 74, Fogerty sounds just as good as he did when these songs were recorded in 1969-70. "Long As I can See the Light" is the least known of the three songs on the clip, but it features an all-time great vocal performance, on top of a haunting piano progression.

Speaking of American treasures, Brian Wilson is at the heart of the "In My Room" series, and it is named for one of his most beloved Beach Boys tunes. Wilson was featured in the first series clip, and we invite you to savor his performance below.

What about origins of the "In My Room" series. Here are details from RS:

With the coronavirus crisis rapidly unfolding, artists and venues around the globe are coming up with innovative ways to keep the lights on and the music playing — without leaving the house.

Today, with that in mind, Rolling Stone is launching a new IGTV series titled “In My Room.” The first episode kicks off with a very special performance by Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson. Sitting at the piano in his California home, Wilson begins with a short instrumental performance of “In My Room,” the Beach Boys’ early classic from 1963. From there, Wilson goes to a bright, upbeat solo piano version of the group’s 1968 comeback hit, “Do It Again,” followed by a heartfelt take on his 1988 solo single “Love and Mercy.”

“I was sitting in my room and the news came on TV/A lot of people out there hurting and it really scared me,” Wilson sings, California sunshine streaming in through his window. “Love and mercy, that’s what you need tonight/Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight.”

We’ll be releasing episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3 p.m. ET on Rolling Stone’s Instagram — with legacy artists and newer names; with artists across genres and across the globe. It will be an intimate, unforgettable experience that you won’t want to miss.

We’re all experiencing this pandemic in different ways — and we’re all in this together. Artists need our support, and they can also help get us through troubled times. We’re looking forward to giving fans a glimpse into the many ways music can help and heal.





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