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Boomer Anthems: Joan Osborne – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted with the Funk Brothers


Back in the 20th Century, I knew Janis and while Joan’s not Janis, she’s as close to Janis as we’ll get in this century.

“I walk in shadows searching for light
Cold and alone no comfort in sight
Hoping and praying for someone to care
Always moving and going nowhere

What becomes of the brokenhearted
Who had love that’s now departed
I know I’ve got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Help me”

 

 
And if, after you catch your breath, you’d like to know more about this performance, the learned Wings of Pegasus lays it all out for you.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • browndog May 4, 2018, 11:38 AM

    I’ve always loved the original version, but – my oh my – Joanne owns it going forward.

    Y’all should look into the feature on Motown, Standing in the Shadows. That’s where this clip comes from.

  • browndog May 4, 2018, 11:39 AM

    Joan
    …sorry ’bout that.

  • Transgender Aisha May 4, 2018, 5:22 PM

    “Standing in the Shadows” was runner up to an Oscar but lost out to tub of lard Michael Moore’s lie fest “Fahrenheit 911”.

  • Dutch May 4, 2018, 8:15 PM

    Joan Osborne’s version was done as a retrospective with the original Motown house musicians backing her, and this version itself is now 16 to 17 years old. Many of those behind her have passed on now. To say nothing of what has happened to Detroit in the last two decades or so. Time flies, doesn’t it?

    • gwbnyc April 23, 2022, 9:50 AM

      To say nothing of what has happened to Detroit in the last two decades or so

      …I refer to it as “Urban Governance at Its Finest”.

  • El Polacko May 5, 2018, 7:54 AM

    Just re-ran “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” the other night, and just about stood up and cheered after Osborne’s version of that great, great song.

    Watching that documentary reminded me of the joy and hope that suffused soul music back then.

  • John Venlet April 23, 2022, 10:28 AM

    I recall the first time I heard Joan, coming out of my car radio while I was driving into Cleveland for business. Her voice swept over me. I immediately went to a record store and purchased her debut disc. I was late to my appointment cause I couldn’t stop listening to her.

    • gwbnyc April 23, 2022, 10:34 AM

      buy it at Record Rendezvous?

      • John Venlet April 23, 2022, 10:57 AM

        Too long ago for proper recollection. Still have the disc, though.

  • gwbnyc April 23, 2022, 10:30 AM

    always strikes me as a dashboard radio R&B march.
    original artist only.
    this in the best of lights, mind.