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'Blackbird' - the Harvard Opportunes

Posted on 12/12/2025 4:15:23 PM PST by Jamestown1630

I was never much of a Beatles fan but there were songs I liked, and my favorite was 'Blackbird'.

My husband happened to hit on this version by the Harvard a cappella group the 'Opportunes'. It's really nice:

Blackbird


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Music/Entertainment; Poetry
KEYWORDS: acappella; beatles; music

1 posted on 12/12/2025 4:15:23 PM PST by Jamestown1630
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To: Jamestown1630

Wonderful. Thank you for posting.


2 posted on 12/12/2025 4:25:38 PM PST by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: Flycatcher

I’m glad you liked it. There are more of their arrangements on YouTube.


3 posted on 12/12/2025 4:28:34 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630

Nice!! Definitely gotta save this!

here’s Julie Fowlis’ Gaelic version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDxy0qXYR40


4 posted on 12/12/2025 4:41:19 PM PST by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv

That’s very nice. (My ancestors were from the Hebrides.)

Thanks.


5 posted on 12/12/2025 4:47:34 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630

Same here. I suspect that, for the most part, my ancestors wound up in the US because they got run out of their homes.


6 posted on 12/12/2025 5:19:47 PM PST by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: Flycatcher

Very nice indeed.


7 posted on 12/12/2025 5:22:52 PM PST by iamgalt
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To: SunkenCiv

I don’t know much about the Scot ancestor; just that one wound up in Canada, and then came down here and became some kind of aide to George Washington during the Revolution.

I know more about the Welsh one who first arrived in Virginia.


8 posted on 12/12/2025 5:31:09 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630
One thing that stands out in "Blackbird" is the changes to the time signature.



9 posted on 12/12/2025 9:23:40 PM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: SunkenCiv

Bkmk


10 posted on 12/13/2025 1:47:54 AM PST by sauropod
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To: Jamestown1630

I think that Canada was my g-greats entered N America as well. I doubt that they were prepared for the winters down here; despite the higher latitude, Scottish winters are not that bad thanks to the Gulf Stream.


11 posted on 12/13/2025 6:41:42 AM PST by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv

When I was young, I loved the Lillian Beckwith books about Hebridean crofters:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Beckwith


12 posted on 12/13/2025 7:56:39 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: sauropod

Apparently there was a version on Glee, which probably stoked interest. Can’t wreck it though.

Sam Robson (13 yrs ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsSLlHEZFLM

Julien Neel et al (2012)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBKwcjeftnA

Bobby McFerrin (10 yrs ago, at least on YT it is)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DWU45LUw7g

Klaus Chiesa channel (2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAWQnv08UCQ


13 posted on 12/14/2025 8:26:47 AM PST by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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