It’s been decades since I have heard the invigorating songs and voice of Buffy Sainte Marie on the radio. I reflect upon the folk music era when she was a quintessential performer (early 1960s Greenwich Village). A halcyon period in the annals of music.
Buffy Sainte-Marie’s bold new album, Power in the Blood, begins where it all started more than 50 years ago, with a contemporary version of “It’s My Way,” the title track of her 1964 debut. Its message, about the road to self-identity and the conviction to be oneself, still resonates with the Cree singer-songwriter, activist, educator, visual artist, and winner of countless awards (Oscar, Juno, and Golden Globe, among them).
Perhaps you know Sainte-Marie from her 1960s protest anthems (“Universal Soldier”), open-hearted love songs (“Until It’s Time for You to Go”), incendiary powwow rock (“Starwalker”), or the juggernaut pop hit “Up Where We Belong,” which Sainte-Marie co-wrote and Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes sang for the soundtrack to An Officer and a Gentleman.
Power in the Blood is set to release May 12th 2015 on True North Records.
Buffy Sainte-Marie will be appearing at The Highline Ballroom in New York City on Wednesday, May 20th, 2015.
