I first heard this song on 89.1 WEMU in Ypsilanti MI shortly after the release of Kurt Elling’s landmark 1619 Broadway album. As I listened to it, I became more and more emotional and when he got to the phrase “An American Tune” I just started weeping uncontrollably, without really knowing why. I didn’t know then that it was originally written and recorded by Paul Simon. I just learned today that Kurt also made a video of the song.

Stunnng! Such poignant lyrics. 👏👏

Thank you Paul Simon - a lovely song and timeless lyrics. And Kurt Elling - a beautiful interpretation!

The greatest living jazz singer interprets American Tune for the ages. Brilliant

A musical genius, that’s Kurt Elling. Soulful, spiritual, haunting. 🙏🏽

I first heard this version of American Tune on a flight from NYC to Rome, on the airline's jazz channel. I couldn't find any artist credit, and spent the last five months searching for it. Finally, at long last,. here is the most beautiful, soulful version of American Tune I've ever heard. Perfect.

@jmcdhome

3 жыл бұрын

Written by Paul Simon in 1973. Willie Nelson does a great rendition too.

@wallacethigpin532

3 жыл бұрын

Every note that Kurt sings sends chills through my spine. As a professional singer no one evokes more emotions and influence on me than this man.

@tayllasa2296

2 жыл бұрын

@@wallacethigpin532yeah, in this time now!

Melodically profound.

Mr. Elling...you have blessed us once again. Thank you.

Kurt is just an absolute master of his craft. There is nothing else to be said.

I sure would love some rest, and I hope all of you here find it, too.

An American Masterpiece...perfect presentation and lyrics for these trying times. Thanks to all involved in this production!

This should have won a Grammy all on its own. Truly brilliant in every single blessed way.

What a beautiful male voice. After all these years I'm captured by how effortlessly he sings. Beautiful rendition~

@DavidAKZ

4 жыл бұрын

His father was kapellmeister in the church.

Love this rendition, I have it on repeat. Timeless and so pertinent to these times ❤🙏

Just the best.

Kurt Elling is my favorite current male jazz vocalist and this is an outstanding rendition.

Sublime.

whyyy is this man sooo fkn TALENTED? or maybe HOW? that might be the real question...ugh. his voice makes me feel like all i wanna do is sing every single minute for the rest of my life...and then again he also makes me wanna never sing again...all at the same damn time. lol

The same way " Sweet Caroline " is played during the 7th inning stretch, "An American Tune ' needs to be played on the staten island ferry ⛴ as it passes by the Statue of liberty 🗽

A man with a conscience and not afraid to let others know it.

@donaldsterling1631

4 жыл бұрын

This was actually written by Paul Simon.

@saini1976

27 күн бұрын

@@donaldsterling1631I’m sure he chose all the songs for the album carefully. It wasn’t a randomly chosen song to record. From the album 1619 Broadway (the address of the Brill Building in New York, where many legendary singer-songwriters lived in the past). Every song on the album was by a former resident of the Brill Building!

I saw him do this song at a concert in Bremerhaven, Germany, in 2017. Accompanied by the Metropole Orchestra. It was very good. The German audience really appreciated it.

@DavidAKZ

7 ай бұрын

The best.

Its hard to improve on perfection but this is a beautiful rendition.

I've loved this work since I first heard the Messenger. Hm. Kurt Elling and James Ellroy, two of my favorite contemporary artists, strangely both midwesterners who might have become Lutheran pastors. I guess I took the Ell train.

What a song what a singer

I cannot easily recall a performance that has moved me more than your rendition of this song, and the video you made to accompany it. You sing from the soul, with a refreshing desperation that holds the thoughts, hopes, and devastation of so many. Your music is always a gift, and this reimagining is as inexplicably beautiful as it is incredibly timely. I cannot wait to see you live in concert to express my gratitude. Thank you, Kurt.

@DavidAKZ

4 жыл бұрын

I have seen him several times. He is the musicians musician.

@rickdenson9174

2 жыл бұрын

This is simply Magnificent , Compelling So Much Passion ☮️

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Why isn't his performance in Philly listed? I am so happy to have tix to his show on Sept. 23 at the World Cafe, here!! Brilliant delivery of this song!!!

This version is underrated and it can't be overrated!

Flyyyyyiiiiiiinnnng

Thanks Kurt. We all need music during these difficult times♥♥

@johnmurphy7762

5 жыл бұрын

Wow! That should have been performed at the fourth of July celebration at the white house. The performances were good but this had some real depth! Kudos Kurt!.

How beautiful and emotional voice, a great artist, thanks Taehyung for your recommendation

A great wonder of two wonderful interpreters of being - Paul Simon and Kurt Elling.

A Previous comment quoted he sings with 'a refreshing desperation'. That comment, his singing & the arrangement moved me to tears so hard !! Respect to you all..

amazing

Kurt is so expressive

Ohhh, the heartache this releases .....

youtube needs a love button

@hankavranova3206

6 жыл бұрын

Noah P exactly! :)

@huntersun9

5 жыл бұрын

When I hear Mr. Elling sing, I am a walking love button.

I heard this today played on PBS radio station in Melbourne Australia ...Amazing ...truly talented.

I hope Kurt Elling will make a pop album just for fun. The whole world have to know what art of singing means in fact.

totaly out off this world his tallent is on another level

It's too early in the day to be crying like I am right now.

Bravo, Kurt. We must take this grand message and put into their everyday.

Masterful performance. Getting better and better with age, sir. Thank you.

For me, it's like "flying with the angels" - profound, magnificent and awe inspiring......Love this and yes, Bridget Fenlason it sounds like an awesome piece for a skating program........

...SINGIT FAM! ✊🏿...✌️& HOLY 🙏's

J.S. Bach covering god knows who. Then Paul Simon covering Bach and Kurt Elling covering Paul Simon. Musical heaven

@DavidAKZ

7 ай бұрын

what's the Bach connection ?

This cat has a range that is sic!

Many's the time I've been mistaken And many times confused Yes, and I've often felt forsaken And certainly misused Oh, but I'm all right, I'm all right I'm just weary to my bones Still, you don't expect to be Bright and bon vivant So far away from home, so far away from home I don't know a soul who's not been battered I don't have a friend who feels at ease I don't know a dream that's not been shattered Or driven to its knees Oh, but it's all right, it's all right For lived so well so long Still, when I think of the road We're traveling on I wonder what went wrong I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong And I dreamed I was dying And I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly And looking back down at me Smiled reassuringly And I dreamed I was flying And high above my eyes could clearly see The Statue of Liberty Sailing away to sea And I dreamed I was flying Oh, we come on the ship they call the Mayflower We come on the ship that sailed the moon We come in the age's most uncertain hour And sing an American tune Oh, it's all right, it's all right It's all right, it's all right You can't be forever blessed Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day And I'm trying to get some rest That's all I'm trying to get some rest

Amazing

Thank you Kurt, in times like these, we can all use the comfort of your mellifluous pipes...

Kurt Elling = American Tune 💜🎵

Thank you, Kurt. This is EVERYTHING.

Beautiful!

Come cuz V....so great song

You always manage this language 'bon vivant'

Wonderful from Kurt as always. Best version of a lovely song.

Vengo por Kim Taehyung 🥺♥️♥️♥️

@yanellallatitas8817

3 жыл бұрын

JAJAJAJA x2

Belle belle voix !!!!!

Beautiful, soulful, & poignant. I'm hearing, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" in the background.

OMG I want to send congratulations for Taehyung for introduce me to this kind of amazing artists.

thanks kurt.. so wonderful i wanna see 'endless lawns' too.

Its a paul Simon composition on an aria of BACH!And this version is great!!!

@dlefil1364

5 жыл бұрын

D accord avec vous... kzread.info/dash/bejne/hIiAtNJrqriZqJM.html

@DavidAKZ

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Love Kurt Elling just takes you to a beautiful place.

Man Paul Simon is the man and Kurt Elling's rendition is pretty killing!!!

A Genius.

Beutiful song ❤❤🎵

Thank you Thank you🙏

Wow!

Wonderful rendition. I am so proud of my Chicago brother!

Beautiful interpretation! I've loved that song since the first time I heard it.

Wow.

I dreamed I was dying when I first heard this... tore me up in the best of ways !

gracias a V encontre este crack😆💜💜

I love this ❤️🎶

What a wonderful interpretation!!

Recorded so Awesome!!!!

Kurt mentored under Mark Murphy.

Hermoso homenaje a esta genial canción. Kurt la acaba de covertir en histórica!!

Masterwork. Saw him perform live last year...still shedding tears over you, America.

A tour de force. Superb.

Brilliant and so prescient

Bravissimo!

Love this Paul Simon song, thought Willie Nelson nailed it but this is a beautiful rendition.

Mmmmmmm!!!!!!!

Pianist u r sweeet

Questa canzone è meravigliosa

Why does the description not give credit to Paul Simon?

it will be very good if Kurt and Taehyung start working together because it's the same style as Taehyung

Thanks Taehyung por listening this music and recommended for us ,I love it now ,I'm sorry I don't speak english I'm from Ecuador 🤗🤗 en finn ya se porque el estilo de Tae es asi tiene grandes referencias musicales

I’m here from kim taehyung

Great music, now please record some swinging combo jazz ala Nat King Cole Trio. Thanks, God Bless.

Our modern day frank Sinatra 🎶💜🎼

@Dan_Dropper

3 жыл бұрын

Finally I found someone who has the same sentiment. Although in my opinion Kurt has his way to sing playfully with melodies like Al Jarreau too.

kim taehyung (BTS) ama tu música yo tambien ;D

I am here because of Taehyungsiii💘

Eu amei essa música... não entendo pq tem poucas visualizações?! música ótima pra cantar no banho;)

Lindo demais !! 💙

Hey Kurt. I think you have a great artistic ambition, but I listened to your Live Album which had American Tune and I Have Dreamed and I think you should exercise greater caution when straying from the album version.

I am here becoz I read a article where Taehyung mention nowdays he is listening to Kurt song's 💜

Nicely done. I think/ hope Paul Simon might have enjoyes this version. I think Kurt Elling nails it on this one. It would be interesting to see Kirt and Paul do a gig together. They could flip the harmonies Kurt could do like a low harmony over Paul's melody and even jump over him at times. Very different approach to harmonies that I think would be cool. I know Paul likes to stretch as an artist but maybe stretching into the unprofitable jazz world ... "I'll pass".