If a voice could break glass and rebuild your soul in the same breath, it might sound like Eddie Vedder. His is not a voice made in the studio. It comes from below, from the place where memory turns to salt and prayer turns to song. When he sings, it’s less about hitting the note than pulling it from somewhere ancient, somewhere you’ve been before but forgot how to name.
Giddens, a North Carolina native, has built a career that highlights not only her own talents but also the untold stories of others, often using music to explore the African American experience. Her work has spanned from intimate collaborations to grand performances on the world stage, earning her widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize.
Originally a 1961 chart-topper by Del Shannon, “Runaway” is a song built on teen anxiety and pop sheen. Raitt doesn’t just cover it—she reclaims it. Her interpretation tears into the emotional undercurrent of the lyrics with a slow-burning growl and a swampy slide guitar that turns longing into lament