Jason Isbell is known for emotional songs like "Cover Me Up" and "If We Were Vampires". Even though he's best known for his influence on the Americana genre, he truly has a voice that can make any song sound sad and introspective. I mean that in a good way, of course. This week, he put that classic "Jason Isbell" spin on a song by the popular rock band, The Rolling Stones.
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Just a few days ago, while playing for the new Muscle Shoals Exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Isbell did a cover of "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones. "Muscle Shoals" refers to a series of famous recording studios in Alabama that are credited with creating the "Muscle Shoals Sound." This is a blend of R&B, country, and blues.
Why Jason Isbell was there, we're not exactly sure, but audience members were loving his rendition of the Stones tune. Some people watching online even said things like, "he makes it sound better than the Stones." Another said, "When Jason Isbell sings, stop and listen," and we couldn't agree more.
Interestingly enough, Isbell isn't the only person to have covered "Wild Horses" in years past.
The Inspiration Behind 'Wild Horses'
The Rolling Stones' hit has been covered by nearly every genre, from Norah Jones to Garth Brooks, who even has a version on his album, No Fences. One of my personal favorites has got to be this cover by Alicia Keys, performed with Adam Levine in 2005.
"Wild Horses" was written from the perspective of guitarist Keith Richards, who felt he was missing out on being a father to his son, Marlon, by being on the road. Mick Jagger then shaped the song's verses to be about a romantic relationship, which many people think was inspired by his relationship with Marianne Faithfull.
Although he has denied this theory, he admitted that it was definitely written during a "heavy time." He told American Songwriter, "Everyone always says it was written about Marianne, but I don't think it was; that was all well over by then. But I was definitely very emotionally inside this piece. This is very personal, evocative, and sad. It all sounds rather doomy now, but it was quite a heavy time." "Wild Horses" would eventually end up on The Rolling Stones' 1971 album, Sticky Fingers. Today, it's become one of their most popular hits.
Regardless of what the song is about, it continues to be one that people love to put their own spin on. That's the great thing about songwriting. It's not that hard to make a song sound good, but to have universal meaning? That's a quality not every song has, and "Wild Horses" has that magic that keeps artists and fans coming back.
Photo By: Getty / Scott Legato
