- Bryon Harris
Kate Magdalena - 'Southern Cross'
Review Written by Ionas Finser & Staff
"Southern Cross" is a cover song which was a song written by Stephen Stills, Rick Curtis, and Michael Curtis and performed by the rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash. Presented by rising adult-contemporary artist, Kate Magdalena, this version ores with a sense of free and open space on a confident journey.
An expressive electric guitar begins “Southern Cross,” introducing us right away to the adventurous spirit that flows through every inch of this song. When Kate Magdalena’s voice enters, smooth and groovy, we feel the energetic inspiration one might get from sailing through swift winds on an open sea. “Southern Cross” is the kind of theme song that plays when a hero in a movie sets out on their journey.
Kate Magdalena's version opens up freely with lyrics that speak to the experiential nature of life. The artist isn’t afraid to draw the listener in, make you think as her vocal performance fully embodies the poetry of the song. We don’t just hear Magdalena’s words, we live them.
“I have my ship and all her flags are a flyin' She is all I have left and music is her name Think about how many times I have fallen Spirits are using me, larger voices callin'”
In Kate's version, a few of lyrics are changed. With a woman's take on the song, the voyager now looks for the 'holy pearl', instead of 'that woman girl', at the fantastic sign in the skies in the Southern Hemisphere only, the Southern Cross. This is the moment where Kate expands the song and takes it to a truly spiritual level and a sense of awe is awarded.
Trapped within our small living quarters and our claustrophobic mentalities, it is more important than ever to embody the message that Kate Magdalena brings to life. The artist reminds us of what is truly essential in life, and what can be left behind. Look no further than “Southern Cross” and Kate's beautiful rendition to brighten our days and inspire healthy mindsets.
About Kate Magdalena
Kate grew up to the sounds of music on Broadway in New York City, during the 1970's exploding singer-songwriter, folk, rock, and psychedelic music scene, featuring Crosby Stills and Nash, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and so many more artists who continue to inspire listeners worldwide.
Kate was a child of the ‘60’s, and when she came of age, she moved from the East Coast to San Francisco on a quest to discover the meaning of her life. Kate’s journey was an unusual one in that she did many other things before turning to music as her central career focus, and traveling many paths to arrive at where she is now.
She adores teaching children and has done so as a music and classroom teacher. She was a hospital chaplain, bringing healing music to patients, and most important of all, she is a mother to two beloved children, with her husband Randall. Kate calls the Bay Area her home.
Drawn to many different styles of music, she became enchanted by Irish-Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt, who conjures a lost world with her harp and singing. Kate intends to do the same. She is also enamored of artists like Rachel Platten, Sara Bareilles, and the controversial Sinead O’Connor, and many others.
For Kate, “Singing is a way to bring what is inside, outside. It is to make the invisible audible. It can change minds and soften hearts. I believe that music is part of every cell of the human body; and that we can use music to reach others in ways words cannot.” Kate has an ability to move her listeners with her voice, to bring healing and joy. Her songwriting began through her poetry writing, and by setting a few poems to music, by great poets like WB Yeats and Robert Frost, and then in discovering a love of writing which came from her own heart.
Kate was raised in era in which people looked to the arts and music to inspire social activism. Like Dylan’s great songs, Kate’s songs address some of the pressing issues of our own day. She also sings of unity, hope, loss, and of the power of prayer in dealing with life’s many challenges. And she hopes that her own pursuit of her dream at age 62 might inspire others to follow their own cherished dreams regardless of barriers.
For more information on Kate Magdalena, please visit her website.
Listen on Spotify.
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