![]() She didn’t go out, and she let no one in. She watched cable news and saw the ravaging effect that Covid-19 was having on folks her age. For two years, during the worst of the pandemic, Staples stayed home in Chicago-she lives in a modern high-rise overlooking Lake Michigan-and was, like just about everyone else in the music business, unable to perform or record. I hope I have that energy when I’m her age, but the truth is I don’t even have it now.”Īnd yet life has its way of wearing down even the most radiant spirit. She’s excited about making music and just being alive. One collaborator, Jeff Tweedy, of Wilco, said, “All day long, Mavis is having a good time. Anyone who has something to say, she’ll help them say it, in an inimitable gospel voice. ![]() She has an abiding belief in God and His plan and believes the world is moving toward a higher and more loving world.” Staples has spent the past few decades lending her voice to a startling range of collaborators: Prince, Arcade Fire, Nona Hendryx, Ry Cooder, David Byrne. “She is a ray of sunshine,” Bonnie Raitt, her frequent touring companion, said. Her cheeks are round and smooth her hair is done in a copper bob her resting expression is one of delight. Sly, sociable, and funny, Staples reminds you of your mother’s most reliable and cheerful friend, the one who comes around with good gossip and a strawberry pie. Singing is what connects her to the world. ![]() Time, polyps, and a casual disdain for preservation have conspired to narrow her range and sand down her old shimmer, but she is not about to hum lightly through a rehearsal. While singers a fraction of her age go to great lengths to preserve their voices, drinking magical potions and warming up with the obsessive care of a gymnast, she doesn’t hold back. In her voice, “Help Me Jesus” is as suggestive as “Let’s Do It Again.” When she was a girl, singing with her family ensemble, the Staple Singers, churchgoers across the South Side of Chicago would wonder how a contralto so smoky and profound could issue from somebody so young. Staples sings from her depths, with low moans and ragged, seductive growls that cut through even the most pious lyric. ![]() Her stage presence is so unfailingly joyful-her nickname is Bubbles-that you never take your eyes off her. During concerts, sometimes, she might take a seat and rest while someone in her band bangs out a solo for a chorus or two. Mavis Staples has been a gospel singer longer than Elizabeth II has worn the crown. Our recommendation? Take a look at these songs, turn on your favorite pump up track, and turn up the volume to get the party started, even if it's for a party of one.This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. But let's face it: Sometimes we could use some help in this department. With all the anxiety and stress we're facing on a daily basis, one of the things we should regularly prioritize is our happiness. Songs like "Walking on Sunshine," by Katrina and the Waves, and "Here Comes the Sun," by the Beatles, might even inspire you to soak up some vitamin D outdoors.Īs world news continues on its pessimistic trajectory, we're all working hard to keep our outlook cheery. Some of these happy songs even emulate the carefree freedom of a great road trip (CRUISR's "Go For It," Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"). ![]() And, of course, we've included pop songs about how good it feels to.feel good (Pharrell's "Happy"). Others focus on the exhilaration that can be gained from persevering through adversity (Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger," Swift's "Shake It Off"). Some of these upbeat tracks are rapturous love songs about the wonderful sensation of knowing you're wanted (Beyoncé's "Love On Top," Ric Wilson's "Yellowbrick"). In short, when you're feeling blue, a happy song can work wonders, infusing joy into your day. According to research done by Harvard Medical School, music can have a myriad of positive effects on the brain, from keeping people relaxed during medical procedures to improving exercise endurance. ![]()
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