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Hey Man, Is That Freedom Rock?

4:23 PM, Nov 7, 2008 • By VICTORINO MATUS
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I still can't believe I missed this concert. As the Washington Post's J. Freedom du Lac reports:

The iconic folk singer Joan Baez opened her Wednesday night concert at the Birchmere with a civil rights anthem that suddenly sounded celebratory: "We Shall Overcome," the old protest song whose message of resolve and sweeping social change played like a valedictory in the wake of Barack Obama's election....

The a cappella performance was stunning, even though her clarion soprano has lost some of its once-breathtaking power and lift. At 67, Baez works mostly in her middle range now, but she can still sound like an angel.

If her performance Wednesday--though warm and comforting--lacked the bell-like clarity that was her signature in the '60s, there was a good reason: "My voice is a little scratchy 'cause I screamed all night," she told the capacity crowd, which hollered its approval.

And yes, here's a link to Freedom Rock. Just make sure to Turn It Up, Man!

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