Meaghan Farrell: A Goddess with a Quirky Attitude

I feel as if there are moments in life where god thinks, “Sheena, you have experienced some really shitty moments and therefore today I am going to blow your mind away. I am going to show you just how powerful, wonderful and loving I can really be.”

Last night, god decided to forego his regular scheduled program and visit me by emboding the most dynamic performer I have EVER experienced.

Meaghan Farrell

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Holy Jesus, this beautiful women blew my mind away when she sang the VERY first note. I believe she stepped on stage, unzipped herself, revealed her soul and let us just be with her there.

First, the sound of her voice.  Her natural impulses and her training blend to perfection. She knows exactly what to do with every note. The intention behind every whispered breathe or word belted out in full force had a control that made every note absolutely beautiful. Simply put she knows how to sing and she sounds phenomenal doing it.

Second, the lyrics and music that she wrote.  I think someone shattered her heart. I think once her lover was a whiskey bottle. I think New York is her home. I believe she has experienced darkness and light, the mudane and the sacred and she found a way to write an album worth of music where every song is captivating..from the quirky song about a waitress with a broken heart and little patience; to the female anthem about a long stemmed red rose; to the everyday working american song called “In the Toe” to the heart wrenching “Take Her Home.”  Her lyrics have an honesty but a deepness but also a quirky side to it. I felt as if I were reading her journal or my journal but one written with such clarity, truth, darkness and power.

Third, her FREAKING PERFORMANCE. Holy shit! Seriously. Holy Freaking Shit! You could mute all the music and her voice and just watch her and you’d still be blown away. Every mannerism, every face she made, every single time she moved. Her entire physicality, the way she embodied every song or the way every song embodied her….I don’t even know where to begin. She is by far the best performer I’ve seen. I know. That’s a lot to say. But you haven’t seen her. Because you would not question me if you saw her last night. You’d just burst out in tears from the beauty of what we all experienced.

There is a vulnerability, an honesty and yet a power that she evokes. It didn’t matter which song she performed.  She’s just such a lovely woman with a story to tell in an amazing way with her beautiful haunting voice. She just sings from her head to her toe. Every pore in her body sang notes. I can’t wait for them to release the video of her cd release show from last night. You just have no idea until you’ve experienced Meaghan.

The video below is one I found on youtube. I don’t know how old it is. Even still, just listen to her.

Here is another. Just watch her.

I keep trying to think of what kind of singer she is or who she reminds me of or who her influences are and I can’t put a finger on it. She has such a wide range and she’s so versatile.  But there are a couple performers who slightly remind me of her.

I thought of Bjork. I know, right. Yes, I just wrote Bjork. I feel like there are times when Bjork performs where she just lays her entire soul before you and the song takes complete control over her and what you see is something other worldly. And in that way Bjork and Meaghan are similar. (Click the link and watch that song and watch Bjork and how she performs and how the words leave her body. Reminds me so much of Meaghan).

Many people said they were reminded of Liza Minelli. I could see that. They even look similar in some ways. I just couldn’t find the right performance of Liza that evokes Meaghan to me.

I also think of Amy Lee. Again, couldn’t find the right performance to link too but the power and mystery and darkness but beauty that Amy has and the way her voice haunts you…yup, Meaghan does that too.

The emotional response I have to Meaghan reminds me of when I watch this performance by Reba and Kelly Clarkson.

The power, the story to be told, the heart Meaghan shows reminds me of this performance between Martina Mcbride and Pat Benatar

But there’s also a quirkiness, a joy, a pure happiness that comes across too. Sort of reminds me of this song by Jessica Andrews. Actually, I like this fan version better.  (Jessica’s version is too clean and the fan’s pitch is at times a bit unnerving but its not the singing but the joy in the song is that reminds me of Meaghan’s energy and her uplifting songs like her New York one)

It doesn’t even matter. You can’t compare Meaghan. She is just a dynamic, powerful performer, song writer and musician. I am so glad that I was able to experience her now. I know without a doubt the world is going to know her name. She’s just that amazing. I love her music so much that even though she gave out her cd’s for free at the release party, I still plan on buying a couple copies when they are available.

Maybe you like hip hop, or maybe you’d rather hear indie rock or who knows. But if you are truly interested in a dynamic performer who understands musicality and welds her power to intoxicate you with her soul…then you’d love Meaghan. She had me after the first note. I will forever be a fan and supporter.

Thank you so much Meaghan for the gift of that show. It was an absolute honor to be in the same room as you. To watch your craft and experience your music was unbelievable. I feel so blessed. In the last few weeks I’ve had the honor of experiencing or being made aware of so many great artist. I have been inspired and my soul has been touched.

Visit Meaghan at Meaghan Farrell Music.

Her debut album is called Waitress. All photos are either from her website or her facebook page.

ADDENDUM:

I forgot to mention the production quality of her show. You see, I am a theater artist and stage manager so the way a chair is faced has deeper meaning to the likes of me. I have been to the concerts of multi million dollar artist whose production value was of poor quality or so over done that the performer didn’t even need to make an appearance. What I appreciate about Meaghan’s show was that she took into account all the little things. Lighting, stage pictures and etc. It’s a subtle thing and if done right, you wouldn’t even notice it actually. Being a stage manager it was something I noticed and appreciated. She brought the whole package. Her voice. Her lyrics. Her music. Her performance. Her production quality. All very good. I can’t imagine what she’d do in a large arena. I’d probably just faint from all the awesomeness and the very still quiet moments.

There’s another part to this addendum. That night Meaghan did a cover of Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable.” A couple things. I don’t like Beyonce. I couldn’t tell you the words to any of her songs although they play them way too much. But for the first time I heard the lyrics to that song and I thought, “Wow, that’s a good song. I like the story here.” I must say that had nothing to do with Beyonce and everything to do with the magical power of Meaghan.

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