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The Clean Cut: Carrie Underwood pays tribute to Las Vegas victims with Christian hymn
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Carrie Underwood performs a tribute to the lives lost in country music over the last year during the CMA Awards. The tribute included photos of the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. - photo by Danielle Christensen
Carrie Underwood sang Softly and Tenderly at the 2017 Country Music Association Awards Wednesday night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Performing the Christian hymn while accompanied by a simple piano arrangement, Underwood began the song in memory of country musicians such as Mark Gray and Holly Dunn.

Surrounded by audience members holding flickering candles, Underwood concluded her solo in memoriam of those who were killed in the Las Vegas shooting on Oct. 1, 2017. Black-and-white photos of the victims filled the screen as an emotional Underwood sang lyrics of a Savior who is calling for those who are weary to come home and enter into his rest.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Street musician killing it on clarinet

She must have lungs of iron! Its inspiring hearing the upper registers being played so well.

Posted by Clarinet Life on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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