Day 20: Ghost Song- Cécile McLorin Salvant
Note: This post is part of a series where I listen to an album each day in December. Past posts can be found on my substack. All hyperlinked songs go to Spotify links, Youtube links can be found at the end of the post.
Cécile McLorin Salvant is arguably the most exciting jazz vocalist of today. Her sixth album, Ghost Song, demonstrates what distinguishes her from the rest. Throughout her discography Salvant has made unique choices regarding her repertoire, often choosing songs others wouldn’t dare touch because of their historical and racial implications or because they do not typically fall into the dominant jazz narrative concerning standards. On this 2022 release, she dares to defy norms again curating a list of mostly original tunes and a few songs rarely performed in a jazz setting like Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights.”
I was wary of Salvant’s eclectic nature when first introduced to her music. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, the song choices, her vocal approach, I was so enveloped in a traditional jazz landscape that branching out felt uncomfortable. Luckily, I continued exploring her work and have been greatly impacted by her music for the last 4 years. It is her eclectic nature and difference that draws me to her now. I feel like the more I learn as a person, the more I can understand her music and her approach. So much of her work has a significant place in my heart and memory, but Ghost Song in particular because of its themes of love, loss, and mourning.
Giovanni Russonello of the New York Times says Ghost Song has “A kind of romantic wariness, bordering on pessimism, [that] forms a leitmotif on this album — though it rarely tips into despair.”1 I couldn’t agree more. In our ever-turbulent world remaining optimistic becomes ever more challenging, and indulging in your sorrow is somewhat of a black hole. The music on Ghost Song has invited me to look at what bothers me, what loss I am facing, and engage with it for a while. To acknowledge how hard losing a loved one or partner is, the complicated reality that some parts of what is gone will stay with you forever, no matter if you want it to or not. The title track of this album plays with the balance of loss and acceptance. She sings,
I tried to keep our love going strong
But no matter how hard I tried
Something went wrong
I lied to keep our love going long
But no matter how much I lied
The truth was too strong
I cried when you decided to go
I cried much more than you'll ever know
The lyrics battle with the reality that a shared love is no longer working, and the prospect of accepting the loss of love and a relationship is too difficult to bear. I like to think Salvant penned this after a breakup as a letter to her ex that would never be sent. A piece of writing that was more of an exercise in release rather than two-way communication. We’ve all been there, and perhaps the hardest part of the loss in any close relationship is not being able to share everything with the person you once trusted. The chorus perhaps is the most relatable part of the song for me. She sings,
I'll dance with the ghost of our love
I will dance with the ghost of our long lost love
I'll carry the ghost of our love
I will carry the ghost of our long lost love
I'll live with the ghost of our love
I will live with the ghost of our long lost love
I'll die with the ghost of our lovе
I will die with the ghost of our long lost love
Whether we like it or not, relationships mark us. They stay with us and though we may want to leave them behind and lean into running away from what once was, it is impossible. I find it freeing to acknowledge the effects someone has on me, and just like the lyrics suggest, I would rather investigate and mourn the loss of love than ignore it. Also, remember that the lyrics are being beautifully sung with incredible power from Salvant. No writing about the feelings and ideas they conjure for me can compare to experiencing the song yourself.
Salvant continues to wrestle with loss, differing desires, and the sadness that can shroud something joyful through the album. Her lyrics feel so relatable, and though when Ghost Song first debuted I could only relate to some of it, I’m grateful to come back and connect more with her genius. I encourage you to listen to the whole record, these are my favorites I would recommend if you’re short on time.
Until Tomorrow,
Emily
Listen to Ghost Song on YouTube
“Cécile McLorin Salvant’s Album Tackles a Newer Archive: Her Own” Giovanni Russonello New York Times 3/3/22