Harry Connick Jr., Yes, We Can | COVERS

In the 34^th edition of COVERS (2023), Harry Connick, Jr. delivers a compelling rendition of “Yes We Can,” originally performed by Lee Dorsey. 

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 34^th edition of COVERS (2023), Harry Connick Jr. delivers a compelling rendition of “Yes We Can”, originally performed by Lee Dorsey.  

“I know we can make it / I know darn well we can work it out / Oh yes we can, I know we can can / Yes we can can, why can’t we.” “Yes We Can” appears as the eighth track off Oh, My NOLA, the 2007 album by Grammy-winning, New Orleans-bred jazz/pop singer/songwriter, Harry Connick, Jr.. “Yes We Can” is easily one of the best songs from the album, penned by the late, great, New Orleans legend, Allen Toussaint (1938 – 2015). While “Yes We Can” sounds as if it could’ve been originally record by Connick, Jr., even with Toussaint being the composer, it was Lee Dorsey (1924 – 1986) who first recorded the funk joint in 1970. Notably, the more famous and more successful early version is the cover by The Pointer Sisters dubbed, “Yes We Can Can”.  Focusing on the Connick, Jr. rendition, there’s lots to adore.

Let’s start with the music itself.  In Harry’s hands, “Yes We Can” gets a marvelous big band arrangement.  This funk joint maintains its funk, while also embracing jazz.  The saxophone and brass orchestrations are picturesque; utterly sublime.  Pianistically, the riffs are sweet, with ample blues sensibilities. Beyond top-he sings with soul idiomatic of his hometown, he never over-sings. Vocally, he’s a prime example of bringing or exuding that cool energy – #BIG MOOD! Revisiting the instrumentalists once more, Connick, Jr. does a bang-up job of incorporating ample space for the instrumentalists to show off . All told, “Yes We Can” in the hands of Connick, Jr. embodies New Orleans through and through and is incredibly ear catching.

Harry Connick Jr. • Oh, My NOLA • Sony BMG Music Entertainment • 2007

Harry Connick, Jr., Yes We Can: Covers No. 34 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Sony BMG Music Entertainment; cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Ron Lach from Pexels; Paul Brennan from Pixabay]