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]