Review Written by Ionas Finser & Staff
Kate Magdalena’s heartfelt new cover of the classic anthem “Battle Hymn of the Republic” opens with lush, vibrant textures that paint the picture of a vast, abundant American landscape expanding before your eyes.
An explosion of harmonica, guitar, fiddle, and dynamic percussion, all masterfully produced, create a remarkable sense of courage and devotion. If you thought the beginning of this powerful cover is climactic, you’re in for a surprise. The mix only gets more and more intense and passionate the more you listen.
Kate Magdalena’s voice brings a gorgeously angelic air to this age-old tune. While the song is very patriotic, Magdalena chooses instead to really focus on the theistic, devoted message, delivering a compelling rendition that inspires a sense of peace and divine gratitude. The artist pays perfect homage to the original melodies of the Hymn, while introducing the perfect dose of personal Magdalena flare to her phrases.
"I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on"
No matter how bleak times may seem, Kate Magdalena reminds us that there is always gratitude to direct towards the unending beauty of our world. This rendition of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is truly inspiring for each and every one of us, reminding us to crush today’s serpents with our heels as we forge a path forward armed with the courage that has existed in our culture since the day it was created. For more information on Kate Magdalena, please visit her website.
Listen on Spotify.
About Kate Magdalena
Kate grew up to the sounds of music on Broadway in New York City, during the 1970's exploding singer-songwriter, folk, rock, and psychedelic music scene, featuring Crosby Stills and Nash, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and so many more artists who continue to inspire listeners worldwide.
Kate was a child of the ‘60’s, and when she came of age, she moved from the East Coast to San Francisco on a quest to discover the meaning of her life. Kate’s journey was an unusual one in that she did many other things before turning to music as her central career focus, and traveling many paths to arrive at where she is now.
She adores teaching children and has done so as a music and classroom teacher. She was a hospital chaplain, bringing healing music to patients, and most important of all, she is a mother to two beloved children, with her husband Randall. Kate calls the Bay Area her home.
Drawn to many different styles of music, she became enchanted by Irish-Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt, who conjures a lost world with her harp and singing. Kate intends to do the same. She is also enamored of artists like Rachel Platten, Sara Bareilles, and the controversial Sinead O’Connor, and many others.
For Kate, “Singing is a way to bring what is inside, outside. It is to make the invisible audible. It can change minds and soften hearts. I believe that music is part of every cell of the human body; and that we can use music to reach others in ways words cannot.” Kate has an ability to move her listeners with her voice, to bring healing and joy. Her songwriting began through her poetry writing, and by setting a few poems to music, by great poets like WB Yeats and Robert Frost, and then in discovering a love of writing which came from her own heart.
Kate was raised in era in which people looked to the arts and music to inspire social activism. Like Dylan’s great songs, Kate’s songs address some of the pressing issues of our own day. She also sings of unity, hope, loss, and of the power of prayer in dealing with life’s many challenges. And she hopes that her own pursuit of her dream at age 62 might inspire others to follow their own cherished dreams regardless of barriers.
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