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“Lean on Me” is one of those rare songs that seems to make the world a better place.
An uplifting anthem of unity and understanding, encouraging us to take turns picking each other up when we’re “not strong,” “Lean on Me” was originally released in 1972 as the first single to Bill Withers’ great second album, “Still Bill.” The song made an immediate impact, skyrocketing to No. 1 on the soul charts as well as a multi-week run atop the overall Billboard Hot 100.
In 1987, R&B group Club Nouveau released its own version of this gem and it charged right to the top of the singles charts as well, making “Lean on Me” one of the incredibly rare songs to hit No. 1 with recordings from two different artists.
Of course, it’s been covered countless other times, by everyone from Glen Campbell and Anne Murray to DC Talk and the cast of “Glee.”
And now we can add to that list the Oakland Symphony, which has recently released an amazing version of that Withers classic on its website (oaklandsymphony.org) and social media channels.
This stirring rendition of “Lean on Me” features 130 participants hailing from the symphony’s family of ensembles — the orchestra, chorus, and youth orchestra — as well as its MUSE education program. The age range runs from 8 to 86 in this joyous project featuring artists of all different skill levels — from beginner to, well, very advanced.
It’s a great example of one of those increasingly popular quarantine-style videos — such as the recent “Bay Area Blessing” offering that brought together 50-plus churches from different locations in song — where people record their own parts that are then all stitched together in amazingly seamless fashion.
Organizers were looking to do a video that would allow maximum participation from the Symphony’s different ensembles and decided that the right tune for the project was “Lean on Me” — “a timeless song with powerful lyrics that continues to influence generations of listeners,” according to a news release.
“With Withers’ passing on March 30 (2020), the Oakland Symphony is paying tribute to his contributions to music and his continuing impact on the world,” the news release reads. “The video is also celebrating the breadth and scope of the Oakland Symphony’s ongoing music education activities and community outreach.”
The project was led by Oakland Symphony Chorus director Lynne Morrow, Symphony cellist and MUSE mentor Elizabeth Vandervennet, Symphony oboist Andrea Plesnarski, Symphony French horn player Alicia Telford, and Symphony flautist Amy Likar. The video was edited by Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra conductor Omid Zoufonoun, “who was guided by the technical challenges of producing a video with 130 musicians trying to perform the same song but not at the same time,” the news release says.
“The final song arrangement was determined in the post production so it could be inclusive and complimentary of all musicians and chorus members,” Zoufonoun says. “This performance reflects the Symphony’s culture of inclusiveness, education, and community.”
What's the latest news on 2020 @sfoutsidelands? https://t.co/qmv5W7Eb0k
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) June 3, 2020
Music industry speaks out, while going silent, on #BlackOutTuesday and #TheShowMustBePaused in solidarity with #GeorgeFloydprotest https://t.co/nRMIerLOMF
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) June 1, 2020
I loved writing this.@GratefulDead – A look back at the band's magical year of 1970.
Pls pass along. @mercnews @EastBayTimes https://t.co/K4s2LLltPI
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) May 28, 2020
