Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me

rick-slo · #1 03-31-2022, 12:49 PM

Every one has heard Bonnie sing this but worth a repeat (many repeats).

As one listener said:
"You are not an adult until this song actually means something to you. Until then you are just a child."

mr. beaumont · #2 03-31-2022, 01:03 PM

I think in a lot of ways, the perfect sad love song.

12barBill · #3 03-31-2022, 01:10 PM

Nice performance here:

rick-slo · #4 03-31-2022, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12barBill

Nice performance here:

Yes well done and backing instrumentals true to the studio recording. Heard versions with various drum percussion that should have been left out.

fitness1 · #5 03-31-2022, 02:20 PM

Definitely an iconic tune that resonates with folks that have been there.

Saw her do it live a couple times and it was amazing.

Can't figure out why my version didn't come out as good.

1after909 · #6 03-31-2022, 05:36 PM

Wow..A really beautiful live version.. To really come clean with that song I was in a relationship like that, but in reverse. I was involved with someone where we had great chemistry but romantically for me for as much as I wish it was there it just wasn’t and we said goodbye. Several years later I heard thru mutual friends that she had gotten early Alzheimer’s at 53. I knew her parents had both passed and that her sister had MS and it would be very hard for her and that her quality of life would be terrible. I raised my hand to help as I felt it was the right thing to do, as she ( April ) had always been good to me. I ended up taking care of her for over 9 years. For as difficult as it was at times it was also very beautiful and taught me a lot about love..not romantic love but unconditional love. I did end up falling in love with her, but for who she was and the true essence of her..her beautiful spirit. She finally lost her fight against that terrible disease last September she was 64. I’m still dealing every day with the loss of my best friend and have painstakingly been going thru her possessions which I’m finally taking to her sister this Sunday which would have been her 65th birthday… as the Beatles shared “ All you need is Love”

1after909 · #7 03-31-2022, 05:40 PM

And I forgot to add.. Great work from Bruce Hornsby, Paul, Felicia, Will, Sid and Anton..
the “ World’s most dangerous band”

fitness1 · #8 04-01-2022, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1after909

. I ended up taking care of her for over 9 years. For as difficult as it was at times it was also very beautiful and taught me a lot about love..not romantic love but unconditional love. I did end up falling in love with her, but for who she was and the true essence of her..her beautiful spirit.

That's an amazing thing you did, and an incredible life lesson learned.

12barBill · #9 04-01-2022, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1after909

Several years later I heard thru mutual friends that she had gotten early Alzheimer’s at 53. I knew her parents had both passed and that her sister had MS and it would be very hard for her and that her quality of life would be terrible. I raised my hand to help as I felt it was the right thing to do, as she ( April ) had always been good to me. I ended up taking care of her for over 9 years. For as difficult as it was at times it was also very beautiful and taught me a lot about love..

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitness1

That's an amazing thing you did, and an incredible life lesson learned.

Well said Todd. I tip my hat to someone with that kind of character.

Mycroft · #10 04-02-2022, 08:57 PM

I listened a lot to that song when it came out. Was going through a very, very rough breakup.

Glennwillow · #11 04-03-2022, 09:07 AM

It's a beautiful song, and Bonnie Raitt does a beautiful job with it. She seems to have the perfect connection to the song. And Bruce Hornsby adds so much to that song with his piano work.

This is one of my favorite Bonnie Raitt songs even though it is so sad.

- Glenn

geewhiz · #12 04-08-2022, 04:55 AM

Not going to elaborate, but this song still affects me very deeply.

Several years ago I went to a songwriters circle performance at the Ryman and the guy who wrote the song performed it (on piano, if memory serves). Bonnie really brings something special to the performance though.

Joseph Hanna · #13 04-08-2022, 09:49 PM

This song was written by Mike Reid. A long time Cincinnati resident, a former Cincinnati Bengal and friends with a gaggle of enormously talented musicians who lived and or worked in that area. Also close friends with some heavy weights including the whole gang from Little Feat, Pure Prairie League and of course Bonnie.

I saw Mike perform this in a small upstairs piano room, well before Bonnie's rendition, in Cincinnati. Step back emotional.

Just a once in a life time song.

fitness1 · #14 04-11-2022, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

Just a once in a life time song.

raysachs · #15 04-11-2022, 03:13 PM

For my taste, Bonnie is the finest ballad singer of her generation. People can point to people with better voices, more range, whatever. But the way she gets inside and inhabits songs like this one and "Love Has No Pride", "Cry Like A Rainstorm", and lots of other more obscure tunes makes me feel those songs more than pretty much any other singer.

Patti Griffin is another woman who can bring me to tears with her singing. If I could sing even 5% as well as people like this, it would be the greatest gift I could imagine. I can't, but I can sure HEAR them clearly and well...

-Ray