BEATS OF LOVE
114. One Goodbye in Ten (Album mix) by Shara Nelson
BOB STANLEY wrote a moving piece in the Guardian about his friend Shara Nelson.
She lived simply and moved us deeply with her music, making her mental health struggles heartbreaking. I agreed with Bob that when famous men act strangely because of mental illness, they are often called "geniuses" to shield them from shame. Famous women do not get that support. Her quiet dignity through it all shows her true strength.
Despite being a cornerstone of the Massive Attack's distinctive sound, this track finally captures the precise Motown sound Saint Etienne had long pursued. Her musical presence never intrudes but contributes richly to a greater whole and as a result, Stanley and Pete Wiggs have never crafted a better song. The timeless soaring strings still get me every time, and the warmth of her soothing voice, like a fine taste of Remy Martin, put me in my happy place. Great pop music can be as affecting as any work of art and its exponents don't need to be capricious or contemporary. They just need to know exactly what they want to do.
Thank God Shara heard Only Love Can Break Your Heart and heard this pure gold, a true balm for mental well-being that surrenders to the transformative power of music. For this alone, she deserves countless blessings.
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