Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
Have you been inspired by someone? Or in any case, have been made happy by a person?
Well, this Grammy-winning cover of Brooks & Dunn will surely make you relate with this.
My Maria is just the perfect song that talks about both love and inspiration.
Original Composition
Co-written by B. W. Stevenson and Daniel Moore, ‘My Maria‘ was originally released by Stevenson as a single in 1973. It became a top 10 hit peaking at No. 9 in the US pop chart. In addition, ‘My Maria’ spent one week at no. 1 on the US adult contemporary chart.
The song is about a gypsy woman, whose name is Maria. She relieves the narrator from problems with which he has been struggling. In the first verse, the narrator talks about his longing to Maria who lightens up his world when he’s feeling blue.
My Maria, don’t you know I’ve come a long, long way
I been longin’ to see her, when she’s around she takes my blues away
Sweet Maria, the sunlight surely hurts my eyes
I’m a lonely dreamer on a highway in the skies
The skies may be grey, but with her, as his sunlight, the pain isn’t bittersweet. He can weather any storm with Maria by his side. This is very evident in the song lyrics.
“She is the sunlight when the skies are grey
She treats me so right lady take me away…”
Listen to B.W. Stevenson’s original composition of My Maria.
Brooks & Dunn Version
The duo released their cover of ‘My Maria‘ in 1996 on Arista Records. Appearing on their album Borderline, the song reached no. 1 on the US country chart.
Moreover, their version was the number one country song of the year 1996 according to Billboard. Eventually, it won the duo its second Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Vocal Group or Duo. This was a highlight not only of the song but also to Brooks and Dunn.
In addition, this song was performed as their last performance as a duo at the 2010 ACM Awards on April 18, 2010, as well on the 50th anniversary of the ACM Awards on April 19, 2015.
Although there are some distinctions of both versions (original and cover), it is undeniable that B. W. Stevenson and the duo Brooks & Dunn have shown pure artistry and translated the song into rich country music.
Listen to Brooks & Dunn’s version of My Maria below.
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