The Best Version of the Song "Stand by Me" Ever

Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Yes, I know it's not Sunday, the day where Sublime Goodness posts sublime songs, but this is an exception because it's a truly unique video and song experience.
This is unbelievably awesome on so many levels. First, because it's a song that frankly I've been tired of since I was in fifth grade (although John Lennon's is pretty OK) - but this version breathes a whole new life into it. Second, I love how technology brought so many musicians together around the world to create this beautiful mash-up.
It was posted on Gizmodo with the following background:

This cover of Stand By Me was recorded by completely unknown artists in a street virtual studio all around the world. It all started with a base track—vocals and guitar—recorded on the streets of Santa Monica, California, by a street musician called Roger Ridley. The base track was then taken to New Orleans, Louisiana, where Grandpa Elliott—a blind singer from the French Quarter—added vocals and harmonica while listening to Ridley's base track on headphones. In the same city, Washboard Chaz's added some metal percussion to it.
And from there, it just gets rock 'n' rolling bananas: The producers took the resulting mix all through Europe, Africa, and South America, adding new tracks with multiple instruments and vocals that were assembled in the final version you are seeing in this video. All done with a simple laptop and some microphones.

I love it. Five minutes of sublime goodness music and film. Also, read some of the comments at the video's page at Vimeo. My favorite:

I was Dx with Breast Cancer 2-9-09 and this Work of Art touches my heart and gives me strength reminding me that all my online friends are Standing By Me. Thank you! Just beautiful guys!!!!!

> Click here to download/buy the song or album - Songs Around the World | Playing for Change
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