Providence Folk Singer Lands Top Spot on Neil Young Website
GoLocalProv Lifestyle Team and Kate Nagle
Providence Folk Singer Lands Top Spot on Neil Young Website
Laureanno's "Tightrope" has been tops in the rankings this week for "Protest Videos" on Young's anti-war website, which also includes, "Songs of the Times," as well as news coverage and commentary about war.
Read more about how Laureanno came to write the song about Philippe Petit and his famous walk across the "Valley of Death" -- below the video.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLaureanno explained how he came to write the song:
"The song was inspired by two walks made by made by the famous French high wire walker, Philippe Petit: his highest walk in 1974 between the Twin Towers and his longest walk in 1987 across the Ben Hinnom Valley (a.k.a. Valley of Hell) in Jerusalem," said Laureanno."In the Jerusalem walk, Philippe planned to release a dove as a symbol of peace. As he began his walk, the tension in the valley was as taut as his tightrope. When he reached the midpoint, Philippe reached into his silk purse, produced a dove and released it. The dove flew up and then it landed on his head! The crowd went crazy. They thought it was part of the act…but it wasn’t."
"At that moment Philippe was exhausted and rattled so he did what all tired high wire walkers do - he laid down on his wire to regain his composure. When he got back up to finish his walk, suddenly something beautiful and magical happened," said Laureanno. "The crowd, who at that point were at each other’s throats, suddenly let down their differences and together both sides pulled together and they began to clap in unison with Philippe’s footsteps. The valley echoed with love. So Philippe inspired them, and they in turn inspired Philippe to the finish line."