The World Spins Madly On:
Deb Talan of the Weepies announces breast cancer diagnosis
In days to come when your heart feels undone
may you always find an open hand
and take comfort wherever you can…
– Deb Talan, Comfort
Before she became half of popular folkpop duo The Weepies, Deb Talan was a singer-songwriter whose early solo albums overflowed with surprisingly touching acoustic guitar-playing and plaintive, sincere, literate lyrics sung in a sweet little-girl voice – a combination which blew us away when we first found her, entirely by accident, at a tiny basement coffeehouse in Northampton, MA just after the release of her first studio album Something Burning, and we fell head over heels in love.
Since we love indiefolk beats and close harmonies, and harbor no hipster sentiment here at Cover Lay Down, we were thrilled when her subsequent duo work with Steve Tannen – a life-and-music partnership built on mutual appreciation, and the common motifs of nature and sensitive souls – began to take flight in the alt and indie worlds, making The Weepies soft and well-deserved darlings of the early blogging community. And though it’s hard to stay in love with a band that has generally eschewed touring for family (officially, the duo has only toured twice since 2006), we were happy, too, to hear of the births of their three sons after their marriage – happy, that is, to hear of such happiness, in those who had given the world so much, and so well.
Talan and Tannen’s successes on the charts and at home make yesterday’s revelation that Deb has been diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer all the more poignant. But in typical fashion, the couple seems upbeat about their prospects, noting that the unexpected side effects of diagnosis include “feeling very grateful to be living in the 21st century, having a lot more patience when our boys get crazy, REALLY enjoying making music right now”, and following their original post with a second note, today, thanking their fans and friends for their support, inviting folks to send Deb a love note or care package or a few words of encouragement via snail mail, and encouraging everyone to “make an appointment for yourself to get your yearly cancer screening, right now.”
Though we find ourselves saddened by the news, Talan’s songwriting provides its own solace, in its way, with lyrics that speak to, and comfort, the heart. And although I daresay Talan and Tanner are most often the better interpreters of their own songs – pretty much every song they have ever produced is a gem, eminently worth purchasing and savoring ad infinitum – there’s a few covers out there which manage to make these precious songs vibrant and new without sullying their reputation or burying the lede. Here to prove it: a small set of coverfolk versions, from tender to triumphant, that aptly reflect the couple’s strength and wisdom, with our best wishes and neverending kudos to Deb, Steve, Theo, Alex, and Nicholas for keeping their heads high and their spirits clear as they plan for an uncertain future.
- Mark Erelli: Comfort (orig. Deb Talan) [2007]
- Bill Evans & Megan Lynch: Rocks and Water (orig. Deb Talan) [2008]
- Raveena Aurora: Somebody Loved (orig. The Weepies) [2012]
- Anna Nelson: The World Spins Madly On (orig. The Weepies) [2012]
- Vanessa Peters: All That I Want (orig. The Weepies) [2011]
- Zina: Gotta Have You (orig. The Weepies) [2011]
- Mads Wolffbrandt: Gotta Have You (orig. The Weepies) [2007]
Category: Covered In Folk, The Weepies, Tidbit Tuesday 6 comments »
December 17th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
They have toured since 2006.
2010: Be My Thrill Tour
2011: “An Acoustic Evening With The Weepies” Tour
December 18th, 2013 at 5:47 am
Nice call, Sarah – seems I need to know better than to accept Amazon album write-ups as canon. Fixed by fudging!
December 19th, 2013 at 10:04 am
I adore The Weepies. Especially her vocals, with their wit and warmth. “Gotta Have You” and “Painting by Chagall” are favorites.
Thanks for the tip – I’ll send her a note soon.
December 27th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
I am a huge fan and love Deb Talan’s voice and her wonderful song lyrics. I have worked in breast cancer research for many year and lately have been researching post chemotherapy nutrition and exercise. I hope I can reach out to her and help her.
Dr. David Tacha
February 24th, 2014 at 7:16 pm
I for the first time just this evening was hearing such a sweet song on Pandora’s Americana and was so excited to look up this artist, Deb Talan. I get alittle bio, then rush ahead to see if she might be touring in Northhampton Ma. My heart took abit of a jolt when I saw a post about your updated information. Lots of love, and healing to you and your family! I shall be awaiting to see you up here in New England!
Claudia Eberly , Ellington Ct.
March 10th, 2014 at 10:57 am
THE WEEPIES ARE AWESOME!!!!