I HEAR YOU NOW VANGELIS - INSTRUMENTAL COVER with CS80

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"My first encounter with Vangelis's music was in 1979, when this song became a major radio hit. Adapting it for performance wasn't easy, especially because it lacked lyrics, so I had to figure out how to convey the melody without it sounding overly sentimental. To achieve this, I shortened the piece slightly. While my rendition turned out quite well, it admittedly doesn't match the brilliance of the original. Nonetheless, studying the song and its arrangement was an enlightening experience, further highlighting Vangelis's extraordinary talent. And obviously it was helpful to have a #CS80, Jupiter 8, Rhodes and Mini Moog to create the Vangelis sound.

I have made a video in which I show how to create Vangelis' most famous sounds on the CS80 - it also includes the CS part of this song. [posted here]

A little more about the song: I Hear You Now" is a track from the album "Short Stories," which was released in 1979. This album marked the collaboration between Vangelis and Jon Anderson, the lead vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes. Their duo was known as Jon and Vangelis.

The album 'Short Stories' was the first collaborative effort between these two artists, blending Vangelis's expertise in electronic music with Anderson's distinctive vocal style. 'I Hear You Now,' as a part of this album, showcases this unique blend.

The song itself is notable for its ethereal, atmospheric quality, typical of Vangelis's work, combined with the poetic and often introspective lyrics provided by Anderson. The melody is characterized by its soothing, yet evocative synthesizer lines, underscored by a gentle, rhythmic beat. Anderson's vocals add a dreamy, almost otherworldly dimension to the track.

'I Hear You Now' received a positive reception and is often cited as a highlight of the album. The collaboration between Vangelis and Anderson was well-received, leading them to work together on several more albums throughout the 1980s. Their work is often praised for its innovative fusion of electronic music with progressive rock elements."