Alison Moyet - Dido's Lament: When I Am Laid in Earth download song

This rendition, and Ase's Death (E Grieg), are what I play when the melancholy hits me.

Hauntingly beautiful, both the voice and the arrangement, making the familiar aria touchingly human, closer to home, closer to the epicentre of real-life loss. In no way is Alison Moyet competing with any opera singers, and it would be missing the point to try and rank them.

The beauty of this piece by H Purcell is that it transcends time and genre.....yes it is sung by the most highbrow of classically trained opera singers and there are those who will think that that level of perfection is what it should ALWAYS be. Sadly I feel they are looking for technique and accuracy rather than the feeling of the piece...the LAMENT. I was as moved by Alison's version as I was by Jeff Buckley, Barbara Bonnet or a handful of other singers including Janet Baker. It's BEAUTIFUL.

Who knew? 350+ years later and the masterpiece can still draw an audience. It is to the credit and good taste of those pop artists who are drawn to its beauty and immortality.

This aria has so much connection to African-American spirituals that I cannot get out of my head that there is one! Wonderful bluesy version! One of my favorite renditions of this aria is in the title Jessye Norman - A Portrait - When I Am Laid In Earth (Purcel

I love this and the beautiful way Alison sings it. I cry every time,I listen. Thanks you sing in splendor, to me.

holy cow, what an awesome rendition & beautiful voice... sad sad song.

Beautiful - no "sucking" involved, whatsoever (see comments below) - and I have listened to many versions  

It's a bit wooden. I'd like to hear a Death Metal band do John Eccles's "Find Me A Lonely Cave" though!

As a fan of both rock and classical, I think this has more impact than the conventional classical performances. In Alison Moyet's hands, it becomes almost like one of her classic torch songs. Purists will object. In this song, Purcell wrote from his soul, and I think he'd be impressed with her version.

Amazing, when you think that Purcell wrote this in the 1680's!

My gripe with the vast amount of opera performances is you can barely understand the lyrics, although the singing is usually more suiting.  With this song, I feel the lyrics elevate the power of the song and therefore should be sung concisely.

Just lost a dear friend. This song says it all. An exceptional voice.

As a classical singer myself, I have to admit that I really like this version too!

I would like this beautiful piece played at my funeral.