Try not to cry! Singer-songwriter Jude York’s mum hadn’t been on stage in years. The retired opera singer had battled health issues in recent years, but when her son asked her to duet on Abba’s “Slipping Through My Fingers,” they created the most heartwarming moment. Jude’s mum Liza Beamish needed a little help getting to the microphone and was quite nervous to sing live again. But when she began singing, she delivered the most heavenly and pure tone.
Liza’s son clearly inherited her talent, as he performed the most emotive vocal while they sang in harmony. There are so many amazing things about this duet. From the look of love and respect that Jude gives to his mum throughout, to the touching chemistry Liza had with the crowd. She raised her hands to lead the crowd waving to the beat, and the crowd cheered for her, while her son held her hand and she teared up with happiness. The Music Man has to say this kind of connection is exactly what music is all about.
Jude York uploaded the duet with his mum on “Slipping Through My Fingers” to his YouTube channel, where it hit 239,000 views. Viewers appreciated the moment and added comments such as “The most amazing mum/son duo I have ever heard. Your voices are made in heaven. I wish you would sing more duets. God bless you both” and “This made me feel more melancholic than the original. Congrats to her for being on stage for the first time in years and creating this masterpiece with you.”
Abba members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote “Slipping Through My Fingers” about the experience of watching a daughter grow up. One of the greatest performances of the ballad came from Abba themselves when the Swedish hitmakers performed the ballad in 1981 on the Dick Cavett Show. The thing that stands out to me watching it is, by golly, you had to have talent to make it back in those days. What a stellar live vocal line the group presents here.
Abba released “Slipping Through My Fingers” as the fourth track on side two of their 1981 album The Visitors. The Music Man readers might be interested to hear that the song was only issued as an album track and did not make the cut as one of the album’s four singles. Imagine having such an abundance of incredible hits that a timeless song like this doesn’t even get issued as a single. Abba were certainly on another level.