Eén van mijn favoriete zangers van dit moment is de Amerikaanse jazz singer/songwriter Gregory Porter. Luister maar eens naar zijn weergaloze versie van het lied It’s Probably Me, dat hij zingt tijdens de uitreiking van de Polar Music Prize 2017 aan Sting. Porter wordt begeleid door The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Eric Clapton en de Amerikaanse componist Michael Kamen schreven samen de muziek voor het lied en vroegen Sting om er een tekst bij te maken, zodat het een echte buddy-song zou worden. Het nummer was namelijk bedoeld voor de soundtrack van de film Lethal Weapon 3 uit 1992. De sax solo werd daarop gespeeld door David Sanborn. Hier zie je het origineel.

It’s Probably Me
If night turned cold,
and the stars looked down.
And you hug yourself,
on the cold, cold ground.
You wake the morning,
in a stranger’s coat.
No one would you see.

You ask yourself,
who’d watch for me?
My only friend,
who could it be?
It’s hard to say it.
I hate to say it,
but it’s probably me.

When your belly’s empty,
and the hunger’s so real.
And you’re too proud to beg,
and too dumb to steal.
You search the city,
for your only friend.
No one would you see.

You ask yourself,
who could it be?
A solitary voice
speaking out, set me free.
I hate to say it.
I hate to say it,
but it’s probably me.

You’re not the easiest person,
I ever got to know.
And it’s hard for us both,
to let our feelings show.
Some would say
I should let you go your way.
You’ll only make me cry.
If there’s one guy,
just one guy.
Who’d lay down his life for you and I.
I had to say it.
It’s hard to say it,
but it’s probably me.

When the world’s gone crazy,
and it makes no sense.
There’s only one voice,
that comes to your defense.
The jury’s out,
and your eyes search the room.
And the only friendly face
is all you need to see.
If there’s one guy,
just one guy.
Who would lay down his life
for you and I.
It’s hard to say it.
It’s hard to say it,
but it’s probably me.