Few artists have created spellbinding vocal harmonies the way that Crosby, Stills & Nash did. The legendary trio combined folk tradition with rock attitude to create a feeling that captured the spirit of the ’60s, but their impeccable approach continues to inspire artists today.
Case in point: this stirring version of “Helplessly Hoping” by Chiara Kilchling with her friends Aline Blum and Yale.
They recorded their cover by the riverside with the sounds of nature accompanying the soft guitar and vocals. The blend of their voices is perfect for the song’s gentle and reflective emotions.
Stephen Stills wrote “Helplessly Hoping” about his relationship and breakup with singer Judy Collins. It was released in 1969 on CSN’s self-titled debut album, where it became a standout track for its cleverness.
Stills built several hooks into the lyrics, the first of which is his use of alliteration. Each line of the verse focuses on a letter:
“Helplessly Hoping, Her Harlequin Hovers…”
“Gasping at Glimpses, of Gentle…”
“Wordlessly Watching, he Waits by the Window and Wonders…”
The recurrence of the same letter or sound creates a pulse within the lyrics themselves, making them more memorable, much like a rhyme.
“When I did the first few lines, I thought, ‘How long can I keep this going?’” Stills told American Songwriter. “It’s basically a country song, and it sings like that. It wants brushes on the drums.”
He also employed incredible wordplay in the chorus. The first line, “They are one person,” is sung alone. The second line, “They are Two Alone,” adds a second harmony line, while the third line, “They are Three Together,” features all three singers together. Finally, the chorus closes with a play on words. “They are for each other” can also be heard as “They are for each other.”
Of course, one of the song’s hallmarks is its exquisite harmonies. The magic of the Crosby, Stills & Nash sound is in the way they used simple harmonies to significant effect, and Kilchling nails the sound with her friends.
The trick is to simply use triadic harmony, meaning using the three notes of the chord, in close voicings. This is common in folk and bluegrass music, but is less common in rock and roll.
The song begins on an A minor chord with an A as the main melody note. It is harmonized by a C and an E in the voices above, spelling A-C-E – an A minor triad. As the progression moves to a C chord, the voices similarly stack to spell out the triad.
All of the musical devices serve the song, which ultimately is about a complex human emotion. Of course, none of it matters unless the performance is heartfelt, and this version brings it all together. Kilchling pays homage to the song by delivering a cover that’s both technically sound and emotionally resonant, showcasing why this song continues to inspire new generations of singers over five decades after its release.
Get warmed up, find your part, and sing along with the sheet music for “Helplessly Hoping”:
