Soul Singer Charles Bradley Takes On Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” And It’s Heartwrenching

Charles Bradley Goes Through ‘Changes’

At 67, veteran soul singer Charles Bradley is the real deal; he burst onto the scene in 2011 at the age of 63 with his debut album No Time For Dreaming, and 4 years later Charles is following his 2013 effort Victim Of Love with the much anticipated Changes LP – featuring his cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Changes’. Originally released in 2013 as a single for Record Store Day, Charles’ cover of ‘Changes’ is one of the most soulful, heartwrenching things we’ve ever heard, and turns Black Sabbath’s somber ballad into a soulful anthem for anyone who’s ever been really and truly heartbroken.

Charles channeled the pain of losing his mother and the changes that came following her death for this outstanding performance.

His vocal performance is absolutely outstanding, but the accompanying music video – in which Charles doesn’t utter a single word – is nothing short of breathtaking; so much, in fact, that the video’s director Eric Feigenbaum says that Charles’ performance was so powerful that “By the end of the take, everybody in the room was holding back tears.”

It’s been a long, long time since a vocal performance of any kind got as deep into my soul as Charles Bradley did with ‘Changes‘, and I’m sure that it’ll have the same effect on all of you!

+ Changes lyrics +

I feel unhappy
I feel so sad
I’ve lost the best friend
That I ever had

She was my woman
I loved her so
But it’s too late now
I’ve let her go

I’m going through changes

We shared the years
We shared each day
In love together
We found a way

But soon the world
Had its evil way
My heart was blinded
Love went astray

I’m going through changes

It took so long
To realize
And I can still hear
Her last goodbyes

Now all my days
Are filled with tears
Wish I could go back
And change these years

I’m going through changes