Last fall, I took a walk through Central Park and passed a man in headphones belting out Joe Cocker songs—which I learned after recording a few lines. For fun, I added this stranger's voice to the karaoke track and the true song emerged: heartfelt and free.

Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word

Unknown New Yorker – "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"

A cover of Orange Juice's 1980 debut single, "Falling and Laughing."

Performed using a Roland SH-201 synthesizer and the original drum track.

Tyler Sorensen