SINATRA and "Glad to Be Unhappy." Rodgers & Hart were always able to combine a lovely melody with often tart and seditious lyrics.
The title may seem to be contradictory-how can one be glad while at the same time being unhappy ?
It appears that Lorenz Hart believed that the ardour and headlong pursuit of a love object is so exhilarating that even an unsuccessful affair can make one euphoric . The song ends with " I'm so unhappy-But Oh so glad. "
Frank Sinatra's many romantic interludes were marked by the same sad/glad dichotomy and this song does reflect many of his own sentiments.
https://youtu.be/Kx2jhrimuGs
Thursday, 25 August 2016
Sinatra & Jobim: " This Happy Madness" combines the bossa nova composition and guitar of Antonio Carlos Jobim, the brilliant lyrics of Canadian Gene Lees, the matchless interpretation by Sinatra and the gently pulsating arrangement by Claus Ogerman.
Sinatra himself aid this was the softest he has sung because he believed the gentle Brazilian combining of the samba and jazz influences was best served by lyrical restraint. Having Jobim play and sing with Sinatra adds even more exposition of the Brazilian music influence. One is reminded of the powerful Brazilian dance culture after seeing the Rio Olympics extravaganza.
https://youtu.be/EITOu26uChg
Sinatra himself aid this was the softest he has sung because he believed the gentle Brazilian combining of the samba and jazz influences was best served by lyrical restraint. Having Jobim play and sing with Sinatra adds even more exposition of the Brazilian music influence. One is reminded of the powerful Brazilian dance culture after seeing the Rio Olympics extravaganza.
https://youtu.be/EITOu26uChg
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
CECILE MCLORIN - GRAMMY JAZZ VOCALIST WINNER
Cecile McLorin Salvant-Grammy jazz vocalist winner
Listen to this amazing performance of Poor Butterfly, a song written one hundred years ago and still as touching as it always has been.
In addition to her impeccable timing and pitch-perfect performance, it is doubly remarkable since she songs alone, without any accompaniment and yet it is so compelling.
https://youtu.be/zyU7QP2oWQ4
Listen to this amazing performance of Poor Butterfly, a song written one hundred years ago and still as touching as it always has been.
In addition to her impeccable timing and pitch-perfect performance, it is doubly remarkable since she songs alone, without any accompaniment and yet it is so compelling.
https://youtu.be/zyU7QP2oWQ4
Saturday, 23 January 2016
REBECCA LUKER TELLS THE WHOLE WIDE WORDL OF HER LOVE REBECCA LUKER TELLS THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD OF HER LOVE
Rebecca Luker Tells The Whole Wide World Of Her Love
Rodgers & Hart wrote "I'll Tell The Man On The Street: for the 1938 show I Married Angel. The introductory verse rejects the traditional privacy of a passionate love by " Not telling of her love to the red, red rose Or to the babbling brook, where the sweet magnolia grows Or the Whipporwill on the hill above."- All the usual poetic and private imagery often found in love songs.
Instead the main chorus asserts that she''ll " Tell the man on the street and everyone I meet, That you and I are sweethearts."
Accompanied by the Boston Pops, Rebecca Luker delivers this poignant message with great sincerity and sweetness letting the whole ,wide world know of her now very public love.
On a personal note, I sang and played this song at my son's wedding and when I came to sing the lines " And when you're old and grey, You''ll never get away from me" the married woman in the audience over the age of 50 did show some tears. Not because of my performance but of the memory of their own lifelong marriages when they too, began to grow older and accumulate grey hair.
https://youtu.be/KOqUN37VOQ4
Rodgers & Hart wrote "I'll Tell The Man On The Street: for the 1938 show I Married Angel. The introductory verse rejects the traditional privacy of a passionate love by " Not telling of her love to the red, red rose Or to the babbling brook, where the sweet magnolia grows Or the Whipporwill on the hill above."- All the usual poetic and private imagery often found in love songs.
Instead the main chorus asserts that she''ll " Tell the man on the street and everyone I meet, That you and I are sweethearts."
Accompanied by the Boston Pops, Rebecca Luker delivers this poignant message with great sincerity and sweetness letting the whole ,wide world know of her now very public love.
On a personal note, I sang and played this song at my son's wedding and when I came to sing the lines " And when you're old and grey, You''ll never get away from me" the married woman in the audience over the age of 50 did show some tears. Not because of my performance but of the memory of their own lifelong marriages when they too, began to grow older and accumulate grey hair.
https://youtu.be/KOqUN37VOQ4
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
EASY LIVING- BEAUTIFUL BILLIE hOLIDAY TRIBUTE FROM MORGANA KING
Easy Living- Beautiful Billie Holiday tribute from Morgana King
In 1937, Ralph Ranger ( Composer ) and Leo Robin ( Lyricist) wrote this lovely ballad for a movie with the same title.
In 1979, 17,000 fans gathered at the Hollywood Bowl to hear 5 major female vocalists pay tribute to Billie Holiday.
Morgana King, a much admired but lesser known singer, provided a heart-breaking interpretation of Easy Living accompanied by a wonderful orchestral arrangement.
Incidentally, Morgana King also played the role of Marlon Brando's wife in The Godfather, in which she sang a risque Italian song during that iconic wedding ceremony.
https://youtu.be/MCMmiFgOgpQ
In 1937, Ralph Ranger ( Composer ) and Leo Robin ( Lyricist) wrote this lovely ballad for a movie with the same title.
In 1979, 17,000 fans gathered at the Hollywood Bowl to hear 5 major female vocalists pay tribute to Billie Holiday.
Morgana King, a much admired but lesser known singer, provided a heart-breaking interpretation of Easy Living accompanied by a wonderful orchestral arrangement.
Incidentally, Morgana King also played the role of Marlon Brando's wife in The Godfather, in which she sang a risque Italian song during that iconic wedding ceremony.
https://youtu.be/MCMmiFgOgpQ
Monday, 11 January 2016
WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN AN EMOTIONAL SONG OF LONGING SUNG BOTH BY BARBARA COOK AND FRANK SINATRA
We'll Be Together Again-An Emotional Song Of Longing Sung By Both By Barbara Cook And Frank Sinatra.
In 1945, composer Carl Fischer& singer Frankie Laine wrote this tender wish for a re uniting with a loved one. Barbara Cook, a consummate singing actress is accompanied only by her pianist Wally Harper. Sinatra performs with a poignant Nelson Riddle orchestral arrangement which was included in their iconic album Songs For Swinging Lovers.
Both these singers have the happy faculty of living inside a song and making you believe that the words being sung reflect their own feelings and experiences.
https://youtu.be/FLYiOkKC-Lg
https://youtu.be/Cht_8zpSSfA
In 1945, composer Carl Fischer& singer Frankie Laine wrote this tender wish for a re uniting with a loved one. Barbara Cook, a consummate singing actress is accompanied only by her pianist Wally Harper. Sinatra performs with a poignant Nelson Riddle orchestral arrangement which was included in their iconic album Songs For Swinging Lovers.
Both these singers have the happy faculty of living inside a song and making you believe that the words being sung reflect their own feelings and experiences.
https://youtu.be/FLYiOkKC-Lg
https://youtu.be/Cht_8zpSSfA
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