The 87th Academy Awards will be taking place on Sunday, and I'm hugely excited to be once again having an Oscar Party with my best friends – unlike last year, now I've actually seen some of the nominated films: Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Theory of Everything,The Imitation Game and the last Hobbit film.
However, none of those films are going to be the real subject of this post. Just like last year, I'm going to rank the nominees for Best Original Song and comment on them – again, without having seen the movies for which these songs were written. All in all, though, I have to say that the competition in this category is appallingly mediocre in my opinion. There is no Let It Go this year. Alright, let's take a look at the five nominees. Or a listen.
#5. 'I'm Not Gonna Miss You' from Glen Campbell... I'll Be Me
Music and lyrics by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
This melody and the instrumental background bore me so much that I could use this as a lullaby. Except that I've actually made a "go to sleep" playlist for myself and I tend to only include songs that I like in there. I don't like this song at all. I have no patience for the kind of break-up songs where they say "I don't need you in my life" but really they think the opposite and they're just desperate for attention.
#4. 'Everything Is Awesome' from The Lego Movie
Music and lyrics by Shawn Patterson
I still haven't figured out exactly what a song like this – with lyrics about as meaningful as an empty balloon and not even a decent dance beat to save it – is doing on a list of nominees for the Academy Awards. Seriously, try listening to this so that you actually concentrate on the lyrics. Did you? Yep, I know – that's a minute and a half that you'll never get back.
#3. 'Glory' from Selma
Music and lyrics by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn
I liked how this song started off. The background instruments set the atmosphere very well and the chorus works. Then the rap verses kick in, with lyrics so overwhelmingly preachy that they must have been written while ticking off the "Most Clichéd Phrases for Freedom-fighting Songs" list. If you want to handle a theme like this with beauty and earnestness, try a little subtlety, please.
#2. 'Grateful' from Beyond the Lights
Music and lyrics by Diane Warren
Finally, moving up on the list to songs that do not annoy me in almost every possible way. "Grateful" is very listenable indeed. Too bad that practically every female pop singer does a variation of the "I endured hardships but I'm glad about it because it made me a stronger person" ballad and this song doesn't have anything terribly interesting or creative to say on the subject.
And the Oscar should go to... 'Lost Stars' from Begin Again
Music and lyrics by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois
I wouldn't say this is a great song, but it's the only one out of these nominees that doesn't feel pretentious, boring or meaningless to me. It has a nice, relaxed feel about it, but if you listen to the lyrics properly it is actually quite thoughtful. I will of course always appreciate a touch of the piano and the guitar on the background, and the chorus has a good beat about it.
Are you going to watch the award show this year? How much do you usually care about the Original Song category? I'm off to do some more Oscar blogging!
Romantic duets are one of the basic ingredients in the musical genre – which is why they have to be really good in order to stand out from the mass. A simple, dull "I love you", "I love you too" will not do. The best lovers' duets express joy and affection, and occasionally the hardships of love, without resorting to sappy lyrics riddled with clichés.
So, what else should a musical-loving blogger do on a Valentine's Day than list her Top Ten romantic musical duets? I know, right!
10. 'We Kiss in the Shadow'
The King and I
Tuptim and Lun Tha
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Tuptim and Lun Tha have to meet in secret because Tuptim is a concubine of the King of Siam. The agony of forbidden love ensues. The lyrics aren't as memorable as some of the others on this list, but I do like the melody.
9. 'Sixteen Going On Seventeen'
The Sound of Music
Liesl and Rolf
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Alright, so this song is maybe a tiny bit depressing in hindsight, knowing what Rolf decides to do with his life in the end. I think for me, most of the appeal is in the specific performance by Charmian Carr and Daniel Truhitte in the film version (which I've linked above) rather than in the song itself, which frankly doesn't have an awful lot to say. I just love Liesl's dress and the dance in the gazebo.
8. 'A Heart Full of Love'
Les Misérables
Marius and Cosette
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer
I adore every bit of music that Claude-Michel Schönberg has ever composed, but even considering we're in the realm of theatre where the rules of credibility are frequently experimented with, I find myself shaking my head at Marius and Cosette who vow eternal love after literally just bumping to each other on the street for a couple of seconds.
7. 'As Long As You're Mine'
Wicked
Elphaba and Fiyero
Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Rather than a promise of eternity, Elphaba and Fiyero go for "just for this moment". I love the intro to this song, it enticingly foreshadows the passion for life and the slightly fatalistic tone of the rest of the tune.
6. 'Mountain Duet'
Chess
Florence and Anatoly
Music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics by Tim Rice and Björn Ulvaeus
Once again we get a bit of a different angle to the traditional "love duet" because this is set in a reluctant, awkward meeting between Anatoly the Russian chess player and Florence, the assistant to his American opponent. It begins with the characters wondering what the heck they are supposed to be doing here, and then Anatoly goes "Listen, I hate to break up the mood..." And the mood really gets going from there!
5. 'I'll Cover You'
RENT
Angel and Collins
Lyrics and music by Jonathan Larson
I'm sure I've already gushed about the earnestness of Angel and Collins, the absolute joy that this song expresses, and Angel's overall awesomeness as a character. Lyrics, melody, mood, characters, I just adore the whole package.
4. 'One Hand, One Heart'
West Side Story
Tony and Maria
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
This is on a much more solemn side. So why am I pointing the finger at Marius and Cosette's sudden confessions of love but ranked Maria and Tony practically rehearsing their wedding on fourth place? Well, I think West Side Story devotes a bit more more time and explanation to the main couple's character histories and setting up the premise that their lives are lacking fulfillment which they try to patch up with an admittedly hasty commitment. The tune overall has a beautiful simplicity to it. If I ever happen to get married, I want this song at my wedding. 3. 'Come What May'
Moulin Rouge!
Christian and Satine
Music and lyrics by David Baerwald
What power there is in three short words, 'Come what may'. I never get bored of this song! Once again, the tactic of starting soft and quiet and building up to a massive power blend of two voices works wonders.
2. 'Last Night of the World'
Miss Saigon
Kim and Chris
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr.
Claude-Michel Schönberg does it again, there's something about this melody that makes me obsess over it. The world around Kim and Chris is dark and dangerous, but they have this lovely song. And the solo saxophone.
1. 'All I Ask Of You'
The Phantom of the Opera
Raoul and Christine
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe
There never was any debate in my mind as to which duet should be the top of the list. Out of the overall amazing score in The Phantom of the Opera, this song has always been my favourite (though Past the Point of No Return and The Music of the Night aren't far behind). As a rule, I turn into an emotional wreck as soon as 'Anywhere you go, let me go too' comes out. I'm also eternally thankful to whoever oversaw the casting of the 25th Anniversary performance because they gave us the chance to hear Sierra Boggess and Hadley Fraser sing this song to perfection.
When a singer covers another one's song, does it mean they are running out of ideas of their own? I think not. Is it an insult to the original version if someone makes a re-imagined cover? Again, I think not – as long as the original artist is credited alongside the new one.
In my opinion, a song has to be great in some respect to begin with, in order to inspire a good cover version. Very often, another artist's take on a song highlights some great quality that you never really paid attention to while listening to the original. So in this way, covers can definitely be regarded as a nod of respect to the original version, rather than a slander.
I've listed here seven cover songs that, in my opinion, are better than their originals. Some of them have become so iconic that they are often associated with the cover artist rather than the original, but others just show my personal preferences. A couple of these songs are popular enough to have been covered by several artists, but I have only listed my favourite ones. Have fun listening and comparing! Crazy In Love –originally by Beyoncé, covered by Emeli Sandé
I always thought this song was restless to the point that I swear it makes my blood pressure climb up, so the re-imagined background on the Emeli Sandé cover is a very welcome change. Unlike with the other songs on my list, I don't think the cover version really unearthed any hidden qualities about the original song, but it sure is much more listenable.
Make You Feel My Love – originally by Bob Dylan, covered by Adele
Now, this melody was great already when Bob Dylan wrote it. I'm just not at all a fan of his voice, and his version sounds very monotonous to me. It takes Adele to make this song a real emotion-booster that it has the capacity to be. Just listen to that heart-breaking tone that she puts into each and every syllable.
Unchained Melody – originally by Todd Duncan, covered by The Righteous Brothers
Unchained Melody was originally composed for a prison film called, you guessed it, Unchained. The famous Righteous Brothers cover was also used in a film, Ghost. The original Todd Duncan version is quite beautiful in its simplicity, but I happen to be head over heels in love with Bobby Hatfield's voice – how he manages to use his voice like that is subject of constant awe for me. (This song is actually a Bobby Hatfield solo although it's usually credited to The Righteous Brothers duo.) I also love the way the cover version starts off very quiet and mellow, and then soars higher and higher as it goes on.
Yesterday – originally by The Beatles, covered by Ray Charles
Right, supposedly nobody is allowed to say that someone did a Paul McCartney song better than Paul McCartney – but I'm going to say it anyway. I don't mean to say I dislike the Beatles original, but only Ray Charles can really make me feel for this song. This is a most definite case of "a great song making great covers happen".
Run – originally by Snow Patrol, covered by Leona Lewis
I found Leona Lewis' cover before the original and was quite surprised when I discovered where this great, emotional ballad had its roots. Somehow, the Snow Patrol lyrics gain a whole new level of meaning when they have the benefit of Lewis' powerful voice.
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) – originally by Cher, covered by Nancy Sinatra
I'm sorry, but I think the whole point of this song is lost under the distracting arrangement of the Cher version. Therefore, it baffles me to no end how Nancy Sinatra managed to turn it into such a captivating melody, with its beautiful, toned-down backgrounds. In this case, less is definitely more.
I Will Always Love You – originally by Dolly Parton, covered by Whitney Houston
Last on my list, the epitome of epic covers. I mean, is there anybody out there who doesn't immediately think Whitney Houston when this song is mentioned? Thank you Dolly Parton for writing such a powerful song, and thank you Whitney Houston for making it immortal with her sensational vocal chords. Isn't it intriguing how a country song is transformed into a power ballad by just tweaking the instrumentals a bit and adding some soulful saxophone?
What do you think about my list – do you prefer the originals or the covers? Would you like to mention some other successful cover songs? How do you feel about singers covering each others' songs in general?
I have to say I know very little about the films competing for the Academy Awards this year. Last year was very exciting because Les Misérables was nominated in so many categories, and I even watched the whole awards show for the first time in my life. I haven't seen any of the mega-awards-nominated movies from this year (such as 12 Years A Slave and American Hustle), but I decided to do my research in at least one category: the Best Original Song nominees.
So now I'm going to list all the five Original Song nominees from my least favourite choice to the one I would want to win the award – with comments that justify their placement in that order, of course. I haven't seen any of the films where these songs appear so I will judge their qualities as individual songs only, not taking into account how they function in their respective films. If you've already done your research and made your pick, see if your opinion agrees with mine! And if you haven't I'll embed videos of all the songs so you can choose your favourite now.
#5 The Moon Song from Her
The Moon Song gets the last place in my ranking because that kind of guitar-plucking, wheezy-voiced style of music never resonates with me. I'm surely not the only one who can't make anything out of half of the lyrics because they just get blurred into oblivion? And because of that, I have completely no idea what this song is even supposed to be about!
#4 Alone Yet Not Alone from Alone Yet Not Alone
Every time this song begins, I think "It's actually quite a beautiful melody." But by the time the tune rolls halfway through, I'm bored. I don't know if it's because of the lullaby-esque rendition or the fact that I can't relate to the lyrics at all, but I. Get. Bored. It's by no means a bad song, just not at all Oscar material. (and even though it has nothing to do with the song itself, I just have to wonder who on Earth, in the 21st century, makes a film that has Native American characters without hiring actual Native Americans... Seriously, the black wigs and the feathers don't trick anyone anymore) EDIT// As of January 29th, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has disqualified "Alone Yet Not Alone" as a nominee. Composer Bruce Broughton personally contacted some members of the Academy music branch (of which he used to be the governor) during the voting period in order to get more attention for his song, which the Academy considered unethical. A replacing nominee has not been chosen.
#3 Ordinary Love from Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
This song, by the U2, doesn't awaken any thoughts in me, either positive or negative, so the middle is a good place for it. Because of this lack of feeling, I find it hard to say anything about it. I just don't quite grasp what the lyrics are trying to say. What is the definition of "ordinary love" and why is it better than "extraordinary love"?
#2 Happy from Despicable Me 2
Finally this list gets to the songs that make me say "Yeah, this is awesome!" I dare you not to tap your foot to this one. There's never too many happy songs on this planet, and Pharrell Williams has something really cool going on here. The song might be a bit too long and the lyrics get somewhat repetitive, but that instrumental background is just too infectious to resist!
And the winner should be... Let It Go from Frozen
Alright, before I say anything else I have to admit that I might have been a little biased in this song's favour from the start. I heard and fell in love with Let It Go weeks before I knew anything about the other ones. Besides, I just happen to be in a situation in my life right now where inspirational songs like this are like chocolate. Oh, and I've been a huge fan of Idina Menzel for years. But well, no matter how many times I listen to all the Oscar nominees in different order, this one always wins. None of the others have those amazing piano runs in the gaps between the verses, and as a Finn who knows everything about the combination of cold and dark I wholeheartedly congratulate Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (the husband-and-wife team behind this song) on managing to create the winter night atmosphere right in the first few bars of the song. A great song, there's no getting over it, and it should definitely win the award. And they should definitely get Idina Menzel to sing it at the gala, that would be one bullet-proof way to bring some quality into that show. If she doesn't, I'll be sad. If they get Demi Lovato to sing her version of it, I'll roll my eyes.
What's your pick for the award winner? Are you going to watch the gala, and if so what are you most expecting to see? I'm really excited to see Ellen DeGeneres hosting the show! I know she's done it once before, but I didn't watch that year. However, I've come to realize that the clips from her show are one of the best and funniest things on Youtube, which is why I think she'll make a very entertaining hostess.
There's no other way to say it: I HATE Autumn from the bottom of my heart. I find absolutely nothing to celebrate about the fact that the days get shorter, everything outside is grey and ugly and the weather sucks. Probably the main reason to my passionate hate of this season is the fact that I'm one of those people whose energy level is immensely dependent on the amount of sunlight – in the summer, when the sun is up nearly all the time here in the North, I don't feel like sleeping at all, and now that it's getting darker and darker until there's just a couple of hours of daylight left in December, I feel like sleeping all the time! I found out that the only way to survive October and November was eating chocolate and getting into Christmas mode. Oh, and taking Vitamin D.
I also dug out this 30 Days of Music tag from Kristallikettu's blog to add some fun to this depressing month called October. What it means is that for each day this month I choose one song according to the directions of this tag. It would be pointless to create separate posts to all 30 song choices so I'll just edit them all into this same post.
Let's get started...
Day 1: My Favourite Song
It annoys me immensely when this question pops up... I mean, how is it possible for any person to have just ONE favourite song?! I know I have at least a hundred! Okay if I have to pick one... I guess it could be Stand By Me by Ben E. King. I adore the double bass intro and the video is somehow really cute. And, of course Mr King's voice, like no other on the planet. I even feel a tiny bit more positive about facing the horrors of October after listening through this song.
Day 2: My Least Favourite Song
This is a tricky one as well, because whenever I come across an atrocious song I like to avoid it, so it doesn't really stick in my mind. I'm going to go with Nicki Minaj's Stupid Hoe because no matter which way I try to listen to it, even given the option that Minaj isn't even taking herself seriously here, I can't think of it as anything else but an unbelievable waste of time, energy, vocal chords and Youtube space. Sorry Minaj fans...
Day 3: A Song That Makes Me Happy
There's something irresistibly positive about Ain't No Mountain High Enough, sung by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Day 4: A Song That Makes Me Sad
Garou's Que l'Amour Est Violent was playing at our house after our family's first dog was put to sleep and even after five years I always remember that day when I listen to this. Hear it out even if you can't understand a word of French, it's really beautiful and that man has a voice like no one else.
Day 5: A Song That Reminds Me Of Someone
Ever since Midsummer celebrations of 2013, Psy's Gentleman reminds me of one of my lovely cousins who wore a hilarious costume. Oh my that was so much fun...
Day 6: A Song That Reminds Me Of Somewhere We Are Young by fun. reminds me of the wonderful week I spent in Glasgow visiting a friend.
Day 7: A Song That Reminds Me Of An Event
This one reminds me of another cousin's wedding: Tapani Kansa's R-A-K-A-S which you hear all the time unless you know how to avoid certain radio stations and dance events. For those of you who don't know Finnish, it's basically about wanting to marry your L-O-V-E in the countryside.
Day 8: A Song That I Know All Of The Words To
Learning song lyrics has sort of become a new hobby of mine so Somewhere from the musical West Side Story is just one example.
Day 9: A Song I Can Dance To
In Finnish high schools there's an optional dance course (mostly to get ready for the school dance called "Wanhojen tanssit") and we did salsa with Juanes' La Camisa Negra :D
Day 10: A Song I Fall Asleep To
I'm a really picky sleeper. One thing that I absolutely require in order to fall asleep is that everything must be QUIET. If there's a loud concert at the indoor ice rink some hundreds of meters away, my sleep is ruined. So yeah, I don't really play music when I want to sleep. But... there's one song that I play in my head when I feel too restless to sleep, and it always works! It's A Little Fall of Rain from, of course, Les Misérables. Is it weird that I use a death song as a lullaby?
Day 11: A Song From My Favourite Band
Just like I don't have one favourite song, I don't have one favourite band. But I have been a tiny bit obsessed with Fleetwood Mac for quite a long time now. Here's some Second Hand News for ya.
Day 12: A Song From A Band I Hate
What's with all the "hate" questions here? I don't want to share things I dislike to my readers! Not to mention I have to rummage my head for all my worst music-related memories which I've been doing my best to forget. Alright, here's a song that was constantly playing in the radio for a while and it drove me insane: Suudellaan (= Let's kiss) by the Finnish band Lauri Tähkä & Elonkerjuu (nowadays just Elonkerjuu). I don't know exactly what annoys me so much about this band!
Day 13: A Song That Is A Guilty Pleasure
As I explained in this post, I don't really have any "guilty pleasures" in music because I don't have a problem telling people what I like. But if I did believe in the idea, I think this recent find would fit the description. Some weeks ago I listened to One Night In Bangkok from the musical Chess (composed, by the way, by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus aka the ABBA guys) and now I can't stop... It's so ridiculous and SO AWESOME.
Day 14: A Song That No-one Would Expect Me To Like
What an interesting question. I actually have no idea what other people think about my taste in music! I like so many different types of music that I don't know if I could really surprise people with anything. I guess, maybe those people who know I'm not religious at all could be surprised to know that I adore Amazing Grace. This version is by Celtic Woman.
Day 15: A Song That Describes Me
That would have to be Paloma Faith's Upside Down, there is no other option!
Day 16: A Song I Used To Like But Now Hate
I generally don't change my opinions about music. If I start to like a song, I'll like it forever, no matter how much other people think it's "overplayed"! But if I think really hard, there's this one song that I, for some mysterious reason, listened to a lot when I was smaller (like ten, maybe) – Try To Say I'm Sorry by Princessa. WHY? That voice is terriblyannoying and the singer looks like an emaciated Kristen Stewart.
Day 17: A Song I Always Hear On The Radio
I never listen to the radio at home, but it's nice to put it on in the car. My mum and I usually choose Groove FM, and that channel likes to play Adele's Set Fire To The Rain
Day 18: A Song I Wish I Heard On The Radio
As I'm usually in the car when I listen to the radio, I would love to hear Michael Jackson's Speed Demon! Isn't that just a perfect car driving song?
Day 19: A Song From My Favourite Album
The Dreamgirls film soundtrack is definitely one of my favourite albums. It's the perfect mix of great, groovy tunes and character-building ballads bursting with soul and emotion. Steppin' To The Bad Side is on the groovy side, I simply can't stay still when they get the saxophones going there.
Day 20: A Song I Listen To When I'm Angry
I do realize I already featured Michael Jackson a short while ago, but there just isn't a more ideal anger song for me than They Don't Care About Us.
Day 21: A Song I Listen To When I'm Happy Today 4 U from the musical RENT, because Angel is awesome.
Day 22: A Song I Listen To When I'm Sad
There's a LOT of songs I could choose from, but I'll pick Madonna's The Power Of Good-Bye.
Day 23: A Song To Play At My Wedding Seasons of Love, a.k.a the most moving anthem about life, from the wonderful musical RENT!
Day 24: A Song To Play At My Funeral
Wow, I haven't really thought about this... Seasons of Love would suit this occasion perfectly as well, but it would be lame to use the same song twice. Madonna's I'll Remember would be a possibility. Glee's Chris Colfer introduced me to this song and I've loved loved loved it ever since – specifically, his version of it.
Day 25: A Song That Makes Me Laugh
I'm glad there's something cheerful here after those funeral contemplations! I know I shared this song in my Mary Poppins post already, but there is no other song in the world that makes me laugh out loud like I Love To Laugh from Mary Poppins! I've never managed to listen through it silently!
Day 26: A Song I Can Play On An Instrument
I played the flute for seven years so I can play a fair amount of stuff on it, but my favourite song to play is Danny Boy. (Actually, the melody is called Londonderry Air in my music books, the Danny Boy lyrics were made later.) I want to present this version sung by the wonderful Celtic Thunder.
PS there's an other video in Youtube where these same guys sing this same song in the open air wearing kilts and it's even more awesome, but Blogger won't let me add it here for some reason...
Day 27: A Song I Wish I Could Play
One of these days I'm seriously going to dig out the sheet music for I'm A Doun For Lack O'Johnnie (there's about 11 different ways to spell the song title and none of them seems to be the official, "right" one...). It's a part of the Scottish Fantasy composition by Max Bruch, made famous by the violinist Vanessa Mae. This melody is usually played with the violin, but no doubt it would sound great with the flute as well!
Day 28: A Song That Makes Me Feel Guilty
I don't exactly know what this question is about because songs rarely make me feel guilty, but I guess the nearest hit would be Whistle While You Work from Disney's Snow White. It might disturb me a little when it happens to pop into my head and my apartment is looking like a hurricane went through... I'm going to present the Finnish version Ain laulain työtäs tee, because of course I watched all the Disney films dubbed in Finnish when I was a kid (and even as a grown-up I swear the Finnish voices suit the characters much better than the original ones). And it will be a fun listen to all the non-Finns.
Day 29: A Song From My Childhood
Yep, Disney films belonged to my childhood as they do to practically everyone's, but I bet not everyone can say they knew the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein songs in The Sound Of Music at age five. My absolute favourite scene in the film was Liesl and Rolf's duet Sixteen Going On Seventeen. Liesl was my number one childhood heroine – she had such a pretty pink dress and a boy who sang with her. Plus, when my sister and I were smaller our mum would always stop the film right after Maria and Georg got married, and it came as a complete surprise to me later that the film actually continued from there. So for many years I didn't know that Rolf would become a bad guy!
Day 30: My Favourite Song Last Year
Okay this is hard, because like I said on Day 1 I have tons of favourite songs and I can't possibly keep track exactly when I started liking all of them. I recall listening to Lady Gaga's Born This Way a lot, and I still do – especially on the rare occasion when I make myself do work-out at home. I need a good beat for that, and Gaga has it.
BONUS Day 31: A Song That Is Really Insane
The original tag only covers 30 days but I made up this tiny addition myself because, as we all know, there are 31 days in October. There's always some sort of a "crazy, funny song" phenomenon going on in the wide world of the Internet. Stuff like Gangnam Style, Harlem Shake or... What Does The Fox Say by Ylvis! My apologies if you're already sick of this insanity... And this is officially the end of the 30 Days of Music challenge! Feel free to take up this tag on your blog!
Miss Saigon is full of wonderful music and moving lyrics, but on today's post I will share my absolute favourite songs and try to explain why I like them so much. I didn't put them in order of preference because it would be impossible for me to rank them – they are listed in the order where they appear in the show. Please remember what I said about the questionable language in the Miss Saigon lyrics!
The Movie In My Mind
This song takes place near the beginning of the show at the Dreamland club. Gigi, one of the bar girls, starts to sing about her impossible dream of escaping Vietnam and living the American Dream. Kim joins in, making it a wonderful female duet where Gigi's deep, dark voice contrasts with Kim's bright, youthful one. Female duets are much rarer in musical theatre than the traditional male-female ones, and I tend to like them as a rule.
Why God Why?
Chris has just realized he's in love with Kim and boy does he sing a beautiful song about his overpowering feelings! I chose to present a video with Gareth Gates singing, because I did mention how much I would love him to play Chris' part! I think his voice was made to sing this song. Blogger wouldn't let me put the video in like I did with the other songs, but I'll give you a link:
This Money Is Yours
Chris asks Kim to tell him more about herself. While it's terrible to hear what happened to Kim's parents, I like this song because Lea Salonga delivers it with such deep emotion and maturity of voice that it's impossible to believe she is just 17 years old here.
Sun and Moon
This is Kim and Chris' first love duet (yes, they have two of those). I love the imagery in the lyrics, how it compares Kim and Chris' unlikely romance to the sun and the moon meeting in the sky.
Dju Vui Vai
I've cried at every real wedding I've attended, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry when I get to see this performance on stage. The girls' chorus is like from another world, and the atmosphere of hope and promise really reaches your heart, which is much more important than having an authority figure to make the marriage official.
The Last Night of the World
Chris and Kim sing another duet after their unofficial wedding, and this is my favourite out of the two. The arrangements for the two voices are wonderful and the melody is so memorable it's constantly playing in head.
The Morning of the Dragon
One of the many ensemble numbers in this musical which correspond to the word EPIC. The Viet-Cong takes over in determined song. The harmonica is quite interesting here, but I actually think it sounds good.
You Will Not Touch Him/Thuy's Death/This Is The Hour
These three are always grouped a little differently depending on which album they're in – sometimes This Is The Hour is a separate track, sometimes it's put together with Thuy's Death and isn't mentioned by name at all. Anyway, they happen one right after the other, I think they're all great and clumping them all together means I've got more room in my Top 10 list, so they're going to be one item in this list. The story gets to one of its highest points here when Kim shows that she really will do anything to protect her little boy when Thuy comes back and threatens him. After this comes This Is The Hour, another ensemble number that sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it, and features what I think are honestly the best harmonies in the universe of musical theatre. Yes, I'm really going to make such a huge statement!
Bui-Doi
The ensemble sings again, led by John. John has become such a different person than what he was in Act I – in a positive sense! Once again, I love the melody and the harmonies...
Now That I've Seen Her
This is Ellen's solo which will no longer be heard in the revival. Ellen gets a lot of dirty looks from fans because of how they interpret these lyrics, but like I stated in my earlier post, I can't see what there is to hate about her. She has to go through a lot emotionally, suddenly hearing that her husband basically has another family in Vietnam!
Two weeks ago, Stevie Wonder celebrated the 63rd birthday of his wonderful, genius life. I meant to mark the occasion by blogging on his actual birthday, May 13th, but well... better late than never.
Stevie Wonder. Why is he so wonderful? Because the average artist's album holds one or two hit songs and you can just forget the rest in a whiffy, whereas Mr Wonder's albums are just full of the greatest songs. He is amazingly innovative with the way he uses instruments in his songs (mastering a dozen different instruments might help with that) as well as with his lyrics. The range of his lyrics cover a wide spectrum, from concerns of poverty and inequality to celebrations of the miracles of life, with some must-have relationship/love songs in the middle. It seems that Mr Wonder has no problem deviating from the overused "I loved her so much but then she left me and now I'm sad boo hoo" theme, which is very refreshing! No wonder he was awarded with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and 22 other Grammys.
I think it's song-sharing time again! Here are some of my favourite Stevie Wonder masterpieces.
Superstition
This one gets the top of the list because it's one of my absolute most-loved songs in the world. It also gave Stevie Wonder his first two Grammy awards in 1972, for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. There's this amazing instrumental intro with a dual effect: on the one hand, it fills you with expectation and you can't wait for the song to start. Then again, the intro itself is so damn wonderful you could just listen to that till the end of time. Superstition ain't the way!
I Just Called To Say I Love You
A sweet and simple song with a sweet and simple message: you don't always have to have any special excuse to tell people you care about them. Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 – it was featured in a movie called The Woman in Red.
Saturn
This wonderful song captures the desperation of the state of the world, imagining there's a better place where "just to live to us is our natural high". This is the song that I listen to when it seems like everything is a total mess and the idea of packing off to another planet feels quite tempting.
Evil
Another (earlier) expression of the injustice of the world. Questions that are never answered.
Ebony Eyes
On the more cheerful side, with a nice groove...
Living for the City
Another Best R&B Song Grammy winner (in '74), and no wonder why! Just listen to it, that amazing beat and that lovely, raspy voice!
As
The chorus is unbelievably catchy.
Part-time Lover
A bouncy tune with an especially bouncy intro – he really knows how to do these intros! Pa pa pa, pa pa da-da-da-da...
Pastime Paradise
I find this song somehow intriguing. And once again I love the instrumentations in the background.
Sir Duke
To conclude, a celebration of great musicians and good music – the title is a reference to Duke Ellington whom Stevie Wonder admired. I agree with Stevie wholeheartedly, music is such a great thing. So go and listen to some good music, but first you can tell me what musicians you admire and why :)
I'm in a New York state of mind today! Possibly because I ordered some really exciting, Broadway-related stuff on Amazon.com: a board game Be A Broadway Star, and a super amazing musical song book for female singers! You'll probably hear more about them when they arrive, but now let's get to the topic of the day...
There are a lot of New York themed songs out there, aren't there? Songs with New York in the title, or at least very prominently in the lyrics. I've never been to New York City (though I was very close to becoming a New Yorker once!) so I can't really comment on whether it lives up to its reputation in songs. The Big Apple certainly has an interesting history and has continued to grow into a home of multiculturalism and performing arts (Broadway!). The words "New York" and its derivatives are constantly being used as a symbol of some special kind of lifestyle – what it is precisely, I can't say. But I can share ten of my favourite, fabulous New York tunes!
Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down by Alicia Keys
The original one is by Jay-Z with Alicia Keys singing the chorus, but I happen to prefer this version. The vocals in the beginning are chilling, and I love the atmosphere in general. Treats New York as a city where you can fulfill your dreams.
New York by Paloma Faith
I really love the sound of this song, but to this day I can't figure out what "New York" stands for here. Is it the actual city or, literally, "another lady"? The music video only adds to the confusion!
I Love New York by Madonna
The queen of pop sings about New York as "the only city that makes me glad". I'd like to know why!
New York State Of Mind by Billy Joel
Has been covered numerous times, by Shirley Bassey and Barbra Streisand to name a few. Such a nice and mellow tune, with some beautiful piano and sax. And Billy Joel's voice, of course.
Englishman In New York by Sting
I start tapping my foot the moment I hear the first beats of this wonderful classic piece. Deals with culture clashes I guess, though eventually the melting pot will without a doubt consume the Englishman.
New York City Serenade by Bruce Springsteen
A ten-minute jumble of many parts and lyrics that kind of don't match, but it's really beautiful, which a word that I usually don't associate with Bruce Springsteen, though I do associate many other positive adjectives with him.
The Only Living Boy In New York by Simon & Garfunkel
I think it's so sweet that Paul Simon wrote this to Art Garfunkel when the latter was in Mexico and Simon felt lonely. It's a beautiful piece, once again. I guess it is possible after all to feel lonely in the city that never sleeps.
There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York by Sammy Davis Jr.
This is from the musical Porgy and Bess which I really know nothing about. Anyway, it's a nice song with a great swing! Presents New York in the usual light of the destination of "high life".
A Nightingale Sang In New York by Bing Crosby
I'm so happy I found a New York song by Bing Crosby because he's like one of my favourite people in the Universe. My Christmas is never complete without his White Christmas and O Come All Ye Faithful, but no matter what that man is singing, it sounds perfect. I don't know why this is called A Nightingale Sang in New York on Spotify and A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square everywhere else.
New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
Of course, you can't talk about music and New York without mentioning this famous piece by Frank Sinatra (who also sings about "Chicago, Chicago"). Jay-Z knows that too, as he pays tribute to Sinatra and his famous line "if I can make it there, I'm gonna make it any God damn where" in Empire State Of Mind
Maybe I should go find out songs about London next... Yesterday, a friend and I bought plane tickets to London and tickets to Queen's Theatre to see Les Misérables and we've been celebrating ever since! I'm so happy to be going to London again! My pilgrimage to New York and Broadway will have to wait a little longer, but it will happen.
