Too much music, too little time! :D

Hi again everyone, another 2-fer today. The Chris Botti entry, I’d  been meaning to post for  a few days and now, here’s today’s discovery. How often does it happen that you rediscover an old favourite that completely floors you, because it’s so good, yet totally different from what you know? Well, it’s happened to me today. I often browse YouTube for vintage favourites of mine and I have fun with the recommendations. Recently, I revisited an old favourite: George Michael. I loved his voice and his Wham! Albums in the  late 80’s and early 90’s stuff, though I haven’t kept up with releases. As a matter of fact, I can’t say I was particularly impressed with his recent duet with Tony Bennett on Tony’s first duet album. However, following links, I discovered the existence of an album called “Symphonica”, which is a live collection of some of his hits, along with  a few standards, sung with symphonic arrangements, if you hadn’t guessed. I borrowed it, again from my faithful library and was absolutely flabbergasted when I recognized this song:

George Michael “Wild is the wind”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pARujCvm4Wo

Aside from his “Symphonica” album, he recorded it in 1999 for his “Songs from the last century” album. I wouldn’t have recognized the music, but I recognized the lyrics in a second. This, is my absolute favourite David Bowie song:

David Bowie “Wild is the wind”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbpMpRq6DV4

I really like the music, but there’s something so enthralling about the way David delivers it and his vibrato as he sings the final “wild” is, as my son says: sick! Lol You see, I was surprised to discover the song in such different garb by George, because I thought David’s rendition was the original. Reading the YouTube comments, I discovered that wasn’t so. According to YouTubers, this is the original:

Nina Simone “Wild is the wind”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiVDzTT4CbE

Now, I must say, I do understand the appeal and attraction to Nina's voice, though I’m afraid I don’t share it. To each his own, I guess. In any case,there is something for everyone. On that happy note, thanks for reading and listening, sincerely, Sylvie <3

Hi everyone, I want to share something a little different today. Browsing my local library’s web site, I came across a CD from jazz trumpet  player Chris Botti called “Italia” and the description sounded good, so I borrowed it. The entire CD is a smooth, soft and evocative collection. I couldn’t read the liner notes so I did question his choice for songs like “I’ve grown accustomed to her face” from “My fair lady” and “The way yu look tonight”, simply for their link to Italy, but they are very beautiful and fit well with the feel of the album.  My first favourite track from it is Schubert’s “Ave Maria”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JqOMeTGWnQ

It has a simply beautiful musical arrangement and the choral part is soft and ethereal, with the perfect dose. Seriously: Kudos to the producer of this CD! Now, my other favourite, not surprisingly, is “Nessun Dorma”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8SrYCD0Mo8

Again, it’s absolutely gorgeous, played softer than the thunderous operatic versions we’re used to hearing and somehow, there's a measured, quiet dignity about it.  I highly recommend this CD and although I’m generally not a huge jazz instrumentalist fan, this might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship: I’ll keep you posted! Thanks for reading and listening, sincerely, Sylvie <3

Hi everyone, in honor of today, July 27 2014 being one of the happiest days of my life, I want to share this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjbb_RV2fLg

My favorite version of the Disney’s “Dumbo” classic and possibly my favourite lullabye. :D Thanks for reading and listening, sincerely, Sylvie <3

Hi everyone, while searching for something else on YouTube, I came across an old favourite song, sung by an old favourite too, in a different combination. This is the David Foster penned song, sung here by Richard Marx “The best of me”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy2JckYoZTs

I’ve posted both the Foster/Newton-John link, as well as the Michael Bublé  version before, so no need to do it again, enjoy! Thanks for reading and listening, sincerely, Sylvie <3

Hi everyone, I was reviewing this blog this morning and realized an entry I thought I’d posted a couple of days ago  didn’t upload for some reason. So well, here it is again. I think it was last Thursday, Jason Mraz was on the “Tonight Show” and I found out I was misinformed about a couple of things. First, the duo he’s singing with on “Yes!” is called Raining Jane. Jason mentioned on the Pénélope show, that the title “Yes!” was an answer to the marriage of his songs with the Raining Jane sound. Now second, according to Jimmy Fallon, the first single is “Love someone”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J74Y6kDDTkM

While I’m at it, I also wanted to bring your attention to Jason's lovely cover of the Boys II Men song “It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday”:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vApON59CgaM

I appreciate that he respected the essence of the original, while still airbrushing the Mraz tinge on it. It’s such a beautiful song... Here is the original by Boys II Men:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VastXQ_hPb0

Ah, the sweet sound of acapella soul... Wow, this reminds me of an old video from 1986 I think it was. Feast your eyes and ears on  Daryl Hall & John Oates’ “Possession obsession”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAmgHGtOeJ0

I remember the part where John gets out of the cab and joins his buddies singing on the street corner: he cleans up nicely! XD My sister wonders how I remember such things so well... :D In any case, hope you enjoy some of these, thanks much for reading, sincerely, Sylvie <3

Hi everyone, I have an international connection song today. During another YouTube tag session with a friend, she sent me an old blast from the past, which is a German song called Ich sing ein Lied für Dich” from 1969, sung by a young Dutch boy known as Heintje:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4tHTNNZI7Y

I saw him in a German movie dubbed in French and he was known as the “Orphan with the golden voice”. He sang it in German in the movie, but I rediscovered it in French, 4 years later, by my first musical love, René  Simard, when he was only 11. His version was called “L’orphelin”, (the orphan):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBgw1PCunt8

Great songs never die, do they? Well it’s been a great trip for me, but hope you’ve at least peeked... :D Take care and thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie <3

Hi oh, well I didn’t expect to post a third entry today, but that’s what happens when you keep sharing videos with people. :D This entry, I’m afraid, is a guilty pleasure. My daughter sent me this video:

Weird Al Yankovic “Word crimes”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhQ1qwgwZk

It’s a parody of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred lines” and an excerpt from Weird Al Yankovic, the parody king’s latest output called “Mandatory fun”.  My daughter is a big Al fan and she told me she thought of me when she heard the lyrics of this video. Al was on “The view” yesterday and he mentioned that this song was inspired by the fact that no one seems to be able to write properly any more, because of the excessive texting and cutting words etc. He may be “Weird”, but he has a good point! Anyway, I listened to several songs off his new CD and quite enjoyed this guy, Weird Al Yankovic “Sports songs”:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFQZD8M19Xc

It’s cute and mostly harmless... :D Al’s albums are a guilty pleasure when you want to turn your brain off and for me, as I’ve underlined on this blog once or twice, the song “One more minute” always does it for me. :D I don’t necessarily love everything he does, because he has gone over the line at times, but  I very much enjoy his polka medleys, because he often knocks self-important songs/stars off their pedestal., . Here’s another one of my favourites, Weird Al Yankovic “Living in the fridge”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhTgzx-LjJY

All right, that’ll do. Thanks very much for reading, sincerely, Sylvie <3

Hey Kathy, good to read you here sweetie! Well if you like this song, I think you may enjoy the album, if you can listen on Spodify. I'm really glad you enjoy it. :D Take care sweetie and have a great day. Big hugs, sincerely, Sylvie <3