Star Of Wonder - Christmas Song #1

Christmas music is the prettiest - isn't it? Sweet and enchanting, mostly - unless the occasional rock or soul singer decides to unChristmas a song with some wild interpretation that makes it unlistenable. I like experimentation and interpretation - even in classical music BUT cool it, guys, with Christmas songs.....mmmkay?

Anyway, here's an absolutely entrancing accapella rendering that will melt you. Enjoy.

                                       

Grateful - A Thanksgiving Carol

Thanksgiving is really the perfect holiday. It carries little to no baggage - no religious or political issues, no debates over its meaning or strong opinions on how to celebrate or even decorate. It's really about what it says THANKS GIVING. So we celebrate by eating until we burst. Some of us watch football, serial nap or talk a happy blue streak. IT'S ALL GOOD. But, I find as I "age" - I do all the above and end my day with contemplation - just reviewing what gives my life meaning. When I was young, it was things and events and career. But now - now - its people - yes, just people................

                                                 

The Rainbow Connection

I have no idea who is singing this song. During the heady days of LimeWire, I went nuts downloading anything that struck my fancy. Many times I failed to notate the artist. Ah well, this is such a charming recording of a charming song sung charmingly by a charming child. Listen and be charmed.

                            
                   

As Time Goes By

A ditty remembering Ma & Dad on their anniversary.

                                               

Yesterday - Neil Diamond

I never realized that this song should ideally be sung by older men. After hearing this wonderful version by Diamond, I am convinced that the Beatles penned a song way beyond their years. It is a sad song - a song of regret and a song of realization. It took Neil Diamond to make me see this. Not only is yesterday a beautiful song musically - great melody - it is also a profound song

                                            
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Children Will Listen - Barbra Streisand

Bullying starts at home for some children. Parenting obviously is the hardest job. Stephen Sondheim has written some wise words on the subject and placed them on top of a beautiful melody delivered by La Streisand.


                                                    

                                                   

Songbird Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand is by far the number one songbird in the world. She is an original and a ground breaker. Her voice and music - her interpretations are sublime. Streisand has managed to remain relevant for her entire five decade career putting forth a large body of work that has never ceased to amaze me. She is theater when she sings. She is a storyteller - an actress - a diva supreme and a superior musician. She is music!
                                                      

STREISAND  SONGBIRD

                                        

SONGBIRDS Melissa Manchester - Still Myself

I Begin my Songbirds series with a singer who gets no respect as Rodney Dangerfield would say. Well, Melissa Manchester gets barrels of respect from me.
                                            

                                                          SONGBIRD #1

                                              MELISSA MANCHESTER

Under rated and under appreciated Melissa Manchester seems to have been completely forgotten. I never hear her songs played on radio or other venues. Here is a woman singer song writer every bit as good and even better than many of her male counterparts. Yet, the guys of her generation get played and praised and remembered. Melissa Manchester has had more top ten hits then most when top ten hits meant quality. Her albums are chock full of meaningful portraits and tributes to the human spirit - melodies and words of substance - performed with the emotions of a great actress. Here is "Still Myself" a relatively current piece that evokes self awareness in the light of some sad truth. Listen and be awestruck. Listen twice after reading all the stuff I posted that seemed relevant at the time I was putting this together. My mistake BUT the song sings for itself and Melissa will compel you to hear her.

                                  

I've Grown Accostmed To Her ( His, Your ) Face - Lena Horne

Lena Horne was a unique performer. Beautiful, stylish and controversial because she was unique, beautiful and stylish. How dare she be those things. That was very much the attitude - not of the general movie going record buying public BUT the opinions of the producers and directors that reigned in Hollywood and beyond. No African American performer had dared to affront society with such alluring attributes. She couldn't be ignored -  yet, what to do with her? So they doled her out in tasteful bits and pieces. However, Lena Horne was a force and couldn't be contained. She went on to break barriers and ultimately to become a show business legend.

With all this racist nonsense getting in her way, Lena Horne was not recognized in her day for the superb talent that she was - the great interpreter of song - the sultry soprano with alto sexiness - the uncluttered resonant beauty of musical sound she so effortlessly produced -  because of the controversy that tailgated her.

We live in a stupid world. Lena Horne and her ilk prevail against all odds and bring our racist world to its knees.

Here, then, is the delicious Lena Horne in her classiest mode singing Lerner and Loewe as if it were George Gershwin.

                                          

The End of the World - Matt Alber

This guy needs a lot more play. His songs are great. His voice is compelling. He hasn't been recording solo for too long. I know he has a following but more people need to join the parade. Matt Alber is an original. Here is, to me, his most beautiful song.

                              

Multitudes Of Glenn - Musical Birthday Wishes for My Husband

Songs are great expressions - more so than a Hallmark card - of how we feel - how much we love. Here, then are two absolutely beautiful recordings expressing my love on the birthday of the most important person in my life, Glenn - my partner of 33 years and husband of 2 years - 35 years with a man that showers me with his goodness every single day. Happy Birthday, Glenn.

                                             

Pie Jesu - Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston

It feels like a Sunday!
 

                                                        

I Want To Dance With Somebody & The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing

Here are 2 very different songs about dancing. One a yearning - the other a happy promise AND the singers are as different as their songs. Matt Alber sings Whitney Houston's early anthem as a plea - a gentle wish. This is such an original approach to the song that it sounds like a new tune. I prefer it to Whitney. Kurt Elling promises a happy time in his song and once you hear it there will be no doubt that he will deliver. It is a retro rendering that can only delight. And you may even want to dance.

                                          

Easy Living - Nancy Wilson / Morgana King

Easy Living is one of my favorite songs. I like it, aside from its beautiful melody, for the lyric. It tells of a no holds barred kind of love that can be both romantic love as well as familial or friendship - a deep bond. I am always searching for different versions of this tune. Here are two of my favorite interpretations. The first is an earthy jazz tinged reading by the beautiful Nancy Wilson - love her. The second is a lush ethereal interpretation by the great Morgana King. The visuals are the way I see this song. I've made it personal. Enjoy.

                                   

Peggy Lee - Cats & Rainbows

Peggy Lee is one the great minimalist singers. No one gets so much said emotionally using so little in the manner of histrionics. She sighs, purrs and simply drips like thick sweet honey from a silver spoon. Here is Peggy singing two what use to be called novelty tunes. "The Siamese Cat Song" was composed and sung by Miss Peggy Lee for the animated Disney classic "The Lady and the Tramp". "Sing A Rainbow" was performed by Peggy in the movie "Pete Kelly's Blues" for which she earned an Academy Award nomination. Just a note about the two performances. The Cat song has Peggy amusingly voicing the singing cats AND the Rainbow song is sung in character. In the movie Peggy has been put in an asylum and reverts to being a little girl. As this little girl, she sings the Rainbow song sadly clutching a rag doll. Listen and be moved.

                                       

93 Million Miles - Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz troubadour

Jason Mraz philosopher

Jason Mraz humanitarian

Jason Mraz composer

Jason Mraz musician

Jason Mraz beautiful singer 

Jason Mraz 93 Million Miles

                                       

                                        

John Pizzarelli - Harvest Moon

I love a good cover especially a jazz flavored rendering of songs you just wouldn't think could slide into another genre. John Pizzarelli is one great musician - singer/composer/guitarist extraordinaire - and he has a penchant for turning over -  ever so slightly - rock, pop and country tunes into little jazz gems. Always respecting the original, the Pizza Man shows us all a song can be. I love this take on Neil Young's classic.
                      

                                                    

Stevie Wonderful! - You and I

I remember being halfway drunk in a  bar on West 74th street in New York City wailing this song along with a stranger - who, for the length of the song was my BEST friend in the universe. It was a rather long friendship since we kept popping quarters in the juke box to further wail out our heartfelt - most drunken heartfelt emotions. Yes, juke box - that's how long ago it was. The bar was packed and no one seemed to mind our caterwauling. Granted, this is a strange song to sing along to especially because of the range of notes. It goes quite high BUT when you are high you are already there OR so you think. I never saw my singing friend again but I have never stopped singing and loving this song - loving it because it is so beautiful - words and music BUT mostly because Stevie Wonder is the singer. Stevie Wonder was an idol of mine when I was an aspiring singer. He and Nilsson also Elton John - singer songwriters all three. Great innovative composers AND great innovative singers. Here is the wonderful Stevie Wonder...........

                                 

With You - A Beautiful Sadness

There are many songs about loss. "The Man That Got Away"  etc. "With You" is more than an expression of loss. It is an outburst of grief. It is a relatively new song from the Broadway musical "Ghosts". I love it. I hope you do too.

                                           

Belt and Torch - A Tribute

Eydie Gorme was one of those singers that could sing almost every genre AND sing it masterfully. She was just the best torch singer. Then there was her ability to belt -  really belt out a number without hurting your ears because she was so musical and always elegant. She did pop with humor and breezy flair. She conquered Broadway as only a true Diva could. Her Spanish language recordings are legend. Eydie's partnership with her husband Steve Lawrence was historic. Their pairing was not my favorite use of her talents as I always felt when she performed with Steve, Eydie willingly and annoyingly took a back seat to her husband. Maybe it was the times. Maybe she just loved him so much. But, I'm in the minority, since their duo performances in Vegas and on TV were extremely popular. Anyway, here she is solo -  in all her glory -  torching and belting her way through a great Broadway tune. Notice how focused she is - like a great actress unraveling in her moment of truth. This is the Eydie I like. This is the Eydie I love.

 

 

 

A Quiet Thing - Morgana King

Very few singers can transport you like Morgana King. With her multi-octave range plus her emotional range, she is like no other vocalist you will ever experience. Take her in...............

                                                                   

Sara Smile

RUMER

Is she not the new Karen Carpenter with a drop of Linda Ronstadt to funk her up a little. She's new school that loves old school. Its a pretty sound and just goes down so easy. She goes by the name of Rumer although her name is Sara, thus her reason for singing the Hall & Oats chestnut. I love it.

BREAK THE WALLS

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS

TV Music Channel Paladia has a program they run quite frequently called Daryl's House. The Daryl is Daryl Hall formerly of Hall & Oats that fab blue-eyed soul duo of the 1980's. Daryl Hall possesses one of the great pop voices ever. Anyway his show is a terrific concept. He invites musicians to jam and record at his upstate New York estate. His guests are as diverse as you could get from Smokey Robinson to., well, newish bands like Fitz & the Tantrums. I first heard their sound here on a visual medium but no complaints. I like them. Actually, they remind me of Tears For Fears. Remember them? "Shout Shout" & "Everyone Wants To Rule The World". They had an original albeit one note sound. Fitz & The Tantrums are angry but with a sense of humor which serves to broaden their music and keep their songs from sounding all the same. They must have a sense of humor with a moniker like Fitz & the Tantrums. 



 
Have a listen and tell me what you think.

                                        

Misty

Here is an exciting new recording of the beautiful Errol Garner classic "Misty" popularized by the late Sarah Vaughn and most especially by that extraordinary living legend Johnny Mathis. Jason Gould puts a new spin on 'Misty"  - he performs it like an inner monologue full of quiet drama. I can only say that this recording by Mr. Gould is truly mesmerizing bordering on other worldly. Morgana King no longer records. Jason Gould may be the one to fill that void. Here is "Misty" by Jason Gould

                                           

                              What do you think? Your comments are welcome.