However, I probably should also mention that I VERY much adore this song, too! I mean, it's called "People!" What's not to love? Listen to the words. It's so great!
My goodness, woman!
Yeah, I must warn you though...the movie this song is from, "Funny Girl", is...strange.
Well, it's good, like, it has it's moments...but it's mostly strange.
However, if you haven't seen "What's Up, Doc?" with Barbra and Ryan O'Neal and Madeline Kahn...This needs to be amended pronto. You'll thank me!
Here are some of my favorite quotes...which may or may not make sense.
- - -
Howard: "I am not repeating myself. I am not repeating myself..."
Howard: "How...? How...?"
Judy: "How-ward! Howard. We've almost got that stutter fixed."
Howard: "You...? You...?"
Judy: "Eu-nice! Eunice."
Hugh: "I am Hugh."
Judge: "You are me?"
Hugh: "No, I am Hugh."
Judge: "Stop saying that. Make him stop saying that!"
Judy: "Howard Bannister...as in sliding down the..."
Eunice: "As the years go by, romance fades
and something else takes its place.
Do you know what that is?"
Howard: "Senility?"
Eunice: "Trust!"
Howard: "That's what I meant."
Howard: "Is that clear?
Judge: "No, but it's consistent."
Delivery Boy: "They stole my bike!"
Judge: "That's grand theft auto."
Eunice: "They tried to molest me."
Judge: "That's...[looks at Eunice]...unbelievable."
This is my favorite classical guitar solo. I don't know how many classical guitar songs there are out there, but of the ones I've heard this one is my favorite :)
Isn't it pretty? It sounds like a lullaby or a good option for a modern dance number. Somebody tell me, is he playing this whole thing? I really can't tell. It sounds like two guitars to me, but no matter how much I watch his fingers I still can't figure out what he's doing...
2nd - Mason Williams' "Classical Gas"
Weird name? Yeah, sure. BUT, I have loved this song for YEARS. It's on my parent's Hit Songs of the 60's & 70's album and I've been listening to it since I was at least 11. In fact, my friends and I used it as soundtrack music for several of our childhood L.A.M.P. (Lindsay, Amy & Morgan Productions) videos. Good times!
3rd - Michael J. Fox's version of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode"
First of all, if you haven't seen "Back to the Future" you are officially missing out on life and should remedy this immediately! ;) When I was little, this was my favorite scene of the whole move. Well, this and the skateboard chase scene. And the one in the diner where George says, "You're my density...I mean, my destiny." Let's face it, the whole movie is a classic! This video isn't the greatest quality, but you get the idea! :) Enjoy!
4th - Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"
One of my all time favorite songs...minus the depressing verse about mama's murderous rampage. I sang this in choir as a performance with some of my friends in high school. It was AWESOME! Warning: this is one of the strangest music videos in existence. I had no idea how truly unusual Queen was. Gotta love their music though, eh?
(For guitar solos, forward to 2:41 AND 4:10)
5th - August Rush's "Dueling Guitars".
Also an awesome movie! I can't watch this movie without crying. BAH! I love music...and I would not mind playing guitar with Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Pssst, apart from being molto attractivo, he's got an Irish accent! ;) But seriously, there are so many ways to play the guitar, it's like a magical instrument of awesomeness!
6th - Rodrigo y Gabriela's "Diablo Rojo"
My brother Steve has a great taste in music. He showed us some clips of this group after FHE one night. Basically every song they play is this amazing!
So...I don't know how y'all feel about the new chipmunk movies. I saw the first one and it was ok. Kinda meh. My n&ns love 'em!
HOWEVER! The Chipmunks music has always been something near and dear to my heart since my childhood days of watching The Chipmunks cartoon (or as I called it "The Chickmunks"). Those were good times. My favorite episodes were the ones with The Chipettes. My older sisters always got to be Brittany & Eleanor and I was stuck being Jeanette. Lame.
My friend Jalene & I even busted out a sweet chipmunk album of our own via my karaoke machine when we were in high school. One of our songs is still the ringtone on my phone. Haha! Good times.
So, I'd like to introduce you to a song that my cousin Emily referred me to for my workout playlist: "We're The Chipmunks" the remix from their latest movie!
This video has the old 80's version and new hip hop version, but if you just want to hear the new one, which truly is THE BEST CYCLING/DANCE SONG on my "IT BURNS!!!" playlist then...
...forward to 1:25 in the video below.
P.S. Turn up the volume and get ready to rock out!
You won't be able to hold still.
WHOOP! WHOOP!
This song has inspired many a dance party in my kitchen while making dinner.
So, here's a little PPP challenge for y'all - Get moving!!
My grandpa sent this to my mom today and I watched it over her shoulder and cried at how beautiful and powerful her voice is. This is Rhema Marvanne, she's a 7 year-old gospel singer. Her mom was a gospel singer as well, but passed away 2 years ago from a bout with cancer. I think that thought made this video particularly touching. What a sweet gift from God! I bought this song on iTunes, because cello it's amazing, but watching her perform it makes it 10 times more enjoyable...just as is the case with everything else musical. Enjoy!
I could think of so many displeasing words for the male gender right now...but instead, I think I'll share a song...because I KNOW there are those gentlemen out there who actually think thoughts like this...and I'm holding out for one o' them:
(this video is lame, but it's the best one I could find that didn't have bikini-clad women in it, which ruins the cuteness of this song if you ask me... So...)
Ah. Feeling much better.
My apologies to those of my male friends who took the time to read this and are now potentially feeling bad about themselves. You know I love y'all.
Wahoo for dating! "It's de best. I luf eet." Name that movie!
Yeah, I think it's time for a chick flick with the Madre.
I'd like to share with you my favorite scene and song from Sister Act II. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, just forward to the part when they sing together toward the end. My brother John shared this with me a couple of years ago and I never cease to get the chills. If this doesn't give you chills, then you better get your chill-o-meter examined. John and I try to sing this like them, but who are we kidding?
Yeah, seriously! Don't stop.
Dang, girl! She does those runs like they're nothing!
BAH! I love soul music! This song is definitely one of the favorites in my "Mmmhhmm" Mix on my iPod :)
For the full version, go HERE (for some reason I like the movie clip better than the recording)
You might be upset that I've started to introduce Christmas tunes to you in November, but I can't help it. Christmas is my favorite holiday and it never stays long enough, so I like to "stretch" it out a bit. I don't want to get into the ethics of this topic too much, but let me just justify my reasoning real quick:
If Thanksgiving had a sibling, it'd be Christmas. Am I right? I can't think of a more relatable holiday. And so, because Thanksgiving doesn't have it's own music, what better kind of music to listen to than the Christmas kind. Besides, Christmas music is truly the most "thanksgiving" kind of music I know. There. I'm done now.
So, "Lux Aurumque" - I first heard this song performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a past Christmas Concert with the talented Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø(and no, I do not know how to pronounce her last name). You probably know her voice best from this(I apologize in advance for the corny captions).
Anyway, it was one of those songs that nearly pushed me off the edge of my seat, I was listening so intently. For some reason I am drawn to the complex beauty of these crazy dissonant chords and I love the tranquil resolved chords at the end. This dissonant-to-resolved kind of composition style just, GAH, kills me. Plus, seeing as the song is about the Savior's birth, I found it to be very symbolic...as this wonderful blessing resolves so much dissonance in my life every single day.
Ah. Yes, this is one of those "meditation" type songs... So, if you want the full effect, I recommend that you take a second, close your eyes, and just listen.
Because our Savior, The Prince of Peace, was born to fulfill the plan of our Heavenly Father, we can enjoy peace and tranquility each day through His Atoning sacrifice.
I think you should probably click the link below and listen to the most beautiful sound on the planet, aka the Bellevue boys choir singing "Bellevue Carol" from the 1994 Miracle on 34th Street soundtrack. My favorite part of this carol is the boy soprano solo halfway through. AGH! I imagine this is what angels sound like...at least boy angels. If I didn't think he'd get bullied because of it, I'd totally have my future son be in a boys choir! Heaven.
(Sorry this is such a weird way to share this song, but I couldn't find this song anywhere else.)
Welcome to today's episode of "When Music Makes Me Cry":
Alright, people. Here it is! My favorite aria of all time...Annnnd, it's story time! Pull up a comfy chair and mug of hot cocoa and here we go:
Once upon a time I had a voice teacher that, when she found out I was a soprano, hooked me up with every operatic aria and art song she could think of. Thus, began my love for opera.
Then, one day after a recital I overheard my dad talking with her about my grandma's love for Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. "She used to sing it around the house and with her sister," he said, "She had a beautiful voice!" This touched me. My grandma passed away when I was 12 and yet suddenly there was the connection with her that I had longed for - opera. Someone once said,
"Music is what feelings sound like."
From that point on, I aspired to the point in my "vocal career" (if you can call it that)that I'd be able to at last sing, with confidence, THE aria from Madame Butterfly. Arguably, THE most passionate and heart-wrenching aria of all time - "Un Bel Di Vedremo"
Well, the time has come. I nearly cried the day my amazing voice teacher stated, "Oh, you're ready!" Ready to sing for grandma!
This opera is much like the musical Miss Saigon, neither of which I have seen, but I know the music from Madame Butterfly like I know how to breathe. Here is a brief synopsis:
Location: Nagasaki, Japan
Time: 1904
Cio-Cio-San is the heroine of the opera - "Madame Butterfly" to her American Lieutenant, B.F. Pinkerton. Pinkerton is in Japan at war (whatever war took place at that time?) and they fall in love and get married. Her family is completely against the idea and they disown her at her betrothal. Pinkerton then leaves to America but swears to return. Butterfly has his baby, a son, and three years go by. She is still intent on believing that he will return. When, at last, he does return he brings...his American wife with him and they come to take away "his" son. Butterfly realizes this when she sees him coming with his wife and is heartbroken times 10, so she says goodbye to her son and...kills herself.
Yeah, like I said, THE most heart-wrenching and passionate opera ever. This aria takes place as Butterfly is consoling her crying maid (and friend)who believes that Pinkerton will not return. With assurance in their long awaited reunion, Butterfly describes the whole beautiful scene that she's relived in her mind for the past 3 years. It's not everyday you get an aria that translates so poetically, so I encourage you to read this. It's beautiful! Poor, Butterfly.
Translation:
You're crying? Why?
Ah, faith is lacking in you!
Listen.
One beautiful day we will see
a thread of smoke rise
on the far horizon of the sea.
And then the ship appears.
Then the white ship enters the port,
roars its solute.
You see? He has come!
I will not go down to meet him - not I.
I will position myself there
on the edge of the hill
and wait a long time;
and the long wait
will not be hard on me.
And…having emerged from the town crowd,
a man – a tiny speck –
sets out for the hill.
Who will it be?
And when he has arrived,
what will he say?
He will call Butterfly from the distance,
I, without giving answer,
will remain concealed from him –
a bit in play
and a bit so as not to die
at the first reunion.
And he, somewhat anxious will call:
“dear little wife”
“fragrance of verbena” –
the names he used to call me whenever he arrived
All this will happen, I promise you.
Persist in your fear;
I, with sure faith, await him!
I might cry when, at last, I perform this song... for grandma and at the thought of such a tragic tale, but I can't help but love this opera and I think you can see why.
Enjoy the passion!
GAH! Get's me right in the tear duct every time!
P.S. Thanks to all of you cute people for you kind compliments on my aria video. I really appreciate your loving feedback. Thanks! :)
I'm sharing three very varied, very awesome songs tonight, cause I'm in a "moved by music" mood...which is 24/7 for me, let's be honest.
My brother Mike showed me this first song tonight and AH, I fell in love and immediately bought it on iTunes. Yes, I've heard Jeff Buckley's versionof Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", but I really love this arrangement. These guys are Norweigen, so unless you speak their lingo I suggest you forward to the beginning of the song and just soak it up. In fact, the red-head with the gap in his teeth (I think he sings the third verse) is named Kurt Nilson, winner of Norweigan Idol. I love his voice mucho! It's got a subtle grit to it and his range is amazing! GAH! Love it.
For more info on the song itself, cause the words are really intriguing, go here.
Alright, ready for some opera? Good! Introducing my very favorite opera soprano: Anna Netrebko. In the spring of 2006 I went to New York with my high school choir and some of our parents. My lovely parents took me to the Metropolitan Opera one of the nights we were there. The opera we saw was "Don Pasquale" - the soprano was Anna Netrebko - the tenor, whom I will gladly introduce another week, was Juan Diego Florez. My heart! I love them.
So, here is Anna Netrebko singing one of my favorite arias - "Je veux vivre" from Romeo & Juliet - sung by Juliet just after she meets Romeo. By just listening to the upbeat tempo and gaiety (yes, I just used that word) of the song, you get the idea of what she's feeling. I often sing this song around my room after a really good date ;) Enjoy!
Last, but not least, I found this gem on YouTube a while back and was reintroduced this evening. This makes me want to have asian children. Isn't she adorable? I think I could watch this over and over for hours and never get sick of her facial expressions. So sweet!
That's all for tonight, folks.
I'll post all about my magnificent Florida adventures sometime this week!
Humoresque No. 7 in G-flat Major, Op. 101 by Dvořák
...yeah, don't ask me how to pronounce that. I always get it wrong.
My favorite part about this video are the two people playing the piece:
Itzhak Perlman on the violin and Yo-Yo Ma on the cello.
CE-LLO! A combination of talent doesn't get more dynamite than that!
Ever since I was introduced to the brilliance of Mr. Perlman in 7th grade orchestra class I've been dying to see him in concert. Unfortunately, I don't think he does concerts anymore due to his age and decrepitness. He had polio as a child and still deals with the effects of it. So, I'm hoping that he's allowed to bring his violin into heaven with him someday, cause I'm determined to see him play in person ...and I'm also determined to go to heaven. So... :)
And of course, as you will see as you watch his facial expressions and effortlessness in this video, Mr. Yo-Yo Ma was born to play the cello! Or, the cello was born to be played by Yo-Yo Ma, rather. He is truly amazing. How could you not be with a name like that? Am I right? BAH, I love the cello!
When I was in 6th grade I started playing the violin. It's a tricky instrument. You have to have a good ear, long fingers, good posture, and plenty of discipline. The violin when played wrong it can sound like a dying cat, but when played right could melt a glacier.
Anyway, that's when my appreciation for classical music was born and it's driven me absolutely ga-ga with chills ever since.
So I've been adding some classical classics to my iTunes little by little and yesterday, I reacquainted myself with this piece from Jules Massanet's opera Thais. It's called "Meditation." Just listen to it and I think you'll see why they named it that.
Tip: Don't be afraid to crank up the volume! :)
Are you a puddle in your chair right now?
GAH! Me too.
If you're stuck at work all morning and are allowed to listen to music,
Well then, you're welcome! Cause that's how I'm getting through my shift.
As my institute teacher says to us each day after class,
After seeing this movie a second time in theaters I decided to buy the breathtaking soundtrack on iTunes. Thank you composer Michael Giacchino and Pixar for allowing me to partake in such beautiful dreams over and over again. Someday I'll be listed in the brilliant credits with you.
