Mark Pentleton » 1980s

356/365 Songs: Walking in the air – Theme from the Snowman

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 20:06:34 +0000

Today’s song is the theme from the 1982 film The Snowman based on the children’s book Raymond Briggs. It was written by Howard Blake and sung by Peter Auty in the film, but popularised by Aled Jones in a single which reached number 5 in the UK charts at Christmas 1985. It has been parodied, much to the hilarity of my son Ewan, in an Irn-Bru advert which you can see here!

304/365 Songs: Theme from Ghostbusters

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 22:14:46 +0000

I’ve been wondering what to play all day today for a Hallowe’en-themed song, and it wasn’t until I saw Anton Du Beke in Strictly Come Dancing tonight dancing to the Ghostbusters theme that I realised this was the piece of music to play! It was written in 1984 by Ray Parker Jr for the soundtrack of the film. For some reason this didn’t record quite correctly – it seems to be in mono. Apologies for this – I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

300/365 Songs: The Way Old Friends Do – Abba

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:03:31 +0000

Having spent much of today in Glasgow at a meeting, returning home to watch The Apprentice and updating the latest episode of News Time Spanish, I had switched off my computer, only to realise that I’d forgotten to upload today’s song. And on this, the 300th day of the year, too! I recorded this song a couple of days ago. It’s taken from the 1980 Abba album Super Trouper and was recorded live in Wembley Arena in November 1979 – that’s 31 years ago! The Way Old Friends Do traditionally was performed with the four group members singing accompanied by Benny on accordion. I hope you like my version.

296/365 Songs: 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton

admin — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 09:29:34 +0000

I don’t quite believe I’m playing this! Ah well… Following many repeated requests from my other sister-in-law and regular listener Fiona, I’ve finally succumbed to “a bit of Dolly”! I’ve blues-ified it a bit, but it still doesn’t take away from the fact I’m playing Dolly Parton… Hope you enjoy it Fiona!

292/365 Songs: Where do broken hearts go – Whitney Houston

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:32:23 +0000

This Whitney Houston song dates from 1988 and was included on her first album. It went to #1 on the Billboard charts in the US, but only reached #14 in the UK.

287/365 Songs: I still believe – Miss Saigon

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 06:03:49 +0000

This song is for my friend and colleague Lisa Steven who celebrated her birthday yesterday and who requested something from Miss Saigon for her special day. I hope she didn’t mind waiting a day given the events in Chile! I Still Believe is from the 1989 musical Miss Saigon written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. Per molts anys, Lisa!

286/365 Songs: Something inside so strong – Labi Siffre

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:54:51 +0000

I’m cutting it a bit neat again tonight, but I’ve been up to my eyes all day today with work. Despite that I’ve been watching the events unfold at the San José mine in Chile as the trapped miners are rescued one by one. As I write this 30 of the 33 miners have been rescued and I felt it was only appropriate to play something in honour of these brave men who have spent 69 days underground, and indeed of their brave families awaiting their return. Something inside so strong was released in 1987 and was written by Labi Siffre after watching a documentary on the apartheid regime in South Africa. I felt it would be an appropriate song to play today, and I hope you enjoy it.

283/365 Songs: Man in the mirror – Michael Jackson

admin — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 14:37:28 +0000

This Michael Jackson dates from 1988 and was nominated for record of the year in the Grammy Awards of that year. It maybe lacks something without his vocals, the gospel choir and Quincy Jones’ keyboard arrangements, but I hope you enjoy today’s performance anyway!

282/365 Songs: Think of me – Phantom of the Opera

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 07:53:45 +0000

I’m sticking with more Andrew Lloyd Webber today after yesterday’s Take that look off your face. Think of me is from Phantom of the Opera. After the appearance of the phantom, the diva Carlotta refuses to sing and chorus girl Christine Daaé steps up to perform this song to the surprise of the opera producers.

281/365 Songs: Take that look off your face – Tell me on a Sunday

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:46:04 +0000

Today’s song comes from the one-woman show Tell me on a Sunday written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black. I’ve played two other songs from this show: Unexpected Song and Tell me on a Sunday itself, and I thought that this well-known song from the show would suit my 365songs project. It was released as a single by Marti Webb in 1980.

279/365 Songs: Goodnight Saigon – Billy Joel

admin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:48:47 +0000

This song takes me back – my brother Derek and I used to sing along to this song, probably long before we understood the lyrics. It was released on Billy Joel’s 1982 album The Nylon Curtain, and is one of the most well-known songs about the Vietnam War. Not sure about the dodgy helicopter sound effects…

267/365 Songs: Theme from Chariots of Fire – Vangelis

admin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:55:36 +0000

Today’s 365song has to be one of the most well-known instrumental themes from a 20th Century film. Written by Vangelis for the 1981 film Chariots of Fire which tells the story of two athletes set to take part in the 1924 Olympics, this piece of music was a step away from the accepted standard for cinematic themes at the time which used symphonic arrangements. Vangelis’ used a very 80s electronic sound, and I’ve tried to recreate that in my performance. Hope you like it!

253/365 Songs: One of us – Abba

admin — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:51:39 +0000

“One of us is crying…” – it’ll be the one who has been to Ikea three times this week! Need I say more?

One of us was one of the last songs recorded for the Visitors album in 1981 and became the first single from this album. Despite its rather melancholy air (I guess Benny and Björn had also been to Ikea when they wrote it!) it was a hit, and was the last number 1 for the group.

251/365 Songs: A little fall of rain – Les Misérables

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:21:33 +0000

I’m cutting things a bit neat today, due to a late-night visit to Ikea! I was reminded about this beautiful song from Les Misérables by Amy who sang it this week as an audition piece for the Centre Stage production of the show. The song is sung as Éponine dies in the arms of Marius and is one of the most tender moments of Les Misérables.

249/365 Songs: Islands in the stream – Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:26:52 +0000

A bit of classic cheese from 1983 today – Islands in the stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was originally written by the Bee Gees and was included in their 2001 live album. The song has been covered by many artists including Ingela Forsman – in Swedish as Öar i ett hav – and Tomeu Penya in the Mallorquín dialect of Catalan as Illes dins un riu!

232/365 Songs: We are the world – USA for Africa

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:49:35 +0000

Back in 1985, following BandAid’s Do they know it’s Christmas project in the UK, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote this song to be performed by a ’supergroup’ featuring many of the biggest recording artists in the US at the time including Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen. Since its release it has raised $63 million for humanitarian causes. A new version was produced this year in response to the Haiti earthquake.

231/365 Songs: Pie Jesu – Requiem

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:13:03 +0000

Tonight I decided to play Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu from his 1985 Requiem Mass. It was dedicated to his father who died in 1982 and the recording featured his then-wife Sarah Brightman and Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo, conducted by Lorin Maazel.

228/365 Songs: Leave a tender moment alone – Billy Joel

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:50:03 +0000

When choosing a Billy Joel song for Celeste the other day I recorded Leave a tender moment alone as well as An innocent man. Leave a tender moment first appeared on the 1984 album An Innocent Man and was subsequently released as a single. In a move virtually unheard of today, the song didn’t have a music video. Perhaps because of this it only reached #27 in the American Billboard charts. It’s still one of my favourite Billy Joel songs!

225/365 Songs: An Innocent Man – Billy Joel

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:19:46 +0000

Today’s song is Billy Joel’s 1983 classic An Innocent Man and it was specially requested by Celeste Teenan who celebrates her birthday today. Happy birthday, Celeste! Hope you have a lovely day and that you enjoy the song.

217/365 Songs: Heaven help my heart – Chess

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:49:36 +0000

Today’s song is taken from the musical Chess. When Benny and Björn were writing the musical, Björn would add lyrics to Benny’s music to help give the song more rhythm and meaning. They then sent their “demos” to Tim Rice who wrote the final version of the lyrics. Heaven help my heart was actually recorded in full by Agnetha Fältskog of Abba as Every Good Man, but none of these original lyrics were used in the final version.

210/365 Songs: Nothing’s gonna stop us now – Starship

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:24:37 +0000

Today’s song is the 1987 Diane Warren and Albert Hammond classic Nothing’s gonna stop us now, performed by Starship and used as the theme song of the film Mannequin. It made #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK charts, and rightly so in my opinion!

205/365 Songs: You got it – Roy Orbison

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:36:52 +0000

This happy song has a bit of a sad story. Roy Orbison recorded You Got It in 1988 and it was released on the Mystery Girl album in 1989, a few months after his death in December 1988 from a heart attack. It reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. It also reached #3 in the UK charts in the spring of 1989. The video of the song included footage of the only public performance of You Got It in Antwerp, just a few days before his death.

201/365 Songs: Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:59:40 +0000

Today’s song is the 1984 power ballad by REO Speedwagon, and was performed by the band in the 1985 Live Aid concert. It’s been used in many TV shows and films, most recently sung by Finn in Glee.

197/365 Songs: Bui doi – Miss Saigon

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:41:47 +0000

I’m running a bit late with today’s song after almost two weeks of timely publication, but that’s because we’re just back from a family holiday in France and Belgium and the past two weeks’ songs were all preloaded! Fortunately, everything went according to plan and I hope you’ve all enjoyed the recent songs. It was good to get home, and good to get back to my piano. In my first ‘live’ recording for a couple of weeks I decided to do the powerful song Bui Doi from the musical Miss Saigon which describes the offspring of Vietnamese mothers and American soldiers as “the dust of life”, lamenting the horrific fate experienced by these innocent children. Here’s a video of Peter Polycarpou singing the song from a performance on Wogan in 1989.

196/365 Songs: Andante, Andante – Abba

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:17:45 +0000

Today’s song is the ballad from the 1980 Abba album Super Trouper. It’s always been one of my favourite Abba songs, and I remember playing this often while my wife was expecting our first son. It was released as a single in South America and South Africa, but elsewhere it featured only as an album track.

190/365 Songs: Somewhere out there – An American Tail

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:57:28 +0000

This song was written by James Horner, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil for the 1986 animated film An American Tail. The song deals with the bond between two siblings and their desire to see each other again after being separated. The Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram version of the song went to #2 in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987.

189/365 Songs: The Point of no return – Phantom of the Opera

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:52:23 +0000

Today’s song comes from the second act of the musical Phantom of the Opera and is sung as a duet in counterpoint by the Phantom and Christine. It comes just before the moment in the musical when the Phantom’s disfigured face is revealed.

174/365 Songs: Canto de Meditación – Misa Campesina

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:05:38 +0000

Returning to Latin America today after the Theme from The Mission on Saturday, today’s song is a bit of a rarity. It’s taken from the Misa Campesina Nicaraguense, the Nicaraguan Peasants’ Mass by Carlos Mejía Godoy, which combined Nicaraguan folk music and Liberation Theology. I first came across this piece of music when studying Latin American Music with Mike González at Glasgow University. I ended up transcribing the entire Mass as part of my degree course, and I’ve always loved the music. After the Second Vatican Council when popular music was accepted in church, Mejía Godoy was motivated to write the Misa Campesina. He wrote it against a background of the deaths of Che Guevara and José Leonel Rugama and it represented the views of the “Iglesia Popular” (popular church) which rebelled against the traditional hierarchy of the Catholic Church. The first performance of the Mass was broken up by the National Guard.

While researching my notes for today’s post, I discovered a new recording (iTunes link) of the Misa Campesina by Nicaraguan singer Katia Cardenal. Coincidentally, this was released in Norway under the same Kirkelig Kulturverksted label as Sigvart Dagsland – see my song from 18th May.

172/365 Songs: Non finisce così – Riccardo Fogli

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:50:28 +0000

We’re staying with an Italian theme today, but I don’t know very much about this song! It was performed in the 1989 Festival di San Remo, the Italian song contest, and I remembered it from a CD I bought of that year’s festival when I was working as a language assistant in Menton, France, just half an hour along the coast from San Remo. According to wikipedia Non finisce così was sung by Riccardo Fogli, and it ended up in fourth place. Courtesy of YouTube, here is the original performance. Look out for the rather strange look in Riccardo’s eyes after the first chorus! In fact, throughout the song it looks like he needs some kind of medication… Ah well, it’s a nice tune!

160/365 Songs: And so it goes – Billy Joel

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:53:44 +0000

In my opinion this song is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It dates from 1983, although it wasn’t released until six years later on Billy Joel’s Stormfront album. It’s said to tell the tale of the relationship between Billy Joel and the model Elle Macpherson, a relationship which the musician knew would never last. I think the aspect of the song I like the most is “what happens in the middle”: not the melody line or the bass, but the harmonies and “inner voices” which make an exceptionally simple-sounding song actually quite complex. I hope you enjoy it. If you want to hear the man himself perform it, have a look at this live performance on YouTube.

156/365 Songs: Cassandra – Abba

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:08:18 +0000

Today’s song is one of the many underrated Abba songs, Cassandra. It was the b-side to the 1982 single The Day Before You Came, and I think the story related in this song was a precursor of the Björn and Benny’s future musical theatre work (Chess and Kristina från Duvemåla). While the lyrics seem to transpose the song into a contemporary context, it is generally accepted that the song refers to Cassandra in Greek mythology. Cassandra was a cursed prophet who predicted the fall of Troy in vain, because no-one believed her. My performance of the song probably makes it a bit more theatrical than the original, but I hope you like it nonetheless!

153/365 Songs: The Winner takes it all – Abba

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:45:46 +0000

Thirty years ago today the recording of this Abba classic (and one of my favourite Abba songs) began in the Polar Music Studios in Stockholm. At this stage it was called The Story of My Life and no particular musical style had been identified during the recording session. Benny and Björn took the recordings home and began to play around with them, and the song took on something of a French chanson style, complete with fake French lyrics. Björn completed the lyrics, apparently under the influence of “a couple of big snifters”, and the new instrumentation of the song was recored on 18 June 1980. For the full story, see abbasite.com. I hope you enjoy my performance!

146/365 Songs: Hold me now – Eurovision 1987

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:50:16 +0000

There was something about Eurovision in the 1980s – it was probably when I first got interested in the contest and its linguistic and musical “exoticism”, but there’s definitely something about some of the big songs from the 80s, including this classic from Johnny Logan with which he won his second Eurovision (previously with What’s Another Year in 1980). This song was voted the third best Eurovision song ever, after Waterloo in first place, and the song from the 1950s which I’ll be playing for you tomorrow… Any ideas?

145/365 Songs: Croire – Eurovision 1988

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:02:18 +0000

Day two of our Eurovision countdown and we’re going back to 1988 with Lara Fabian’s Croire, representing Luxembourg that year. The song ended up in 4th place – the winning song in 1988 was Céline Dion’s Ne partez sans moi.

144/365 Songs: Ein bisschen Frieden – Eurovision 1982

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:30:38 +0000

It’s Eurovision week, so that means only one thing – cheesy tunes from me for at least the next six days! The 2010 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Oslo on Saturday evening, and until then we’ll be reliving some classic ballads from the past, starting today with Nicole’s winning song from 1982, Ein Bisschen Frieden. If you have any favourite Eurovision songs (which would fit into the style of what I play here, so Waterloo doesn’t really count!) then let me know!

127/365 Songs: The Power of love – Jennifer Rush

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:26:27 +0000

I haven’t included many big ‘power ballads’ in my collection so far, so I thought I’d play this song from 1984 by Jennifer Rush. It was covered by Laura Branigan in 1987 and then by Céline Dion in 1993. Hope you enjoy today’s song!

119/365 Songs: Ebony and Ivory – Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:30:47 +0000

This song from 1982 on the basic level was about the black and white keys on a piano, but on a deeper level dealt with racial harmony and integration. It was apparently inspired by Spike Milligan’s comment to Paul McCartney “black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony, folks”! Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney famously recorded the song in two locations, something which is taken for granted now. Despite the massive success, the song has been relegated to “tenth worst song of all time” by Blender Magazine, and the worst duet in history by BBC 6 Music listeners. I have to say I’ve always liked it and will continue to enjoy playing it!

106/365 Songs: All at once – Whitney Houston

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:16:12 +0000

I’m running a bit late today after returning from the Apple Teacher Institute last night. Today’s song is the 1985 Whitney Houston song All at once. Hope you enjoy it! Normal service will resume tomorrow!

65/365 Songs: Slipping through my fingers – Abba

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:50:10 +0000

Today’s song is one of my favourite Abba songs. Written in 1981 for The Visitors album it was inspired by Agnetha and Björn’s daughter Linda who was seven at the time. It was also used in the Mamma Mia musical and film when Donna is helping her daughter prepare for her wedding day. The song was originally recorded in G major, but I always feel G flat major sounds that bit more ‘poignant’ so I’ve played it in G flat. You can let me know if you agree!

This song was requested by listener Mark Kerridge after my previous Abba song, My love my life. All the Abba songs I’ve recorded so far can be found here.

365 Songs: Memory – Cats

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:12:34 +0000

Today’s song was one of the most-requested songs when I used to play in hotels and restaurants. It’s Memory from the 1981 musical Cats and was sung by Grizabella, the former ‘glamour cat’, who is singing of her glorious past. Hope you enjoy it!

365 Songs: Saving all my love for you – Whitney Houston

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:46:33 +0000

It’s Valentine’s weekend and here on 365 Songs I’m churning out the soppy tunes! Today it’s Whitney Houston’s Saving all my love for you, from her 1985 album. It won Houston the 1986 Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal performance.

365 Songs: Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:18:53 +0000

Last night we were at Strictly Come Dancing Live at the SECC. I’d bought Catriona tickets for Christmas and I have to admit that I enjoyed it much more than I expected! One of the songs to which the professionals danced was Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, and this reminded me that Maureen in Canada had asked me to play this. So, today’s dedication is to Maureen, Marcel and family in Tecumseh – I hope you enjoy your musical breakfast this morning!

Hallelujah was originally written in 1981 but was first released on Cohen’s studio album Various Positions in 1984. The interpretations of the lyrics of the song are as varied as the performers who have covered it, from Jeff Buckley in 1984, to UK X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke in 2008. One of my favourites is Peter Jöback’s Swedish version Decembernatt.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my version!

365 Songs: Fragile – Sting

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:15:46 +0000

Today’s song is Fragile by Sting from the 1987 album …Nothing like the sun. It was also recorded in Spanish and Portuguese and was dedicated to Ben Linder, an American civil engineer who was killed by the Contras while he was working on a hydroelectric project in Nicaragua in 1987.

365 Songs – When all is said and done – Abba

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:08:39 +0000

This song was first appeared on the Visitors album in 1981 and it is said to tell the story of the separation of Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. It was reworked into a ballad for the Mamma Mia film, this time focusing on two people finding love again. I think it’s one of the best songs from the film. Here’s my interpretation which is more Mamma Mia than the Visitors…

If you’re enjoying my songs, please do consider contributing to the Haiti Earthquake appeal and downloading my From a Distance charity CD album.

365 Songs – From a distance – Nanci Griffith

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:05:02 +0000

Today’s song is a bit special because it’s part of something a bit bigger. This past week I’ve been horrified at the images coming from Haiti following the earthquake there, and I decided that I’d put together a CD of inspirational songs and hymns and “sell” it at church in return for a donation to the appeal. I then thought that these special recordings may interest some of you who are following the 365 songs project, so I’ve made an online version of the CD available and have created a fundraising page on JustGiving.com – click here to make a donation and access the songs. The CD includes You raise me up, Make me a channel of your peace, On eagles’ wings and From a distance, along with 12 other hymns and inspirational songs.

The song From a distance was written by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold and was first made famous by Nanci Griffith in 1987. It has since been recorded by Bette Midler and Sir Cliff Richard.

365 Songs – Wind beneath my wings

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:02:50 +0000

Today is the final day here in London at BETT and I’m absolutely shattered. It’s been an enjoyable few days working with Oscar and Joe and everyone on the stand, but I’ll be really glad to get home tonight! Today’s song is The Wind Beneath My Wings. It was first recorded by Roger Whittaker in 1982 and but was made famous by Bette Midler in 1989 in the film Beaches. Not really my kind of film, but the song is nice! And must be played in G flat!

365 Songs – Against All Odds – Phil Collins

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:06:23 +0000

Today’s song was requested by Helen Myers. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Helen on several occasions and she wrote a lovely comment last week on Guldet Blev till Sand. I’ll hopefully catch up with Helen later this week at BETT. I hope you enjoy this, Helen!