Mark Pentleton » 1990s

355/365 Songs: The Power of the dream – Céline Dion

admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:55:02 +0000

This isn’t actually a Christmas song, but I’ve always associated it with Christmas because it was one of our standard programme numbers from the Mearns Castle choir days when we used to perform at Princes Square in Glasgow at Christmas. It was written for Céline Dion by David Foster and Babyface for the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (clip from the ceremony on YouTube). I’m heading up to Glasgow this morning (assuming the trains are running in these freezing temperatures!) so I may pop into Princes Square and see if any choirs are performing there.

336/365 Songs: Sombras de otros tiempos – Home Alone

admin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:10:05 +0000

This song is from the soundtrack of the 1990 movie Home Alone and was featured in the movie as Somewhere in my memory. The version I know best is the Spanish version recorded by Ana Belén and used in the end credits of the movie in Spain.

314/365 Songs: Smooth – Santana

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:55:21 +0000

This song was a collaboration between Santana and Rob Thomas from the rock group Matchbox Twenty and it reached #1 in the US and Canadian charts in 1999 and #3 in the UK. It’s probably #1 on my karaoke list, but the less said about that the better!

311/365 Songs: When you say nothing at all – Ronan Keating

admin — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:39:23 +0000

The accordion is back! When I was listening to the Ronan Keating version of today’s song I heard an accordion in the arrangement and thought perhaps it was time to resurrect my own accordion! I’ll need to get practising before my forthcoming trip to Strasbourg when I’ll have to play the accordion for various Swedish Masquerades in the streets! So I decided to record a piano track and then accompany myself on the accordion. The song has actually been a hit for various performers: country singer Keith Whitley had a #1 Billboard Country Hit in 1988; Alison Krauss recorded it in 1995 and the Ronan Keating, formerly of Boyzone, recorded it in 1999, and this recording was featured in the soundtrack for the film Notting Hill.

309/365 Songs: The Connemara Coast – Chris de Burgh

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:56:43 +0000

I’m not sure how well this song is known. It is from the 1992 Chris de Burgh album The Power of Ten and I’ve always liked it – probably something to do with listening to it while I was living in France in 1992. The Connemara connection was strengthened by Sardou’s Les Lacs du Connemara which I got to know then too, but I’ve yet to visit Connemara!

302/365 Songs: Back for Good – Take That

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:57:27 +0000

This song is for everyone who spent half of today trying to get through to the ticket lines or developing repetitive strain injuries by refreshing the Ticketmaster website trying to get hold of a Take That ticket for their tour next summer. We tried, but we didn’t get through, and now it seems that almost 1 million tickets were sold today. I’d love to know how…

301/365 Songs: Wonderwall – Oasis

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:11:45 +0000

I’m not sure if what I’ve done with this song quite works, but I hope you enjoy it! Wonderwall was released by Oasis in 1995 and has been covered by various folk, including the tongue-in-cheek Mike Flowers Pops, and in a swing version by Paul Anka (which is actually very good!) I’ve tried to make it a bit bluesy / swingy or something. Not quite sure!

291/365 Songs: Angels – Robbie Williams

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:02:45 +0000

After yesterday’s relatively unknown song, today I’m playing what is probably one of the best-known songs of the 90s. At least according to the Performing Rights Society, it’s officially the most popular karaoke song! Hope you enjoy today’s song.

276/365 Songs: Make you feel my love – Bob Dylan/Adele

admin — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 08:22:23 +0000

Originally recorded by Bob Dylan in 1997, this song has since had successful covers by Billy Joel, Garth Brooks and most recent Adele. It’s also featured heavily in the current series of X Factor. I hope you enjoy my performance!

272/365 Songs: Can you feel the love tonight – The Lion King

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:38:15 +0000

Time for a bit more Disney. Can you feel the love tonight was written by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice and featured in the 1994 Disney movie The Lion King. It was performed in the movie by various characters, and the Elton John recording was played over the end credits.

264/365 Songs: Hero – Mariah Carey

admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:14:00 +0000

If you thought yesterday was cheesy, today is worse! I mentioned that I’d played Hero to someone yesterday and they immediately thought of the Mariah Carey version, so I thought I’d add this to my collection. It probably lacks something without Mariah’s warbling, but I hope you like it nonetheless.

255/365 Songs: More than words – Extreme

admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:59:29 +0000

Today’s song is dedicated to my brother Derek who celebrates his birthday today. His request at 3am this morning for Flight of the Bumblebee is a bit out of my league, so I hope that my song choice is ok. More than words was written in 1990 and performed by Gary Cherone on vocals and Nuno Bettencourt on guitar. No doubt the very thought of playing this song on anything other than the guitar will probably fill Derek with dread, but I hope this works! Happy birthday, Derek!

254/365 Songs: In the wee small hours of the morning – Frank Sinatra

admin — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:58:22 +0000

Given the time I thought that this would probably be a good song to play tonight! It was first recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1955 and since then has been covered by many artists including Nanci Griffith, Barbara Streisand, Carly Simon and Jamie Cullum. And now me, just before the stroke of midnight!

252/365 Songs: I can see clearly now – Johnny Nash

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:21:06 +0000

I was at the beach the other day and overheard someone singing this song so I thought I’d play it today. It dates from 1972 and the original version was performed by Johnny Nash. Subsequent covers have included a version by the Hothouse Flowers in 1990, and Jimmy Cliff’s version in 1993 which featured in the film Cool Runnings.

236/365 Songs: A Whole new world – Aladdin

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:26:37 +0000

Today’s song is from the 1992 Disney film Aladdin and was written by Tim Rice (lyrics) and Alan Menken (music). The less said about Peter André and Jordan’s version the better…!

226/365 Songs: All I know/The Day has come – Martin Guerre

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 08:06:14 +0000

Today’s song comes from the musical Martin Guerre, written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil of Les Misérables fame. Based on the real-life historical figure Martin Guerre, the musical was first produced in London in 1996. The young Martin Guerre is forced into an arranged marriage with Bertrande in order to produce a Catholic heir in the anti-Protestant town of Artigat. Martin goes off to fight against the Protestant Huguenots, and befriends Arnaud du Thil. When Martin is wounded and appears to die in battle, Arnaud returns to Artigat to tell Bertrande. He is mistaken for Martin and decides to go along with the story. Bertrande realises he is not Martin, but as she begins to develop feelings for the imposter Arnaud, she does not reveal his deception. Arnaud’s true identity is revealed by the supposed village idiot, and in the ensuing trial the key witness is the real Martin who returns from battle.

The song All I know is a tender Bertrande/Arnaud duet from the original version of the musical. In the 1998 version of the musical it was reworked into The Day has come which features the whole cast, very similar to the song One Day More from Les Misérables. I actually prefer the original version, and it’s this version I’ve based my performance on today!

224/365 Songs: Runaway – The Corrs

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:39:52 +0000

This song was originally released in 1995 by The Corrs and didn’t do particularly well in the charts, other than in Ireland and Australia. A remixed version by Tin Tin Out was released in 1999 and was only kept off the #1 spot in the UK by Britney Spears and her début single Baby One More Time (which I will not be playing on 365songs!)

223/365 Songs: She’s the one – World Party / Robbie Williams

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:39:32 +0000

This song was originally released by World Party in 1997 but the version that most people are familiar with is the #1 single by Robbie Williams, released in 1999. Since Robbie got married a few days ago I thought I’d play one of his songs this week, so I hope you enjoy She’s the one.

215/365 Songs: Too much in love to care – Sunset Boulevard

admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 05:26:13 +0000

Today it’s the final song in my Sunset Boulevard ‘trio’: Too much in love to care, sung by Joe, the struggling screenwriter and Betty, the script editor. I hope you’ve enjoyed these songs from Sunset Boulevard!

213/365 Songs: With one look – Sunset Boulevard

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:00:47 +0000

Today I’m playing the first of a trio of songs from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Boulevard based on the 1950 film of the same name. With one look is sung by the principal character in response to the comment “you used to be big”. Norma Desmond states, “I am big – it’s the pictures that got small”.

208/365 Songs: From this moment – Shania Twain

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:25:23 +0000

Today’s song is Shania Twain’s From this moment from 1997. It’s especially for our friends Julie and David who celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary today. Ten years ago I accompanied the Mearns Castle Senior Choir who sang this song at Julie and David’s wedding. Happy anniversary, Julie and David!

207/365 Songs: You’ve got a friend in me – Toy Story

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:22:40 +0000

Yesterday I asked my son Ewan what song I should play today and he immediately suggested You’ve got a friend in me. He’s just seen Toy Story 3 with his brother and mum (I’ve not seen it yet, but look forward to seeing it some time soon!) so this seemed like a good song to play.

202/365 Songs: Circle of Life – The Lion King

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:02:42 +0000

Today’s song comes from the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. The opening sequence begins with a Zulu cry: Nants ingonyama bathiki Baba – “here comes a lion, father” and in the film version Carmen Twillie sings the song accompanied by an underscoring of Zulu and Swahili lyrics featuring Lebo M.

The lyrics were written by Tim Rice and the music was by Elton John, who also recorded a pop version of the song included on the soundtrack album. I hope you enjoy today’s song!

193/365 Songs: My heart will go on – Theme from Titanic

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:43:53 +0000

Today’s song is the theme song of the 1997 blockbuster Titanic. It was recorded by Céline Dion and went to number 1 all over the world, becoming the world’s best-selling single of 1998. The song also won an Academy Award for Best Song, several Grammies and a Golden Globe. I hope you enjoy my performance of it.

192/365 Songs: Nessun Dorma – Puccini

admin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:23:36 +0000

I was trying to think of something appropriate to play today given it’s the World Cup Final (and my mum and dad’s wedding anniversary!) so I tried to come up with something which ticked all the boxes: rather than a Spanish or Dutch song, I went for the operatic theme associated with football – at least in the UK – since it was used as the BBC theme for the 1990 World Cup which took place in Italy. This aria comes from the final act of the Puccini opera Turandot, and is one of the most well-known tenor arias in opera. So, veel geluk to my Dutch friends, and ¡que tengáis mucha suerte, España! And happy anniversary, Mum and Dad!

188/365 Songs: Don’t let the sun go down on me – Elton John

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 07:46:24 +0000

This song first appeared on Elton John’s 1974 album Caribou, but it perhaps wasn’t until 1991 that this song really found worldwide success. Elton John had performed it as a duet with George Michael at Live Aid in 1985, but the live recording from a concert at Wembley in March 1991 became a massive hit in the UK and in the US reaching #1 in the UK singles charts and on the Billboard Hot 100.

180/365 Songs: La Corrida – Francis Cabrel (featuring Pierre-Benoît Hériaud)

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:08:17 +0000

It’s time for something a bit special on my 365songs project today: my friend and colleague Pierre Benoît Hériaud was over at the weekend and we decided to record a song we performed live a few years back at the Partners in Excellence Film Festival. It’s Francis Cabrel’s La Corrida, a very powerful song told from the point of view of a bull entering the bullring. The bull asks itself, “est-ce que ce monde est sérieux?” – “is this world for real”, and “je ne pensais pas qu’on puisse autant s’amuser autour d’une tombe” – “I didn’t think it was possible to have so much fun around a tomb”. On the recording Pierre-Benoît is singing and playing guitar and I’m on piano and accordion.

Like many other Scottish teachers, Pierre-Benoît will be stopping for his summer holidays today, so I’d like to wish him and all my other Scottish teaching friends a good summer break – bonnes vacances à tous!

178/365 Songs: Colours of the Wind – Pocahontas

admin — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:46:21 +0000

I actually recorded this song first thing this morning but I’ve had a really busy day so it’s only now that I’ve managed to get it uploaded and posted to the site. It’s from the Disney film Pocahontas and was written by Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken. It also won an Oscar for Best Song in 1995. Hope you enjoy it!

176/365 Songs: Someone else’s story – Chess

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:10:34 +0000

Today’s song is the beautiful Someone else’s story from Chess. It was not in the original concept version of the musical when it was first released, but added to later versions and has now become one of the best-loved songs from the show.

173/365 Songs: Je t’aime, je t’aimais, je t’aimerai – Francis Cabrel

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:05:57 +0000

The title of this song in English is “I love you, I loved you, I will love you”, using the present, imperfect and future tenses of the French verb aimer! I lovely song for us French teachers. But it is, of course, much more than that, and I’ve loved this song since I first heard it about ten years ago. It was released in 1994 on the Samedi soir sur la terre album.

166/365 Songs: Promise me – Beverley Craven

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:51:55 +0000

Today’s song is Promise me by Beverley Craven and was her signature song. First released in 1990, it reached number 3 in the UK charts. Here’s a YouTube version of a live performance of the song. In 2008 Spanish artist Rosa López released a Spanish language version of the song, Júrame.

163/365 Songs: Don’t know why – Norah Jones

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:39:19 +0000

I know that at some point someone asked me to play this song, but unfortunately I can’t remember who! Norah Jones sang this 1999 Jesse Harris song on her 2002 album Come away with me. I think it’s a really nice chilled jazz piece and I have to say I really enjoy playing this song!

133/365 Songs: Because you loved me – Céline Dion

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:47:36 +0000

I’m not a massive fan of Céline Dion, but she has recorded some songs which are absolutely beautiful, including this one from 1996 which was used in the film Up Close and Personal. It was written by Diane Warren (there’s another Diane Warren song coming up later this week!) and was number 1 in many countries. Because you loved me was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and four Grammy Awards, of which it won one for Best Song for a Motion Picture.

97/365 Songs: A Wink and a Smile – Harry Connick Jr

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 07:32:03 +0000

Yesterday’s mention of the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack reminded me of this brilliant song from the movie, performed by Harry Connick Jr. I’m afraid I don’t do HCJ’s piano-playing justice! The song missed out on an Academy Award in 1994 when Streets of Philadelphia picked up the award for Best Original Song.

69/365 Songs: When you tell me that you love me – Diana Ross

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:15:51 +0000

Cheesy pop ballad today: the 1991 Diana Ross song When you tell me that you love me. I decided to experiment with a different piano sound on my RD-700GX today – this is the “Ultimate Piano” as opposed to the “Expressive Grand” I normally use. The settings on the piano allow me to “raise” or “lower” the virtual lid and I tend to do that depending on the type of song I’m playing, but I’m curious as to your thoughts!

67/365 Songs: Empty chairs at empty tables – Les Misérables

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:11:48 +0000

The previous songs from Les Misérables which I’ve included in my 365songs selection (I dreamed a dream, On my own and Bring him home) seem to have gone down very well, and there are plenty more to come! Today’s song, Empty chairs at empty tables, is sung by Marius about his friends who have not returned from the barricades. This song was suggested by Cara and I hope she enjoys it!

64/365 Songs: When you believe – Prince of Egypt

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:42:29 +0000

This is my version of the original song taken from the film The Prince of Egypt. The song was later reworked by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston without the “Hebrew chorus”, but it was the full version which we used to do back in the Mearns Castle Senior Choir (= “Glee Club” before Glee Clubs became cool!)

54/365: Insieme, Unite Europe – Toto Cotugno

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:46:40 +0000

Today I’m in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, accompanying a group of students who will be taking part in a debate with young people from across Europe. I first took part in this ten years ago when I was invited to join the group as one of the members of staff and since then I’ve become more involved, now jointly organising the visit with Mr Euroscola, Gerry Toner. Every year as the students enter the hémicycle of the European Parliament, this song is played, so I thought it was appropriate to include it today.

The song dates from 1990 and in fact won the Eurovision Song Contest that year. It was a time of great change in central and eastern Europe and the lyrics of many of the songs that year reflected this in their lyrics: the Berlin Wall had fallen only six months previously. The winning song looked forward to the European Single Market, due in 1992. Indeed, the title of Toto Cotugno’s song at the time was Insieme: 1992 – insieme means “together”.

You can read more about the work I’m doing in Strasbourg on Euroscola Online, and indeed see photos of today’s event as it unfolds. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy today’s song! And apologies for the cheese!

365 Songs: Lift the wings – Riverdance

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:48:43 +0000

Today’s song is a bit different: Lift the wings is from the full stage version of Riverdance, first performed at Dublin’s Point Theatre in 1995, following the successful Riverdance interval act at the previous year’s Eurovision Song Contest. As a song, Lift the wings is not particularly well-known, but I’ve always really liked it and it was definitely one of the high points of the show for me. I’m afraid I don’t have the Uilleann pipes or flutes to accompany the piece, but hope you enjoy it nonetheless! If you’d like to see a performance of the original from Radio City Music Hall, here’s the YouTube link.

365 Songs: Everything I do – Bryan Adams

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:19:29 +0000

I promised cheesy romantic slush today, and here it is, in the form of the song Everything I do (I do it for you) from the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Why this song today? Well, this was the film Catriona and I went to see on our first date… eighteen and a half years ago!

The song spent no fewer than 16 weeks at No.1 in the UK charts, and I think by that time everyone was pretty sick of it, but it’s always been a special song for us…

365 Songs: You’re still the one – Shania Twain

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:19:15 +0000

A bit of Shania Twain today with the song You’re still the one, and I’m back playing today after the thumb incident! This song was nominated for four Grammy awards in 1999, and won two: Best Country Song and Best Female Vocal Country Performance, and it’s no.66 on the Billboard All-Time Hot 100 Top Songs!

365 Songs: Seasons of Love – Rent

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:02:05 +0000

How do you measure a year? In daylights, in midnights, in sunsets or in cups of coffee? This is probably the best known song from the musical Rent, and was one of the many songs we used to do with the choir when I taught at Mearns Castle. It probably needs a bit more than just piano – if Stevie Wonder had been available he’d have done the harmonica solo, but he was busy when I recorded this song!

365 Songs – Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:48:25 +0000

Apologies for this song coming a bit late today – I hear that certain people in Canada like to breakfast listening to my music (you know who you are…) – but it’s been a really busy day!

Today’s song is the Eric Clapton ballad, Tears in Heaven. It’s such a sad, but beautiful song, written about the pain he felt on the death of his four year-old son. I hope I’ve done it justice.

365 songs – Fields of Gold – Sting / Eva Cassidy

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:50:11 +0000

Today’s song is the beautiful Fields of Gold, written by Sting, although my performance is much more in the style of Eva Cassidy’s version. The last time I played this song was in the Café Rohan in Strasbourg when we were there in November with East Dunbartonshire. On that occasion the song was sung by Gail Ritchie, one of the teachers taking part in the visit. Gail has a fantastic voice – she has some sample performances on her site.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and requests – I will work my way through them and add your songs to the list!