Mark Pentleton » 2000s

263/365 Songs: Hero – Enrique Iglesias

admin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 22:18:11 +0000

This song was released in early September 2001, just before the attacks on the World Trade Center. Soon after it became one of the songs which radio DJs in the US played, remixed with audio recorded from police and fire department broadcasts, and interviews with survivors. My own story with this song is a bit more light-hearted: I won a karaoke competition singing this as Enrique a few years back, complete with tea cosy hat and vest! I didn’t think that performance should make it onto this blog!

182/365 Songs: Lost – Michael Bublé

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:22:31 +0000

Today’s song has to be something Canadian and I didn’t think O Canada (or indeed Dans mon pays il y a beaucoup de gens – a wee historical reference for Frank and Johanna there!) quite fits the bill, so I went for a Michael Bublé song for Canada Day. The last time I played this was at Celeste and David’s very late one evening…

Today’s song is the first of month seven on 365songs, and tomorrow we move past the half-way point! Thanks to everyone for continuing to listen to my daily tunes – keep your requests coming!

179/365 Songs: I know where I’ve been – Hairspray

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:23:58 +0000

Last week I attended the end-of-term production of Hairspray at St Matthew’s Academy in Saltcoats. It was a brilliant performance and the entire cast and backstage crew did a fantastic job. A special mention goes to my nephew Ciaran and his cousins Amy and James who were all great on stage! I decided that the song performed by Motormouth in the show best fitted my 365songs project, so today’s song is the soulful I know where I’ve been.

175/365 Songs: The Climb – Miley Cyrus

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:53:29 +0000

I didn’t quite expect to be playing a Miley Cyrus song on here, but yesterday I was invited to the Valedictory Service at my sons’ primary school. This was an end-of-term celebration of achievement, and an opportunity to say goodbye to the primary sevens who will be leaving in a few days’ time to move on to secondary school. During the service, the primary sevens sang The Climb and there was hardly a dry eye in the house! They performed the song brilliantly. I hope they all enjoy their last few days of primary school, and wish them all the best as they continue on to secondary school.

167/365 Songs: Everything – MIchael Bublé

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:57:18 +0000

Today’s song is the Michael Bublé hit Everything from the 2007 album Call me irresponsible. Apparently written for his now ex-girlfriend Emily Blunt, this song was nominated for a Grammy. It also topped the charts in the US (adult contemporary), Poland, and twice in Italy, with more than a year in between each time!

159/365 Songs: Footprints in the Sand – Leona Lewis

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:34:44 +0000

This song is dedicated to my former pupil Katie who marries Callum this weekend. I was speaking to Katie’s friend Esther recently – both Katie and Esther sang in the choir I ran at Mearns Castle – and Esther is going to be singing this Leona Lewis song at Katie and Callum’s wedding, so I thought I’d play the song on 365songs to wish the happy couple all the very best!

The song is based on a popular Christian poem which tells of a dream in which the writer is walking along the beach with God. Looking back along the beach the writer identifies various stages in his life and notes that at times the two sets of footprints become one, particularly at the lowest points of his life. He questions God about why He deserted him at these difficult times. God explains that in his lowest times He didn’t abandon the writer: instead He carried him.

The song was written by Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Richard Page and Simon Cowell and was given to 2006 X-Factor winner Leona Lewis. It was used as the 2008 Sport Relief song.

138/365 Songs: Den Ensomme Veien – Sigvart Dagsland

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 10:54:07 +0000

Sticking with the Norwegian theme following yesterday’s National Day celebrations, I wanted to add in one other Norwegian song. This is one of my all-time favourite songs sung by Norwegian singer Sigvart Dagsland. The song is called Den Ensomme Veien, which translates roughly as “the lonely road”. I’ve done a rough translation of the lyrics too, although I’ve struggled a bit with the Nynorsk being more of a Bokmål person myself!! There doesn’t seem to be any YouTube video of Den Ensomme Veien, but you can listen to a sample on iTunes if you’re interested.

Norwegian

Det e ein ensom vei me går
Eg ser det klart fra der eg står
Om solen skinne litt
På meg og livet mitt
Kan eg gå den ensomme veien samen med deg

Det e`kje lett
å alltid veda kor ein står
Eg ser jo veien
Men vett ikkje kor an går
Så eg kan ikkje leda deg
Men hånd i hånd kan du og eg
Kanskje verna om kverandres steg

Det e ein ensom vei me går
Eg ser det klart fra der eg står
Om solen skinne litt
På meg og livet mitt
Kan eg gå den ensomme veien samen med deg

My rough translation

It’s a lonely road we go
I see it clearly from where I stand
If the sun shines a little
on me and on my life
I can walk that lonely road with you

It is not easy
to always have known where you stand
I can see the way
But do not know how possible it is.
So I can’t lead you along it,
But hand in hand, you and I,
Can watch over each other’s steps.

It’s a lonely road we go
I see it clearly from where I stand
If the sun shines a little
on me and on my life
I can walk the lonely road with you.

55/365 Songs: You raise me up – Secret Garden

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:44:45 +0000

This song was written by Rolf Løvland and Brendan Graham and was originally included on the 2002 Secret Garden album Once in a Red Moon. Since then it has been covered by many famous artists including Josh Groban and Westlife who recently sang it at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize concert celebrating Barack Obama’s win. This song was included in my From a Distance album in aid of the Haiti Earthquake appeal which to date has raised over £500 for Save the Children online and SCIAF through the church.