Mark Pentleton » d-maj

339/365 Songs: The Christmas Waltz – Frank Sinatra

admin — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:30:46 +0000

I’ve always loved the Frank Sinatra version of this song – it sort of represents an ideal image of Christmas for me: “frosted window panes, candles gleaming inside…”. It was written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne and the Sinatra recording dates from 1954.

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.

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.

290/365 Songs: Tack för en underbar vanlig dag – Agnetha Fältskog

admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 06:44:22 +0000

This is probably not the best-known song of my 365 collection, but I’ve always liked its simplicity. It was recorded by Abba’s Agnetha Fältskog in 1975 and featured on her album Elva kvinnor i ett hus (Eleven women in one house). The title of the song means “thanks for a wonderful, ordinary day” and in a sense it’s a simple prayer giving thanks for the små under (small miracles) which happen every day, men det är så lätt at ta dom för givna, but it’s so difficult to take them for granted. There’s a version on YouTube which has the full song in Swedish with English subtitles – have a look!

259/365 Songs: Highland Cathedral

admin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 08:25:15 +0000

This morning Pope Benedict XVI will arrive in Scotland to begin a historic visit to the UK. I was trying to think of something appropriately Scottish to play and I’ve just seen Siân Williams from the BBC reporting from Edinburgh’s Princes Street where the Papal procession will take place later. In the background the pipe bands were rehearsing and Catriona suggested I play Highland Cathedral. It’s doubly suitable because it was written by two Germans!

Highland Cathedral is undoubtedly my favourite pipe tune and it always sends a tingle down my spine – I defy you to watch this version on YouTube and not feel the same! It’s probably better suited to the pipes than the piano, but I hope you enjoy my version!

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…!

198/365 Songs: 2000 years – Billy Joel

admin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:44:28 +0000

On New Year’s Eve 1999 Billy Joel performed at Madison Square Garden in New York. I would have loved to have been there (though we had a very enjoyable and memorable night at Glenda and Brian’s!) and one of the most poignant songs from the concert is the song 2000 years. The lyrics of the song are much debated and it’s not quite clear what the song refers to, though many believe the lyrics to be about Billy’s faith, following the River of Dreams and Goodnight, My Angel. Whatever the meaning, the song was perfect to lead into the countdown to the new millennium: “This is our moment, here at the crossroads of time; we hope our children carry our dreams down the line”.

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!

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!

135/365 Songs: I don’t want to miss a thing – Aerosmith

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 06:02:03 +0000

Another Diane Warren “power ballad” today with this Aerosmith song from the soundtrack of the 1998 film Armageddon. It’s especially for my sister-in-law Fiona who celebrates her birthday today and who is a wonderful person (yes, she told me to say that…) and undoubtedly my favourite elder sister-in-law Happy birthday, Fiona!

117/365 Songs: Annie’s Song – John Denver

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:08:11 +0000

It was touch and go there… I’ve had a really busy day with meetings in Glasgow most of the day then Parent Council at the school tonight and I almost completely forgot about 365songs! I normally have a few songs stored away in cases like this, but not tonight, so I’ve just recorded the 1974 John Denver song Annie’s Song. This song was inspired by John Denver’s then wife, Annie, and he apparently wrote the song in about ten minutes on a ski lift in Aspen, Colorado! The beautiful colours of the snow, the trees and the sky “filled up his senses” and inspired him to think about his wife. Who says men can’t multitask!?

98/365 Songs: Anthem – Chess

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:27:10 +0000

I just heard last night that the musical Chess is coming to the Edinburgh Playhouse in September so I thought I’d do something from Chess for today’s song. Anthem is the powerful hymn-like song which is the first act finale from the show. In this song Anatoly Sergievsky (”The Russian”) sings “my land’s only borders lie around my heart”.

86/365 Songs: I don’t know how to love him – Jesus Christ Superstar

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 08:24:22 +0000

I don’t know how to love him features in the 1970 musical Jesus Christ Superstar and is sung by Mary Magdalene. It first appeared with different lyrics in 1967 as Kansas morning, but it was rewritten for the musical, and the rights for the song were purchased for £50! I hope you enjoy today’s performance.

59/365 Songs: Tea for two

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:30:31 +0000

When you’re making tea you tend to make it not just for yourself… Mum will understand where I’m coming from here, and this will hopefully remind Catriona to make tea for two next time!

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 – These Foolish Things

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:42:48 +0000

This song dates from 1935 and I’ve always enjoyed playing it. Written by Harry Link, Holt Marvell and Jack Strachley, the song has been covered by lots of performers including Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, and Bryan Ferry, but I think my favourite has always been Ella Fitzgerald’s version.

I hope you enjoy today’s performance!

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!

365 Songs: On my own – Les Misérables

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:21:33 +0000

There’s no particular reason for this one today. It’s the song On My Own from Les Misérables, sung by the character Éponine. The musical Les Misérables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, was written in French by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil in 1980, but wasn’t staged in London until 1985 with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer.