Mark Pentleton » dflat-maj

349/365 Songs: I believe in Father Christmas – Greg Lake

admin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:56:02 +0000

I’ve never been quite sure about this song which dates from 1975. I love the music, especially the combination of the verses with Prokofiev’s Troika theme from the Lieutenant Kijé suite. However the lyrics have always seemed to me to be quite negative. However, as I’ve done my research for today’s song I’ve read that in fact the composer and performer Greg Lake (of Emerson, Lake and Palmer fame) actually meant the song as a protest against the commercialisation of Christmas. Either way, I hope you enjoy this classic bit of Christmas pop!

340/365 Songs: When a child is born – Johnny Mathis

admin — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 08:03:41 +0000

This song started life as an instrumental called Soleado by Ciro Dammicco and was recorded in 1974 by his group Daniel Sentacruz Ensemble. The lyrics were added later by Fred Jay. When a child is born has been recorded by many artists, but the most well-known is by Johnny Mathis from 1975. It was used in the 1975 Argentinean film Nazareño Cruz y el Lobo.

338/365 Songs: The First Noel

admin — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:37:32 +0000

This Christmas carol was first published in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern in 1823. It is unusual in that all three phrases of the melody end on the third note of the scale. I hope you like my version.

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!

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.

181/365 Songs: You’ve lost that loving feeling – The Righteous Brothers

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:27:22 +0000

As I reach the end of my sixth month here on 365songs I’ve chosen the “most played song of the 20th Century” in the US, according to Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). You’ve lost that loving feeling by The Righteous Brothers was first released in 1964, although I think I only got to know the song well when I heard it as a fourteen year-old watching the film Top Gun in 1986. The song is the only one in the history of the UK charts to make the top ten on three separate occasions: in 1964 (#1), 1969 (#10) and again in 1990 (#3).

177/365 Songs: All by myself – Eric Carmen

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:41:36 +0000

Today’s song is the 1973 Eric Carmen power ballad, All by myself. This song has been recorded by many artists, perhaps most notably Céline Dion in 1996. It has also been used in many films including Bridget Jones’ Diary. The song uses a theme from Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto, and today’s “interesting fact” is that Carmen thought the theme was in the public domain but it turned out not to be. Carmen had to come to an agreement with the Rachmaninoff family and since then, Sergei was credited as the composer along with Carmen.

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.

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.

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: All I ask of you – Phantom of the Opera

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:38 +0000

Keeping the romantic songs for Valentine’s week, today I’ve recorded the love duet All I ask of you from Phantom. In the song which comes at the end of the first act of the musical, Raoul promises to protect Christine, unaware that the Phantom is listening in.

365 Songs: When I fall in love – Nat King Cole

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:25:22 +0000

Bit late today – sorry! Today’s song is the classic When I fall in love. I’ve always associated this song with Nat King Cole, but it turns out that his was not the original. Doris Day recorded it in 1952 and Nat King Cole’s recording dates from 1956. I hope you enjoy it, even if it is a bit late…

365 Songs – Imagine – John Lennon

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:35:04 +0000

Today’s song is the John Lennon classic Imagine. First released in 1971 on the album of the same name, it soon found its way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs Which Shaped Rock and Roll. My version is fairly true to the original, although I couldn’t resist a modulation into D flat… If you’ve been enjoying my music, please don’t forget to consider donating to my Haiti appeal.

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!

365 Songs: Guldet Blev till Sand – Kristina från Duvemåla

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:20:36 +0000

Sticking with the musicals theme from yesterday, Guldet Blev till Sand is one of many beautiful songs from the Swedish musical Kristina från Duvemåla, written by (my musical hero) Benny Andersson and with lyrics by Björn Ulvæus. The musical is based on the novels of Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg which tell of a Swedish family’s migration to America in the 19th century.

The musical was premiered in Malmö in 1995 and received a 10-minute standing ovation. Since then it’s been staged in Gothenburg, Stockholm and in Minneapolis. Last year an English version was staged in Carnegie Hall and a this version will be performed in the Royal Albert Hall on 14 April this year. Unfortunately I won’t be there (I’ll be Apple Teacher Instituting in Cheltenham…) but the English-language soundtrack apparently comes out a couple of days before the concert.

The song Guldet Blev till Sand (”The gold turned into sand”) is taken from the second act of the show. The family has moved to the New World and the character Robert has set out in search for gold with his friend Arvid. They end up lost in the desert and after drinking poisoned water, Arvid dies. Robert returns and explains to his sister-in-law Kristina what has happened. There’s a version on YouTube with English subtitles sung by Peter Jöback if you’re interested.

I better think of something a bit cheerier for tomorrow!