Mark Pentleton » e-maj

364/365 Songs: Thank you for the music – Abba

admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 07:45:21 +0000

I suppose this should really be the final song in my collection, but there’s something typically “Hogmanayish” planned for tomorrow, so I wanted to get the Abba classic Thank you for the music in today. The song was recorded in summer 1977 (I had just turned five at the time!) and was included on The Album, although it wasn’t released as a single until 1983 when it became the final single to be released by the group. Over the past year I’ve played 18 Abba songs and quite a few songs by the members of Abba in the pre- or post-Abba careers. I felt it was appropriate to finish with this song and give my thanks not only for the music which I’ve enjoyed playing this year, but to everyone who has listened each day.

352/365 Songs: Away in a Manger

admin — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 12:41:25 +0000

Today’s 365song is perhaps one of the most well-loved carols: Away in a manger. It was first published in 1885 and the text was attributed to Martin Luther. There are two well-known melodies, but I’ve chosen to play the original, known as St. Kilda. I love Hayley Westenra’s studio recording of this carol – a very simple guitar and piano accompaniment. I couldn’t find that version on YouTube, so here’s a performance with an orchestral accompaniment, complete with children’s choir!

317/365 Songs: 1er Arabesque – Debussy

admin — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:31:11 +0000

I tend not to play classical pieces on here – mostly because I’m so out of practice! Here’s some Debussy today. I think it should probably be played much faster, but I like it a bit ‘watery’ and fluid. Hope you like it too!

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!

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.

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.

230/365 Songs: Candle in the wind – Elton John

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:02:14 +0000

With the schools going back here in Scotland today and everyone’s children moving on another year, today’s song probably should have been Slipping through my fingers – but I played that back in March! Instead I chose Elton John’s beautiful 1973 song to Marilyn Monroe Candle in the wind. I love the 1986 live version of the song from the Australian concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The song was of course rerecorded in 1997 in tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales.

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.

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!

162/365 Songs: Luna Caprese – Peppino di Capri

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:10:21 +0000

It wasn’t until I listened to the evening news on the radio in the car last night that I realised the significance of yesterday’s date. For many years my Italian grandmother would reminisce about the sad events which happened on 10th June 1940 when Churchill infamously gave the order, “Collar the lot!”, referring to Germans and Italians living in the UK. My gran’s family owned Pieroni’s cafe in Irvine and it was business as usual until the day on which Mussolini declared war on Britain and France. Some regular customers became enemies overnight and looted the café. Of course, real friends supported my gran’s family, many coming to visit to demonstrate their solidarity. Nonetheless, it was a difficult time for Italians throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK: even though they had no allegiance to Mussolini, Italian men between the ages of 14 and 75 were interned, many of whom died when a ship deporting them to Canada was torpedoed.

It seemed only appropriate to play something Italian in memory of my gran and her brother and sisters who lived through these sad events. Rather than play something poignant, however, I’ve decided to choose a song which my gran always loved. The song Luna Caprese wasn’t released until twenty years later, but it has always been a favourite in our family. I hope I’ve done it justice.

139/365 Songs: Downtown – Petula Clark

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:54:13 +0000

Today’s song is the 1965 Petula Clark song Downtown. Hope you enjoy it. Sorry if you were hoping for a long story about what this song means to me – I’ve had a really busy day and Junior Apprentice is on in 5 minutes!

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!

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: Sun and Moon – Miss Saigon

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:40:24 +0000

So, our second song of February is from the Schönberg/Boublil musical Miss Saigon. The song is a duet by the characters Chris and Kim as they pledge their love for each other. I’m not sure if it works, but I’ve tried to give the song a bit of a far eastern flavour by using lots of fifths (around 1:30-1:40, then again around 2:00). Let me know what you think!

365 Songs – Wild Mountain Thyme

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:51:08 +0000

On Monday here in Scotland we celebrate Burns’ Day, 251 years after his birth. All across Scotland people will be attending Burns Suppers and celebrating ‘Scottishness’. Tonight we’re off to a ceilidh so I thought I’d make this weekend a bit of a “Scottish special”, starting today with one of my favourite Scottish songs, Wild Mountain Thyme, also known as Will You Go Lassie, Go? Written by William McPeake in 1957, the song was based on the traditional song The Braes of Balquhidder by Robert Tannahil (1774-1810). It has been covered by many artists, perhaps most famously by the Silencers in 1994. There’s another Scottish song tomorrow, and I promise to have some authentic Burns for Monday!

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.