July 8, 2024 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast
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Category: The Evening Pause
A nightly pause from the news to give the reader/viewer a bit of classic entertainment.
OK Go – This Too Shall Pass
An evening pause: When this was released in 2010 it quickly went viral, with every website embedding or linking to it. At the time I was not yet doing the Evening Pause. It is not too late to post it now!
Hat tip James Street.
Orson Welles – Battle Hymn of the Republic
An evening pause: Performed live on the Dean Martin Show sometime in 1967-1968, during the height of the Vietnam War and anti-war protests.
Hat tip Mike Nelson.
July 4 mid-day pause: 1776
Let’s celebrate Independence Day with the brilliant film version of the 1972 Broadway musical, 1776. It is not only great because of the wonderful music and witty dialogue, it is great because it actually captures quite accurately the real personalities of these Founding Fathers.
Focus – Hocus Pocus
Lexington Lab Band – Waiting for a Girl Like You
Chad & Jeremy – A Summer Song
An evening pause: Performed live on American Bandstand on November 28, 1964, though the music is almost certainly lip synched.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Clap Yo’ Hands – Fred Astaire & Kay Thompson
An evening pause: From the 1957 musical Funny Face. I only saw this film for the first time last week, and as I watched this scene I was most amused by Astaire’s dance moves in the second half of this number. “Why, Astaire is doing Gene Kelly!” I exclaimed to Diane.
Both men had their own styles. Kelly was into grand film presentations, acrobatics, and the soft shoe. Fred Astaire was into dance, in all its forms. If you are familiar with Kelly’s dance style you will see immediately how Astaire is parodying it, but with great respect.
Astaire’s partner in this number is Kay Thompson, in her only starring movie role. Thompson had an amazing artistic career, from writer (the Eloise children’s books) to vocal coach for Judy Garland and Gene Kelly to recording artist to night club performer. It is a shame we don’t have more films of her singing and dancing.
Susan Boyle – I Dreamed a Dream
An evening pause: This was her first appearance as a singer, on the television show Britain’s Got Talent, airing on April 11, 2009. It is a glorious TV moment. Much of it I think was planned, at least by the producers, though the judges and audience almost certainly had no idea what they were about to hear. Enjoy. Fun to watch over and over.
Hat tip James Street.
Rita Hayworth – Put The Blame On Mame
An evening pause: From the 1946 film, Gilda, which could be considered one of Hollywood’s first film noir classics. The song was sung by Anita Ellis for Hayworth.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Katelyn Emerson – Dupré’s I Preludio: Allegro agitato
An evening pause: The organ is in Methuen Memorial Music Hall in Massachusetts.
Hat tip Alton Blevins.
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Something For Nothing
Galapagos Islands – Blue footed Boobies dancing
An evening pause: Short but sweet, and somehow I think is perfect to begin summer.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Yes – It Can Happen
Nini – OverMortal
An evening pause: The music appears to come from a video game, which this video heavily promotes. No matter. She performs it using both a classic Chinese instrument and a modern electric guitar, and the contrast is striking.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Hothouse Flowers – I Can See Clearly Now
Luca Stricagnoli – For A Few Dollars More
An evening pause: A magnificent cover of this classic Ennio Morricone film score. If you want to hear a compliation of all of Morricone’s western scores, go here.
For me however Morricone’s score for Cinema Paradiso remains my favorite.
Hat tip Mike Nelson.
Sylcom Light – Venetian glass artistry
Arthur Brown & Hamburg Blues Band – I Put A Spell On You
An evening pause: Performed live 2012. A most eccentric performance.
Hat tip Alec Gimarc, who notes about Brown, “Most notable for a 4-octave voice and performing with a lit device on his head at the time [1969]. … Impressed he is still alive.”
Al Stewart – Year Of The Cat
An evening pause: I posted a different performance of this song by Steward in 2015. The live version below, performed live in 2020, includes a fascinating intro that describes the roots of the song, as well as some spectacular guitar solos.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
Moonlight Sonata
An evening pause: I cannot confirm who the singer is, as he posts his name only in Japanese picture words. I also am not sure where the lyrics come from. Interesting though to hear someone sing this Beethoven music.
Hat tip Alton Blevins.
Anastasia Tyurina – Dance of the Goblins
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
Hugh Laurie – St. James Infirmary
Billy Joel – She’s Right On Time
An evening pause: Normally I hate official music videos. They are almost always boring and predictable adolescent stories that have little to do with the song. I always prefer the live performance, because then you see the artist at work.
This video is an exception, in that it doesn’t do what you expect, and is quite silly in the process.
Hat tip Mitch Masterfix.
Haley Reinhart – I Put a Spell on You
An evening pause: Performed live October 31, 2022.
Hat tip Judd Clark. I once again must ask for suggestions from my other readers. Judd Clark and Alton Blevins continue to send great stuff, but I really like to have as many people contributing as possible. If you have suggested before you know the rules. If not, state you have something you want to suggest in the comments below, but DON’T post a link to it.. I will email you to get it.
Jess Erskine – The Prisoner Intro, re-visited
An evening pause: Those familiar with the original series, The Prisoner, will find this quite amusing. As the filmmaker notes on the youtube webpage, “And yes, this is cheesy as crap. I made it that way on purpose. Be seeing you!”
And if you aren’t familiar with the original, which was a truly unique and very surreal spy TV show of the 1960s, watch the original opening first. It is amazing how close this new version matches, in a ridiculous way, the shot angles and action of the actual opening sequence.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
Celine Dion – That’s The Way It Is
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
Dwayne O’Brien – We Remember
An evening pause: To the men who flew the planes.
And all who’ve coursed through hostile skies,
Know that freedom requires a sacrifice,
To those who paid the highest price,
We remember.With a place of honor so deserved,
For what flesh and blood and steel have earned,
That may the glory be reserved,
For the colors they so bravely served.Keep them flying, keep them flying,
So that all who see them will know,
That our freedom was won by the blood that flowed,
And we remember.
Hat tip Chris Whiting.