Tag: music
Celtic Woman – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
An evening pause: Performed live 2013. I know this song is a bit over-played this time of year, but this performance brings a freshness to it well worth experiencing. And it is about what Christmas actually celebrates.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Geoff Castellucci – I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Elahn Zetlin – Hanukkah in Jerusalem
An evening pause: Music by Hicham Chahidi.
As I watched this I could not help think once again of the Jewish saying that practically describes all Jewish holidays: “They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat!”
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Melinda Kathleen Reese – O Come O Come Emmanuel
An evening pause: As has become my own tradition, I always begin the Christmas/Hanukkah season’s evening pauses with this particular piece, because it not only speaks to both religions, it is amazingly beautiful to hear.
The video replays her singing the same thing three times. There is a good reason, as she almost appears to have begun singing as a lark, and the acoustics of the church astonish her. The repeats help bring out this amazing quality.
Stray Cats – Rock this town
Svetlana Zakharova – Nikiya’s Death in La Bayadère
An evening pause:This website provides a quick summary of what is happening during the dance:
Nikiya’s epic “death” solo at the end of La Bayadère‘s second act is more than a test of stamina: It’s integral to the ballet’s plot. In it, Nikiya laments her doomed relationship with Prince Solor, rejoices upon receiving a basket of flowers she believes to be from him and collapses after being bitten by a snake hidden in the basket.
Hat tip Judd Clark, who adds, “The High Brahmin offers to give Nikiya the antidote to the poison if she will renounce her vow to Solor, but she chooses death rather than life without her beloved.”
Eric Clapton – Signe
Soggy Bottom Boys – I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow
David Hartley – Why Wichita Lineman is the greatest unfinished song of all time
A evening pause: As Hartley says in describing how this classic song was created, “But they kept it so simple.” After watching the video below I think you will want to go back to yesterday’s pause and listen again.
May everyone have a great weekend.
Hat tip Cotour.
Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman
An evening pause: I normally don’t post pauses that are not live and have no visuals, such as this one. However, in this case I have reasons for using this original recording of this wonderful song, which will become evident in tomorrow’s evening pause.
Larry Kimpel, Billy Cobham, & George Duke – Stratus
Jefferson Starship – Jane
Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire – Swing Time
An evening pause: From the 1936 film of the same name. Fred improvises to save Ginger’s job as a dance teacher. Watch how Rogers’ impression of him and her interaction during the dance evolves so naturally. I have always found her to be not only a great dancer, able to keep up with Astaire (the king of all dance), but also a marvelous actress.
Note too how this is not the gymnastics of modern dance, which is often only one small step above a Jane Fonda exercise video, but an amazingly nuanced and choreographed sequence of complex steps and moves, set to American pop music but with graceful classical ballet in mind.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Josephine Baker – Dance Josie, Dance
Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
An evening pause: Performed live on a children’s television show (!), 1982. Stay with it, the beginning was part of the show’s shtick.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Robert Goulet & Julie Andrews – My Cup Runneth Over
An evening pause: From the 1966 Broadway musical, I Do! I Do!, and performed here on the Julie Andrews Show. I originally posted this in 2012, on our wedding anniversary. This chorus now strikes me most profoundly:
In only a moment we both will be old
We won’t even notice the world turning cold
And so, in this moment with sunlight above
My cup runneth over with love.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Sonny and Cher – I Got You Babe
An evening pause: Performed on television in 1965, though I am almost certain they are lip-synching to song’s distributed recording. I posted this before, but that was in 2012. I think enough time has passed.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Marilyn Monroe – Lazy
An eveing pause: From the Hollywood film There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954).
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Couldn’t Stand The Weather
Leonid & Friends – Stay the Night
A evening pause: Another great cover from this Russian band, this time a song by Chicago. Recorded in 2018, which explains why the lead vocalist is a Ukrainian. It appears he is no longer with the group.
Hat tip Dan Coovert.
Home Free – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Lena Horne – Stormy Weather
PDQ Bach – Beethoven Symphony No. 5
An evening pause: Peter Jacoby is conducting (?) Orchestra X. For those who are unaware, PDQ Bach is the stage name used by Peter Schickele in performing his comedic music. Fans of both classical music and sports will really enjoy this.
Hat tip to Alex Gimarc.
Dean Martin & Caterina Valente – One Note Samba
The McCoys – Hang On Sloopy
An evening pause: A music video from 1975. The dancer is Lisa Leonard Dalton.
Hat tip Mike Nelson, who correctly adds, “Ahhh to be young again!”
An evening pause: A music video from 1975. The dancer is Lisa Leonard Dalton.
Hat tip Mike Nelson, who correctly adds, “Ahhh to be young again!”
Sue Foley & others – Okie Dokie Stomp
An evening pause: Performed live 2024. The camera work and directing ain’t great, but it gets better as it goes, which is good because of the great solo near the end.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 – Mas Que Nada
An evening pause: Performed on television c1966. They are clearly lip synching to the original recording, but the song is great, and the sets and dancing are worth watching, if only to get a feel for 1960s variety show television.
Hat tip Cotour.
Eric Clapton – She’s Waiting
Annie Marie Lewis – Headless Horseman
An evening pause: The visuals appropiately come from the 1929 Disney cartoon “Haunted House” starring Mickey Mouse. Seems appropriate for Halloween.
Hat tip Judd Clark.