Jerry Weil – Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages)
An evening pause: A simple but powerful performance, in Hebrew and English, for the first night of Hannukah.
Tag: music
No Strings A Cappella – Past Three O’ Clock
An evening pause: Though written as celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus, I think the lyrics really apply all newborns. As William Wordsworth said, we arrive “trailing clouds of glory.”
past three o’clock,
on a cold frosty morning,
past three o’clock,
good morrow masters all.
born is a baby
gentle as may be,
son of the Eternal
Father supernal.
mid earth rejoices
hearing such voices.
ne’ertofore so well
carolling nowell!
cheese from the dairy
bring they for Mary,
and, not for money,
butter and honey.
thus they: i pray you,
up sirs, nor stay you
till ye confess him
likewise and bless him.
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
USAF Band – Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
A evening pause: This is almost a real flash mob event at the Air & Space Museum. It seems as if they sneak up on the holiday crowds, but at the same time I am not so sure. Too many cameraman around, as well as performers. Regardless, it is a great performance.
Hat tip Edward Thelen, and Tim Vogel (who suggested this a couple of years ago when I was especially dismissive of fake flash mob events. Since then I’ve mellowed). Also, as Edward notes, the schedule of events at the end of this video no longer applies.
The Holdman House decorated for Christmas
An evening pause: From the youtube webpage:
The Amazing Grace Christmas House was located in Pleasant Grove, Utah and designed and programmed by Richard Holdman. A small little charity box placed in front of the display has raised more than $40,000 for the Utah Make-a-Wish Foundation. Thank you everybody for your support.
Hat tip Willi Kusche.
LeAnn Rimes – Blue
Petula Clark – I couldn’t live without your love
An evening pause: Performed live, 2012, when Clark was in her eighties. See this 2017 interview of her that includes some nice details about her life.
Susanna Hoffs – Eternal Flame
Steve Cutts – This is our world
An evening pause: This animation expresses well what I often feel and think, as someone who does not use a “smart” phone.
Hat tip Jim Mallamace, who sent it from his own smart phone, which left him “not feeling very high and mighty.”
Bryan Adams – Everything I Do
The Dukes of September – Who’s That Lady?
An evening pause: That’s Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs performing live in 2014.
Hat tip Joe Griffin.
Matt Wessel and Katie Wessel – Anyone Else But You
An evening pause: Seems very appropriate for Thanksgiving. This cover was performed by the couple immediately after they had gotten married.
Hat tip Edward Thelen, who said he prefers this to the original, an opinion to which I agree whole-heartedly.
Samantha Whates – Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)
An evening pause: Hat tip Jim Mallamace, who tells this story about the song’s origin: ” Future country music star, Jeannie Seely, worked as a secretary at Liberty and Imperial Records in 1963. The producer for the record company, Eddie Ray, was looking for a new song for Rythm & Blues legend, Irma Thomas.
“After each day’s work, Seely would work on her own compositions on the studio piano. One day, Seely was asked to attend an Artists and Repertoire meeting by Ray. She came to the meeting with her stenography pad but was told, no, he wanted her to sing that song she was writing the night before.
“‘Anyone Who Knows What Love Is’ became a 1964 hit for Irma Thomas in both the R&B and Pop charts. It was the first song Seely had published.”
Belle & Sebastian – Piazza, New York Catcher
David Bowie – Life on Mars
An evening pause: Hat tip to Edward Thelen for reminding me that I should post another Bowie song. This was recorded live in 1999.
Keith Whitley – I Never Go Around Mirrors
A evening pause: Hat tip Jim Mallamace, who wrote, “This is a case of art imitating life. Keith Whitley battled alcoholism for years. He died at age 33 of acute alcohol poisoning 6 months after this performance.”
PJ Liguori – Tree Hugger
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
The Velvet Underground – I’m Sticking With You
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra – Star Trek Medley
An evening pause: It is never a bad thing to listen to the music from Star Trek (though I would have preferred a larger percentage of this piece devoted to Alexander Courage’s original score).
Hat tip Willi Kusche.
Readers: If you want to contribute to Behind the Black, you can! I am in need of Evening Pause suggestions. If you haven’t suggested any before and want to now, comment here (without posting the link to your suggestion) and I will contact you!
The King’s Singers – Barbara Allen
Itzhak Perlman & the Klezmer Conservatory Band
Orkestra Obsolete – Blue Monday
An evening pause: This 1983 electronic song is played here entirely on 1930s musical instruments.
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
Crash Test Dummies – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
An evening pause: There is something about this song that reminds me of the impression of America by the Soviet refugee played by Robin Williams in Moscow on the Hudson (1984), “Strange but wonderful.”
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
Swedish National Wind Band
An evening pause: Four classic television and movie themes arranged by Paul Jenkins, performed with spirit by what looks like a college or high school band.
Hat tip t-dub.
Joan Osborne – One Of Us
An evening pause: Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us?
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make His way home?
Peggy Lee & Frank Sinatra – Nice Work If You Can Get It
Greg Kihn – The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)
Pee Wee King & Golden West Cowboys – Slow Poke
An evening pause: Performed live for Country Style USA, a television show produced by the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1960 as a recruiting tool and featuring top country music performers. Stay till the end, to get a feel of a different America.
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
Kang Hye-Jung – Beautiful Dreamer
An evening pause: Stephen Foster’s magnificent lullaby, performed for South Korean television.
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.