Remembering Audrey's Birth Date

the cover of this month's 'vogue'. still making it 'vogue'.

 

my tribute revisited

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From the Soundtrack of My Mind: The Pointer Sisters

'fire'

 'slow hand

  

 'i'm so excited'

A Smashing 'That's Life' from the Soundtrack of My Life

perhaps 'smash' would have fared better had they given katharine mcphee and megan hilty more duets. 'that's life' is an arguement for this. away from the constraints of the suffocating 'bombshell' the combination of karen and ivy is a let it go, let loose, knock it out of the park, kick it in the ass dynamic duo. the long suffering series needed more moments like this.

It's May the Lusty Month of May

from the soundtrack of my life

From the Soundtrack of My Life: John Barrowman's 'Unusual Way'

i'm often asked to name my favorite pieces from the musical theater. it's a tough call because so many touch me. each piece generally holds something special and takes me to a memory. some happy so very very happy. some take me to a sadder place...perhaps even a darker place. but they nonetheless get to me each time i hear them.
some will always outshine the others always. 'being alive', 'on my own', 'what i did for love' 'storybook', 'somewhere', 'children will isten'' and 'far from the home i love' come to mind automatically.
and among these there is 'unusual way' from 'nine'. this is a happy memory, a better time, a great time. it was broadway 1982. i was mad for this tony winning musical. i still am. it ranks among my 'best'. the actress was shelly burch as claudia nardi. she got me and didn't let go. laura benati made it her own in the 2003 revival.

recently i was happy to hear john barrowman sing it. what i love about john is his daring. his 'i am what i am' attitude toward his career and musical choices. he also happens to be a really nice man. i first met him after a performance of 'sunset boulevard' in london. i then had the pleasure of sharing 'an american songbook' evening with him in new york. he was/is the most down to earth guy on the planet.

well anyway i digress....so here i share his brilliant 'unusual way' in a live version and a prerecorded version. i love the song and the man.

and just for the heck of it...ms laura benanti

From the Soundtrack of My Life: Bette Midler

'hello in there'

Audra McDonald: 'Mr. Snow'

from the soundtrack of my life and the musical 'carousel'.

this weekend on pbs 'live from lincoln center' we get to see an uncut true to the original version 'carousel'
audra mcdonald won her first tony award in the 1994 revival.

here audra sings 'mr. snow' from the show that won her that first of her tony awards. i love this woman.
 wow!

Pet Is Back

petula clark has released a new cd. at 80 years young there is just no stopping this legend. thank the gods.

here is  'cut copy me' from 'lost in you'. the voice is still there.

and it's already been remixed

Team Ivy vs Team Karen

now there is actually something to compare. ivy get's to sing the really good 'don't forget me' when the pretty awful 'bombshell' has it's opening night on broadway on the show within a show 'smash'. karen got to do it when it premiered in boston. i think they both did it great justice. two different interpretations: two different takes.  argue amongst yourselves.

this 'bombshell' would bomb on broadway. with the exception of this song and 'let me be your star' the music and lyrics were amateurish and pedantic. it is not making it on tv so who the hell thinks it will make it for almost $200.00 a pop. duh.

that said this song is wonderful and gets a nod from the soundtrack of my mind yet again.

katherine mcphee (karen)

megan hilty (ivy)

From the Soundtrack of My Life: 'What Kind of Fool' and 'Guilty'

 i love these duets between barbra and barry gibb. their harmonies are amazing. their voices just worked so well together. true musical perfection.
both compositions rank at the top of mr gibb's amazing list of hits.

happy birthday barbra

'Don't Stop Believing' Rachel and Lea

so last week on 'glee' rachel barry auditioned for a revival of 'funny girl'. a part rachel, and her alter ego lea michelle, was born to play. instead of 'doing' barbra rachel choose to go back and find the song that brought her and her friends together as 'glee'. impressive move/writing. 'doing' barbra would have been appropriate but not daring. lea's rachel went bold. it was impressive. and it was all about her believing...in herself and her talent.

so once again from the soundtrack of my life
'don't stop believing' rachel's audition

behind the scenes

and finally then let's revisit rachel/lea doing a barbra 'funny girl' song. and yes with a good director lea should play fanny brice. she needs that good director to help her make fanny her own and not an impersonation. the girl has the talent and it should be utilized. i long to see her do it. i believe in her talent although i was weary at the start of the series. she has grown and  matured into a performer to be reckoned with. brava!

'Glee' Renewed for Seasons 5 and 6 and It Makes Me Want to 'SHOUT'

from the soundtrack of my mind

'shout'

a 'glee' moment

heather morris and darren criss

'Johnny Angel'

in light of annette funicello's recent passing it's fitting to post her best friend's #1 single. shelley as i expected was with annette when she passed. that's what lifelong friends do.

from the soundtrack of my life
shelley fabares

'She Must Be Beautiful'

from the soundtrack of my life

i think this one of the most beautiful songs written. and listen to that piano.

janis ian

A 'Smash' Moment: 'Rewrite the Story' and 'Heart Shaped Wreckage'

from the soundtrack of my life

katharine mcphee and jeremy jordan

A 'Glee' Moment: 'Creep'

 from the soundtrack of my life
lea michele and dean geyer

From the Soundtrack of My Life: 'Hideaway'

i love this song. to date it is the last thing barbra has done music and/or otherwise that i've enjoyed. this being recorded in 2005.
and i like a gazzillion other gay men was her greatest fan.
not so much anymore.

 but i truly love this barry gibb piece and her voice was oh so wonderful on it. soft, velvety, perfection.
 and her phrasing, flawless, putting all others to shame.

Josh's Jukebox: 'I'm Not in Love'

from the soundtrack of my life

10cc

R.I.P Annette

i knew this day was coming. yet it's still sad news. annette was the most famous of the original mousekeeters on 'the mickey mouse club'. she went on to star with frankie avalon in a series of beach movies. paul anka wrote an album full of songs for her 'annette sings anka'. for a lot of men of a certain age their first crush has now passed on.

annette actually had a #1 billboard song 'taul paul' in 1959. her minor success in this led to a string of young teenage stars recording stars some one hit wonders and others more successfully.

annette on 'american bandstand' 1959.

in 1960 she recorded 'o dio mio' when walt disney gave her a three episode arc on the tv series 'zorro.

Phil Ramone Passes

the soundtrack of my life

music producer phil ramone passed this week.

his first big hit was lesley gore's 'it's my party' that starts this lesley gore medley.