A few more musical memories

Post by **Horus** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:46 pm

On another thread Bill was talking about songs that reminded him of Egypt, I have a couple here that were prompted by recently seeing people on the TV. One was Sarah Brightman appearing in a TV add and I remembered just how good she could actually be and for someone who started out in a dance group called ‘Hot Gossip’ flashing her boobs and bum to songs such as “I lost my heart to a Star Ship trooper” which was considered to be a raunchy at the time, she has certainly improved over the years. She was married at one time to that handsome man Andrew Lloyd Webber

who obviously recognised her talent, but to me this is the best song she ever made along with the fantastic Andrea Bocelli, I can never listen to this without getting Goose bumps all over.

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This was how she started out in Hot Gossip:

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The other blast from the past was Nana Mouskouri, when in a recent programme starring the British actress Joanna Lumley who was doing a travelogue tour of the Greek Peloponnese region, met up with the singer during a visit to the open air theatre of Epidaurus built in the 3rd century BC and so well preserved that with little or no restoration it is still in use today for regular summer dramatic performances. Nana told her of how she once auditioned to become an opera singer as her greatest ambition was to sing in this particular open air theatre.

Alas, she was turned down as being too much of a pop singer to be included, much to her great disappointment. It was a dull day with few visitors and Joanna persuaded her to stand in the centre of the stage and fulfil her dream of singing there, while she herself went and stood at the very top of the outdoor seating. Nan Mouskouri sang part of the song Ave Maria and it moved Miss Lumley to tears and it brought a lump to my throat as well. I wonder just how many of those few tourist who were applauding so loudly on that dull day in Greece knew just who this wonderful voice belonged to?

So here she is singing Ave Maria.
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She of course went on to make many records, but this is probably one of her best remembered ones, “The White Rose of Athens” on an old 45 single

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Post by **Kiya** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:30 pm

Saw & heard it just last night in the Joanna Lumley programm, very moving & it did bring to tears to me also

Post by **Horus** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:24 pm

Glad you did Kiya

it looks like being a good series.

Post by **Kiya** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:00 pm

It certainly is....so far so good

Post by **BillH** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:06 pm

Ahhhhh, Hot Gossip, T.o.T.P Thursday night...
The dance routines were sometimes rather "literal" in their translations of the lyrics and pretty cringe worthy sometimes...

But to be honest, which red blooded male viewer was watching the dance for it's routines

I do like some of the less serious songs with catchy tunes, for a while, and they are nice to revisit from time to time.

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and a lot of 10cc's songs I enjoyed. Feel the Benefit, parts 1, 2 and 3 was a particularly good song for them back then. It was a long song, so was never released as a single.

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Now, THIS song I have loved and played just about every day for almost the last 40 years ! It gives me hope and reminds me of something personal..

Plant and Page are a gift from God. There is an important message to be deciphered in the lyrics...

Post by **Horus** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:05 pm

Great choices Bil,

I like them all, especially Stairway to Heaven

Heres another of my favourites:
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Post by **BillH** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:17 pm

An Excellent choice Horus

I was drawn into that song when I first heard it, and loved most of the album, But Hotel california is the main attraction there.

And this song, which I knew would be one of your favourite's has resonated with me quite a lot in recent times.
Highly intelligent lyrics and the undertones of the African Drums mixed with a tuneful western inspired melody. Even for those who have never been to Africa, I think this song can give them a taste of the place, in an esoteric sense of the word..
AMAZING !

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There are 2 types of song I often feel, A song written for the sake of writing a song, not always a bad thing, but mostly benign mediocrity for the masses.
Then there's the inspirational music that brings people together or serve to remind us of the great things in life..
Even if I am no Jimmy page or Ritchie Blackmore, then I am at least thankful that people like that have existed and given us their heart and soul

Post by **Horus** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:31 pm

Something I can agree whole heartedly with you here Bill

Toto's Rains in Africa is a brilliant song and it always reminds me of being on an aircraft flying home from Jo-burge in South Africa through a thunderstorm after saying farewell to friends I will never see again, it was pitch black below us as we flew quite low heading for the Sahara with the lightning flashing in the sky all around us, aah fond memories.