Way back in 1953—one year before I was born (oh my that’s a long time ago!)—this handsome young pair of fellows met in a school in Queens, New York. Paul Simon noticed Art Garfunkel when he sang in a talent show—in fourth grade. They got together and discovered they could make beautiful music together, so they joined and formed a duo called…Tom & Jerry.
Category: Music Lovers
Rocking to the Real Oldies, part 2
In part 1, I presented eight rock and roll or folk songs that were based on classical music from as far as back as the early 1000’s. In part 2, I’ll let you hear the original classical works they were based on. Obviously, you should read part 1 first, which I’m certain you did. You did read part 1 first, didn’t you? What? You didn’t? Then get your ass over there and read it!
Rockin’ to the Real Oldies, part 1
Let’s face it, most regular people aren’t that into classical music. My condolences to them. They don’t know what they’re missing. There’s a reason that classical music is classic and stood the test of time.
But there are those among the rock and rolling and folk musicians of our times that are familiar with classical music and have based some of their songs on it. Perhaps you didn’t know that some of your favorite tunes of the classical age of rock and roll derive from the classical age of classical music, written by such noteworthies as Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin.
As Chuck Berry once sang, roll over Beethoven. A new crop of musicians has arrived.
Did James Horner write The Sound of Music?
Of course he didn’t! It’s a stupid question! Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote The Sound of Music.
But I ask that question because James Horner, among all composers, produced some of the most beautiful sounds of music ever to grace the silver screen. He’s easily in my top five favorite movie score composers, and I say that only because once you reach that level of greatness, it’s meaningless to rank them any further.
More Than Just a Theme Song
Television show theme songs come in a colorful spectrum of styles, from forgettable to downright works of art. But they all have one thing in common: they’re short. At least when they play during the opening credits of the show.
But what you hear in that minute or so while you go grab some chips and dip from the kitchen isn’t always the whole story. Lurking behind many of the songs introducing the show and its actors is a more developed piece of music that you rarely or never get to hear.
What Shakespeare, Stephen King, and a Lovelorn French Composer Have In Common
Stanley Kubrick did it. Stephen King hated it. The rest of the world loved it. Shelley Duvall had a nervous breakdown from it.
What was it? Kubrick’s film The Shining, of course.
But we’re not here today to talk about the film. We’re here to talk about the music that overlays the opening title sequence from it. That deep, disturbing horn. Those wailing damned souls.
Continue reading What Shakespeare, Stephen King, and a Lovelorn French Composer Have In Common
“Edelweiss” and “The Laendler”: Authentic Austrian?
In The Sound of Music are two beautiful songs that represent themselves as originating from Austrian folk culture. One is sung as if it were a national song celebrating Austrian pride, and the other is purportedly music for an Austrian folk dance.
So are they?
Continue reading “Edelweiss” and “The Laendler”: Authentic Austrian?
What’s So Unchained About the Melody?
In 1965 the Righteous Brothers recorded a love song that became a blockbuster and a staple of pop music culture ever since: “Unchained Melody.” It was released on their album Just Once In My Life and, amazingly, as the B-side of a 45 rpm single, with the song “Hung On You” as the A-side selection.