Baby Love

Here are 2 wonderful Disney tunes about mothers...

The first is the very touching BABY MINE from Dumbo.  There are many covers of this tune.  I have 3 favorites.  The first one I heard was sung by BETTE MIDLER on the BEACHES soundtrack.  I also really love the versions by BONNIE RAITT (with a Doo Wop feel!) and ALISON KRAUSS.  Definitely download worthy!!  (Actually the Bonnie Raitt version is not on i-tunes, but can be found on the cd's MARY HAD A LITTLE AMP and STAY AWAKE.  

Have a listen.

OH, almost forgot!  KERRY BUTLER has a gorgeous version as well.  Guess I have 4 favorite versions!!!  (All you mothers with 4 children out there... I've got you covered!!!)

While looking for videos of these versions I stumbled upon this really nice rendition by a young a cappella group from New Zealand called THE WILLOW SINGERS.  There are some really nice harmonies in this.  Here are 3 of the 4 members.

The second Disney song doesn't get as much exposure as Baby Mine, but it is equally as touching.... YOUR MOTHER AND MINE from Peter Pan.   Here is the original version.

*** O.k. just had to post one more song by THE WILLOW SINGERS.  The other soprano is in this video.... beautiful beautiful harmonies...

We have to save the PLANET, JANET!

Whenever I think of Earth Day I think of the 1990 All Star TV special with Bette Midler as Mother Earth.  During it's tv debut I was just beginning my obsession with The Divine Miss M.  To this day, protecting the planet and not disappointing "Mother Earth Bette Midler" go hand in hand in my mind.

Here's Bette's scenes from the special.  

Also here's Paul Rudd making Earth look REALLY COOL on Sesame Street!  You can find this on the just released dvd SESAME STREET: BEING GREEN.

On behalf of Bette Midler, Robin Williams, Paul Rudd, Elmo, and myself... HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Friday the 13th...V Day approaches!

Some people freak out a little on Friday the 13th... and some people freak out a little on Valentine's Day. Having one lead into the other makes an interesting start to the weekend.. 

AND I have come up with the perfect song to commemorate today... 

...I PUT A SPELL ON YOU.

Here is the original artist "Screamin" Jay Hawkins with a "Friday the 13th" Version!

The wikipedia article on this song states...

Hawkins had originally intended to record "I Put a Spell on You" as a refined love song, a blues ballad. He reported, however, that the producer "brought in ribs and chicken and got everybody drunk, and we came out with this weird version. I don't even remember making the record.

Now for the non-spooky versions...

I wouldn't say this is the most romantic song ever... let's call it, the "Get-Your-Act-Together-Or-We're-Through" Valentine's Day Song.

First of all, here's a link to the great Nina Simone version.

I love the music of She & Him (She... the amazing Zooey Deschanel, Him... M. Ward).  Zooey is best known for her quirky independent film work (and a lovely duet with Will Ferrell in ELF.) Last year she collaborated with M. Ward on a wonderful album entitled SHE & HIM Volume One.  Their version of I PUT A SPELL ON YOU can be found on a new Starbucks cover compilation called SWEETHEART.

 

Here's another soulful take by vocalist Mica Paris, guitarist David Gilmour, and bandleader Jools Holland.

Of course I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to the Sanderson Sisters camping it up.

I know this is a long post, but I have one final Friday the 13th song... 

...here is a link to an AWESOME cover of Mel Torme' having a swingin' good time with the Stevie Wonder classic SUPERSTITION.