The moment I wake up...

Random "musical number" perfection...

MY BEST FRIENDS WEDDING made every woman in America want to have a witty gay best friend. Rupert Everett was wonderful in this movie.

I also love the opening sequence to MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING. I knew the moment the song started that I was going to love this movie.  The vocals here are actually recorded by Ani Difranco. Love the irony that Ani is a widely celebrated feminist singing about wearing you hair just right so you can get the guy!

 

The BIG number

The next couple of days we're taking a look at "Musical Numbers in Non-musical films."

One iconic non-traditional example is HEART AND SOUL in the movie BIG.  Tom Hanks dancing on a larger than life keyboard has inspired countless piano duets.  You can bet somewhere in the world right now someone is asking "Do you wanna play the top part or bottom part?"

Here is an adorable performance of a father and son playing together at a recital.

The song was written by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Frank Loesser.   Check out great vocal versions by MEL TORME, ELLA FITZGERALD, and probably my favorite.... by JOE WILLIAMS.

Some day, when I'm awfully low...

The next couple posts will follow a little theme...  

"MUSICAL NUMBERS in non-musical films."  

Today I'd like to share a beautiful moment from the movie PETER'S FRIENDS.

In the movie, a bunch of friends who were in a College Comedy Troupe at Cambridge get together for the first time in 10 years.  It's kind of a British "The Big Chill."

It has an all star cast featuring Hugh Laurie, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Imelda Staunton, Richard Briers, Stephen Fry, Rita Rudner, Tony Slattery, Phyllida Law, Alex Lowe, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh.  If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth a rental.

My favorite part in the movie is this moving rendition of THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT.  This is really beautiful...  I LOVE these harmonies!!!

Das BOOTS

Here is Nancy Sinatra performing THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN' on the Ed Sullivan Show.  This is priceless.  I LOVE the dancers.  Move over BEYONCE and all her "Single Ladies,"  I think I've found a dance to obsess over.

There is a pretty wonderful cover of BOOTS...   No, it's not by Jessica Simpson!  It's a cool acoustic version by Spanish singer-songwriter JAVIER ALVAREZ. 

Check it out here. 

"Totally FOLK-ed!"

This morning as I was eating my bowl of Berry Berry Kix, I came across an article online about a new broadway cover album by RACHEL BAY JONES called SHOWFOLK (folk covers of showtunes!) It looked interesting so I went to itunes and heard some samples... and really really liked what I heard.

I impulse-downloaded the album, listened to it all day, and LOVE IT.  I really dig the variety of her selections.  She opens with a great version of BREEZE OFF THE RIVER from THE FULL MONTY (great tune.)  There are covers from newer shows WICKED, SPRING AWAKENING, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, RENT... and also classics from ON THE TOWN and MAN OF LA MANCHA.  

Favorites besides BREEZE OFF THE RIVER are ANOTHER DAY (Rent), LUCKY TO BE ME (On The Town), and a wonderful version of GONNA BUILD A MOUNTAIN (Stop The World - I Want To Get Off).  I feel these tunes in particular get a very fresh interpretation on the album.

Check it out.  You won't be sorry!  This is really stunning music.

__ MCA!

Here's a great Sesame Street moment with the lovely Norah Jones saluting the letter "Y"!

This is available on the dvd SESAME STREET: ALL-STAR ALPHABET. This dvd also features Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, and Stephen Colbert!

Best Cover Ever!

Who's that eatin' that NASTY FOOD? 

You will never think of this song in the same way again.

Sorry not available on itunes!  More on Miss Sondra Prill to come...