Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
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Monday Music
March 8th, 2010
It was a pleasure to watch Celtic Thunder on our local PBS network this past weekend.
Not only were their voices magnificent but their performance was surprisingly diversified as exhibited in the videos below:
Lots of fun and highly recommended for viewing!
Enjoy
February 19th, 2010
Life is getting in the way of doing the proper research to post on current events so email links have become my best friend over the course of the past week.
I hope you enjoy the relaxing, beautiful music provided by the Taiwanese leaf flute player.
Sing Along. Get A Good Laugh. Oh Heck, Just Watch.
February 3rd, 2010
Performed by Zo, a guest appearance by Pat Boone, and directed by Roger Simon. How could you go wrong?
What a perfect subject for this rendition of “You Talk Too Much.”
HT: Jim Hoft for pointing me in the direction of this very entertaining video.
A Brother’s Love for His Brother and His Nephew
January 24th, 2010
Take out the Kleenex because it’s a very touching story.
He does have an amazing commercial voice. He lost out on the competition, but I believe he has a future in music if he chooses it.
Enjoy!
January 16th, 2010
A beautiful rendition of our National Anthem performed by Ayla Brown accompanied by none other than the fabulous Boston Pops.
Yes, Ayla is the daughter of Massachusetts Senatorial candidate Scott Brown who is creating such indigestion for the Democrats.
Christmas Concert
December 22nd, 2009
Last Tuesday we attended our granddaughter’s school Christmas Concert. I’m going to give you three selections from the concert.
The first is “White Christmas” featuring my granddaughter as the first soloist. There’s a story behind this. When she started singing her microphone wasn’t working so the teacher/conductor stopped the show and told her to cross the stage to get the other microphone and told the other two girls to improvise, and that’s why you will hear applause as she finished her part of the solo and the next girl picked up her part.
The second is the group of boys singing an upbeat old black spiritual, “Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet”. Remember, these are just middle school kids and they sound pretty good even though most of them haven’t gone through a voice change yet.
Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet
I particularly wanted you to hear the brief solo in the following song because it is sung by a seventh-grade boy. He has a beautiful voice and could have done the entire song himself.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
I hope this brings you some Christmas cheer as you listen to these middle-schoolers performing in front of 600 people for two consecutive shows.
A Little Something From My Email Box
December 11th, 2009
This video came to me via email and was so beautiful (both the music and the images), that I just wanted to share it with our readers.
“Mirror In The Waters”
Tis’ The Season
December 4th, 2009
Enjoy!
October 23rd, 2009
Timeless entertainment.
James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, and Judy Garland perform Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Enjoy
October 20th, 2009
Here’s the YouTube description:
More than 200 dancers were performing their version of “Do Re Mi”, in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started the 23 of march 2009, 08:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of “The Sound of Music”.
Friday Entertainment
September 18th, 2009
The things you learn about someone because it’s their birthday.
It’s Frankie Avalon’s (of Venus fame) seventieth birthday today. The video below may well be his first television appearance, with none other than Jackie Gleason.
Have a look, you might just be surprised!
For Your Listening Pleasure
August 23rd, 2009
Dueling Pianos, , Sit Back And Enjoy!!
Here’s something you don’t see every day. Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino – three of the greatest ivory ticklers of their day – playing pianos on the same stage at the same time. Brace yourself and make sure your sound is on because this show will rock you out of your seat.
This is a once in a lifetime appearance and one you will not forget! Ron Woods of the Rolling Stones, Carl Perkins (Blue Suede Shoes) and others playing back-up, a cameo appearance by Rod Stewart and all directed by Paul Schaeffer.
Monday Music
August 17th, 2009
Those who recall the music of Sha-Na-Na remember who it was that stole the show each and every time he stepped to the microphone.
Enjoy Bowser performing with the Boston Pops.
Was It All That Long Ago?
July 29th, 2009
How things have changed.
Today we cannot imagine life without email, gps systems, dvd/dvr systems, laptop computers and hand held video games.
We press one for English, need a passport to travel to Canada, have the option to go paperless with our bills and scan the latest news online in a flash versus scouring a newspaper over morning coffee. 
Like I said, how things have changed:
(Just in case you are in a listening mood, I tossed in this beautifully performed Statler Brothers recording of “Precious Memories.”
Just For Fun
July 18th, 2009
From my email box:
Click on any year and a Juke Box pops up with 20 hits of that year.
40’s JuKeBoX
1955 JuKeBoX
1956 JuKeBoX
1957 JuKeBoX
1958 JuKeBoX
1959 JuKeBoX
1960 JuKeBoX
1961 JuKeBoX
1962 JuKeBoX
1963 JuKeBoX
1964 JuKeBoX
1965 JuKeBoX
1966 JuKeBoX
1967 JuKeBoX
1968 JuKeBoX
1969 JuKebox
1970 JuKeBoX
Much more at upchucky.com
Michael Jackson- King of Pop
July 7th, 2009
It is with great pleasure we welcome Amy to J’s, and that her first post has to do with an icon of her generation, Michael Jackson. It is written beautifully and certainly rebuts some careless remarks I made in this post.
As you can see, Amy is a very gifted writer and we welcome any future posts she may decide to put up. She is the voice on this blog of a generation younger than Sue and me.
Outstanding post, Amy! And welcome! ~Jeanette~
I thought it only fitting that I write this today, the day of Michael’s memorial, so that we can remember what he accomplished in his life and what he should be remembered for. Michael Jackson was, is- to many- a hero, an icon, a humanitarian, a genius and the soundtrack to some part of their lives. For those of us that are passionate about music, he was the consummate perfectionist, the ultimate performer and had a vocal range that rivaled Frank Sinatra. From his days with the Jackson 5 in seedy clubs in Gary, Indiana to his world record breaking “Bad” tour, Michael performed with the same enthusiasm and love for entertaining.
The facts: Michael Jackson received 13 Grammy awards and had 13 #1 singles as a solo performer. He has sold 750 million records worldwide with “Thriller” being the best selling album of all time. “Off the Wall” was the first album to have 4 top ten singles ever, quickly eclipsed by “Thriller” with seven. Michael is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – as a solo artist and with the Jackson 5. He is also in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Â
His humantarian efforts: Michael Jackson co wrote “We Are The World” with Lionel Richie and performed it with 39 other artists. This single sold over 20 million copies worldwide with the proceeds donated to famine relief. In 1999, he performed with Luciano Pavarotti for Warchild, benefitting Kosovo refugees and later the same year, organized a series of concerts whose proceeds were donated to the “Nelson Mandela’s Childrens Fund” , the Red Cross and UNESCO.  He also organized the United Way: What More Can I Give benefit concert in October, 2001 as a tribute to the September 11 victims.  This is all in addition to his regular contributions to the United Negro College Fund and his own Heal the World Foundation.Â
Musically, Michael Jackson was a genius. His vocal range exceeded 3 octaves, including an exceptional falsetto. His music cannot be pigeon holed into one category as it crosses lines in so many genres from soul to rock to pop to jazz to dance. Michael’s voice is so unique, no artist today can accurately mimic it- not just in tone or words but, in the sheer love of the craft that exudes from each word, phrase and chorus.
In 1982, Michael Jackson gave us the song “Someone in the Dark” which was featured in the movie “E.T.” and won Soundtrack of the Year.  As a performer, unparalleled. His videos, 9-19 minutes in length, were more short films and changed the way we viewed and what we expected from a music video. On the Motown 25 special he showcased a new dance move that astonished some and made others want to master it- the Moonwalk. He has patents for dance moves such as the anti-gravity lean which is featured in the “Smooth Criminal” video and often imitated in today’s choreography.
Personally, I remember where I was the night “Thriller” was first on TV. I remember watching the Moonwalk for the first time and thinking it was the coolest thing. I can remember my brother and his friends break-dancing to Michael Jackson on the boom-box.  I remember hearing the Jackson 5 growing up (and driving my Mom crazy with “ABC” and their version of “Rockin Robin” ) and still play them for my kids today.  I remember dancing to Michael Jackson at my prom and singing along with my friends to “Rock With You”. Â
Even after his death, at least in our house, we focused on Michael’s music. Its important to me that my children understand and can appreciate good music in all forms. They know the music of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Etta James, and countless others without the bias of what each of them did outside of their craft. None of them lived perfect lives in the harsh spotlight and very few faced that harsh light their whole lives as Michael Jackson did. I choose to remember each of them, including Michael,  for their contribution to music, as that lives long past the tabloid headlines and has the ability to affect generations to come.
Michael Jackson, R.I.P.
June 25th, 2009
Music icon Michael Jackson, whose fame spanned from his childhood with the legendary Jackson 5 to a superstar solo career that earned him the nickname ‘King of Pop,’ died Thursday afternoon at a Los Angeles hospital, a source close to the family told FOX News. He was 50.
While his later years brought much turmoil to his life, no one can deny the contributions Michael Jackson made to the world of music.
As the death of Elvis Presley had a profound impact on one generation of music fans, the passing of Michael Jackson will do the same for another.
Rest In Peace Michael.
Michael in his early years,
and in 2001 performing with his brothers:
How’s Life Treating You?
June 17th, 2009
Life lessons worth following.
[Received in an email]
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one
is up to you and no one else20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come…
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”
Just thought I’d add a bit of music which is apropos:
Sunday Concert
June 7th, 2009
Love America? Love the Red White and Blue?
So do these little ones, if this performance is any indication:
(Time shown is approximately 3 minutes longer than the actual presentation)
There is something uplifting in hearing (and somehow even more so when performed by children) this music, don’t you think?
America The Beautiful
June 2nd, 2009
This began as a post relaying my thoughts on much of today’s political spectrum, but in the end I felt as though there is more than enough negativity surrounding us all.
Instead, I chose to focus on that which (through all its’ faults) I have and will always hold dear.
Enjoy!
