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Somebody That I Used to Know

Mandy

Wow!  Last year BYU gave me the Lea Salonga concert and she is one of my favorite singers.  This year it's Mandy Patinkin.  I can't believe it and I will NOT miss it.  The nice thing about BYU is that they don't charge an arm and a leg for these good performers.  It isn't until Aug. 31 and tickets go on sale in July but I am stoked.

Scary world of pop music

To some of us paying attention, this is kind of a "duh!" but, imagine this - "Popular song lyrics contain sex, alcohol, and no regrets."  Read here.  You'll also find a link there to Billboard Magazine's coding.

In the study, called "Degrading and Non-degrading Sex in Popular Music: A Content Analysis," he found that 103 of the 297 songs referenced sexual activity. Out of those, degrading references occurred 65 percent of the time, whereas non-degrading lyrics occurred 36 percent of the time.
Additionally, songs with references to degrading sex also were more likely to include references to substance use, violence and weapons.

In an analysis performed by the Deseret News, nine of the top 20 Billboard hits of 2011 contained an overall theme of sex and explicit sexual references throughout the entire song, including Katy Perry's "E.T.," Rihanna's "What's My Name?" and Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger." The top 20 songs contained at least 40 references to sex or a sexual act and more than 50 references to a short-term hookup.

DesNews

Celtic tribute to Broadway

Combine the talent of Celtic Woman with Broadway music and you have a real treat.  It also happens that I've seen both of these shows on Broadway.  Nothing better!

Hallelujah

A Charlie Brown Christmas...

The Piano Guys...

In my life...

And I love her...


If I fell...

More Lea and Love

A wonderful number that was cut from the Broadway, Miss Saigon.


One of my favorite Gershwin numbers, sung by my favorite Broadway singer:

Perspective and perception

I had recently posted a country love song (YouTube music video).  I got negative feedback saying I was flaunting fornication.  I watched the video again and while it was a depiction of a loving situation, my perception of the song was that it was a married couple who, with work schedules, found the weekend to be too short for time together.  Nevertheless, I took it off my blog so I could evaluate it but not because I agreed with his view.  It was interesting to me to see what a difference in perspective there can be in such things.  I often interpret something in light of myself and may not recognize that someone else might find it offensive.  But, I think it has a lot to do with the listener/viewer. I think we usually see (or hear) what we want to; not necessarily as someone else does.

I certainly didn't mean any disrespect or wish to post objectionable material.  The truth is, I am in love and it colors everything for me, but in wholesome ways; not disgusting or degrading ways.  But, I do reserve the right to post as I see the world and make no apologies for that because I know my intent is good.  I also acknowledge that others won't agree with me.  Nice thing about a blog - I write from my perspective alone.  I guess this is the disclaimer.

Oh, and the song?  Just Got Started Lovin' You by James Otto.  I still think it fits for married love.

I love Lea and I love Broadway!

My second favorite from Sunset Boulevard. I love how the story reflects the melancholy that often accompanies change and "progress". Silent Theater is not something we would ever want to go back to, but it was an art form in its own class.




This one is my favorite - the role was written for a woman, but I love this version by Scot Wisniewski and of course the ballad works equally for men whose stars also fell when "talkies" came in. He had to change "Norma" to "Scot" for it to work:)

Bring Him Home (Les Miserables)

I have seen these guys perform live.  I love cello (probably my favorite instrument) and Steven obviously adores it, plays it as it was meant to be.  And, Jon Schmidt is amazing on piano.

Apropos for 9/11

Mormon Tabernacle Choir 9/11

Don't miss Music and the Spoken Word - with special guest, Tom Brokaw on Sunday, 9/11 - special commemoration concert.  (9:30 AM mountain time on KSL TV)

This year's concert splurge

I treated myself to the Lea Salonga concert.  I was not disappointed!  She is amazing!  Her talent is incredible but her personality on stage was even better.  I loved her sincerity, humility, gratitude and love for people.  She also shared a longer version of Reflection from Mulan and she has recorded a cut song from Miss Saigon, Too Much for One Heart.  It fits so perfectly I'm sorry it was cut.





Lea is now 40 but she started her career as a child. She performed in theater in the Phillipines - King and I at age 7, Lead, Annie at age 9.  In this audition (below) for Miss Saigon she was 17-18. Age 18 when she moved to London (on Drury Lane) to perform opposite a male romantic lead 10 years her senior.  She tells how she had never had a boyfriend or been properly kissed when she played Kim and had to learn to do a passionate love scene, while singing.  She has a great story to go with this.  The first time I saw this, after falling in love with Miss Saigon, the video blew me away!



Final auditions:




Andrew Lloyd Webber medley:

Worse than leaving

There really is such thing as "too late."

God bless the broken road...

In a different light

To Make You Feel My Love

My favorite version of this song by Mick McAuley.

Marry Me!

Nice music...