900-876-Great Vocals
900. SAO GAN (lullaby) “Empire of the Sun” (1987)
Vocalist: Christian Bale (vocals by James Rainbird / Ambrosian Junior Choir) / John Williams Orch. / John McCarthy conductor)
Writer/Composer: Traditional. (1794c) (Welch adaptation by John Williams) (1794)
This beautiful lullaby, sung in the Welch language, is used several times in Steven Spielberg’s extraordinary film, Empire of the Sun. Each time it marks a very defining moment when a pivotal, emotional and dramatic event in the film takes an unexpected turn in young Jim’s life (Christian Bale) in the Japanese prison camp during WWII. The song by an English 13-year-old singer, James Rainbird, is magnificent, accompanied by the angelic sounds of the choir. The youthful singers never sounded better. Do they ever deliver!…Absolutely Sublime!
Link # 1 - Scene from the prison camp as Japanese kamikaze pilots prepare to leave for battle in Empire of the Sun. Link # 2 - Scene of 12-year-old Jim at film’s beginning singing in the choir.
899. FLOWERS ON THE WALL (1965)
Vocalist: Statler Brothers
Writer/Composer:
898. HELLO DOLLY (1969)
Vocalist: Barbra Streisand / Chorus / Louis Armstrong
Writer/Composer: Lionel Newman / Jerry Herman (1964)
Counting duets, we have Barbra’s 8th number on our list, and Louie’s 3rd. Her influential singing career includes the largest number of musical hits from Movie Soundtrack album sales than anyone in history. Her career covers the mid-1960s into the 2020s. His career covered over 50 years and he is renown as being one of the most recognized, decorated musicians in Jazz history. Together they perform this great Pop duet, straight from the movie but taken from the Broadway Theater production in the mid-1960s. Her vocal control with her tantalizing acting performance is stellar, and his accompanying vocal exchanges are great, with his rough, gravelly replies…Simple Sensational!
Link - from movie clip Hello Dolly 1969.
897.
Vocalist:
Writer/Composer:
896. DUST MY BROOM (1960)
Vocalist: Elmore James / Elmo James
Writer/Composer: Robert Johnson (1936)
895.
Vocalist:
Writer/Composer:
894. BY DESIGN (1985)
Vocalist: Diane Schuur / Jose Feliciano
Writer/Composer: Diane Schuur (1985)
893. THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT (Wimoweh) (1961)
Vocalist: The Tokens (Jay Siegel lead) feat. Anita Darian /
Writer/Composer: Solomon Linda (1939) George David Weiss (English) (1951)
The delight of this African influenced Folk number is its unique vibe and catchiness, if there is such a word. This American 3-to-5-man Doo-Wop / Folk / Pop group and their splendid use of Jay Siegel’s falsetto, and Anita’s theremin-sounding intermittent, soprano vocals, made this Folk Novelty, one of the biggest #1 songs of 1961. They re-invented this older number of 1939, worked carefully on the recording and...dig the incredible saxophone solo! Known for their splendid harmonies, The Tokens made our list…Lofty and Awesome!
Link # 1 Original recording 1961. Link # 2 Live performance over 30 years later.
892. LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE (1990)
Vocalist: The Judds (Wynonna & Naomi)
Writer/Composer: Naomi Judd / Paul Overstreet / John Jarvis (1989)
891. SEASONS OF LOVE “Rent” (1996)
Vocalist: Original Cast (featuring
Writer/Composer: Jonathan Larson (1996)
How can you work the number,“Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes” (number of minutes in a common year) into the lyrics of a Broadway Musical number, featuring male and female singers, accompanied by a lone piano, guitar, organ, bass and drums? Well, Jonathan did it, with his megahit Musical play Rent! Can a Musical describe the value of a human’s life, since the 4 leads have either HIV or AIDS, and the chorus vocalizes what it means to possess a “Measure of Love?” The singers show us that they can! What a marvelous array of different voices to carry this message, an intricate song without being preachy or condescending…An Amazing Display of Exceptional voices!
Link from the Broadway Musical Play 1996.
890. DEEP RIVER (1927)
Vocalist: Marian Anderson
Writer/Composer: Harry T. Burleigh (1924)
889. THE COLOR OF ROSES (1997)
Vocalist: Beth Neilson-Chapman
Writer/Composer: Beth Neilson-Chapman (1997)
888. YOU’LL NEVER KNOW “Hello Frisco, Hello” (1943)
Vocalist: Dick Haymes
Writer/Composer: Harry Warren / Mack Gordon (1943)
This song was based on a poem written by a war bride, Dorothy Fern Norris, and it went on to become an award-winning song in the midst of WWII. Haymes delivers with a crooner’s touch, and with an artist’s brush stroke. Though from Argentina, Dick fit into America’s male Pop / Jazz landscape by working in films and musicals from the mid 1930s to the mid 50s, but his personal life took its toll on his singing voice—hence, he is not included among the likes of Crosby or Sinatra, even though his unique, expressive baritone was considered by many as astounding. His 2nd offering on our list is a classic—he delivers it with incredible relish…A Stellar love ballad with his Midas Touch!
887. CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION (1969)
Vocalist: Tommy James & the Shondells
Writer/Composer: Eddie Gray / Tommy James / Mike Vale (1969)
886. FALLIN’ IN LOVE (1975)
Vocalist: Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
Writer/Composer: Dan Hamilton (1975)
885. THINKING OUT LOUD (2014)
Vocalist: Ed Sheeran
Writer/Composer: Amy Wedge / Ed Sheeran
884. KEEP ON LOVING YOU (1981)
Vocalist: REO Speedwagon (Kevin Cronen)
Writer/Composer: Kevin Cronen (1980)
883. THE GRAND TOUR (1974)
Vocalist: George Jones
Writer/Composer: Norro Wilson (1974)
882. THE SHOW MUST GO ON (1991)
Vocalist: Queen (Freddie Mercury)
Writer/Composer: Brian May (1990)
881. I’D LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOU (1968)
Vocalist: Spanky & Our Gang (Elaine “Spanky MacFarland)
Writer/Composer: Stuart Scharf (1967)
880. WHITE FLAG (2003)
Vocalist: Dido (Armstrong)
Writer/Composer: Dido Armstrong / Rick Nowels / Rollo Armstrong (2003)
879. BRASS IN POCKET (I’m Special) (1980)
Vocalist: The Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde)
Writer/Composer: Chrissie Hynde / James Honeyman-Scott (1979)
878. EVENING FALLS
Vocalist: Enya
Writer/Composer: Enya
The sounds of Enya, not just her mesmerizing vocals, attracts so many legions of fans the world over to her music. Primarily a studio artist instead of a concert performer, she still, as of her 4th entry on our list, produces the ethereal sound of what we think angels may sound like—hence, her album, Watermark. Laying down multi tracks is a thing of beauty, but so is her solitary soprano voice. Her stunning songs make her the bestselling Folk / Celtic / New Age music artist of all time, and this is an example of her harmonic melodies…Simply Enchanting!
877. MOONLIGHT OVER BOURBON STREET (1985)
Vocalist: Sting
Writer/Composer: Gordon Sumner (1985)
876. CIRCLE OF LIFE “The Lion King” (1998)
Vocalist: Tsidii Le Loka & Chorus (Broadway Play)
Writer/Composer: Movie - Elton John / Tim Rice Writer/Composer: Play - Mbongeni Ngema / Elton John (1994)
From the opening words in Zulu (World Music), from the 1994 worldwide hit, the animated movie, the Lion King, this became part of the music culture of the 1990’s, spawning this rendition of the hypnotic opening, and its equally successful Broadway play. No animated movie ever made such an impression on world entertainment as this powerful display of preserving nature. The award-winning vocals are spine-tingling, “Nants ingonyama bagithi baba,” for the astonishing richness in its heartfelt delivery…Stunning, Inspirational!
Link - Original recording form the Animated 1994 film.
