Songs of Inspiration...

Ok - I'm opening myself up to a lot of funny comments, I'm sure - but here goes: I'm working on a cabaret act and at the moment there is not exactly a theme. My original intention (don't laugh too hard) came after 9/11, when I wanted to sing songs that would inspire people, help them to an understanding that life is not as bad as it seems and that if someone is looking for a Higher Power - it's all around them. Now here is the thing - not gospel music, not churchy stuff, and not OBVIOUS choices. For example - my subtext on the song Bali H'ai (South Pacific) is that God, or whatever you wish to refer to him/her/it as, is Bali H'ai - in the form of that beautiful island which calls to all the lonely and disheartened spirits out there. Look at the lyrics - "most people live on a lonely island. Lost in the middle of a foggy sea. Most people long for another island. One where they know they would Like to be... Bali H'ai will call you, any night, any day - in your heart you'll hear it call you: "come away! Come away"...
Do you guys get where I'm headed with this? Anyone have any suggestions for songs along this vein? once again - NOT obvious stuff - it can be obscure show stuff or not - but nothing like "Wind Beneath My Wings"...okay? Go! (LOL!)
oops - PS - feel free to PM me if you like - I'm not always logged in, though.
Thanks!!!

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Updated On: 4/6/04 at 10:40 AM

"Let Joy And Innocence Prevail" from Toys!!!

i know i know... i just wanted to get it in there... and as far as PMing? i want to see what folks come up with!

Updated On: 4/6/04 at 10:46 AM

Nice!..so far so good - RLb - is the song you mentioned available in print? I'd love to get my hands on a copy - of course I need to hear it first also - that movie is on my wish list as it is - but I haven't seen it since I was a child. Thanks!
PS - I LOVE I'll Be Here With You - but I think it might be a bit overdone - nevertheless it IS a good suggestion...
and Joey - don't worry - I'm gonna learn that Let Joy and Innocence Prevail someday if it Kills me!LOL... just gotta get it transcribed first.

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Updated On: 4/6/04 at 11:22 AM

JoeyJoe has Man of No Importance - I'll listen to those...one thing I've learned in rehearsals is that there is no way to put a personal spin on John Bucchino's work - its very definite in the way its written - there's not much leeway in interpretation. I love his stuff - but when I've rehearsed it with my musical director - it just didn't seem to work - I love Grateful and This Moment - but can't make them work for me. Often, writers I love just don't work when I try to sing them - which is nothing against their work at all. Just one of those things!

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I'm partial to Meadowlark from The Bakers Wife...
and if you're interested in doing some of your own revisions, the song Patterns from Closer than Ever could fit in to what you are doing by changing the last 2 words, "at all" to "back home".
Changes the whole meaning of the song that way!

DT - thanks for your suggestions. I haven't listened to Closer than Ever for a long while...I'll give it another go! ( I LOVE that show.)

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I'm loving these suggestions - thanks everyone!

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i know it's by your most FAVORITE person, Stephen Schwartz, but i was thinking "By Your Side" from Godspell...

Laurie Beechman's CD "No One Is Alone" is all songs of inspiration, including I Am Changing, If You Believe, Being Alive, and two Menken tunes, Someday and These Are The Good Times.

I was thinking along somewhat similar lines with my internet radio playlist for this month...
Holy, holy Sho-Toonz - My Internet Radio Station

Any more suggestions out there - these have been good so far...
I've tried to find infor on sonofmamamiasam's suggestion of Dreamers from Jean Seberg - but google gave me nothing of a musical nature using either reference...anyone have any ideas?

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Updated On: 4/7/04 at 09:50 AM

Thank you, Menken fan! I really need to pick up a copy of that also - gee my list is growing long - I better start by getting a better job so I can afford to buy all these CDS! (and pay my accompanist and bass player and lighting designer...etc;...)

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Then it's a "must buy!"

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I'm so glad I asked - so many good suggestions, folks!

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