Songs of Inspiration...

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:40am

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!!!

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

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:44am

"The Age of Not Believing" -- BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS. Modulate up a 1/2 step at the final verse.

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:46am

"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

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:04am

"I'll be Here With You" from Laurie Beechman's LISTEN TO MY HEART

"If We Only Have Love" from JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL Updated On: 4/6/04 at 11:04 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:22am

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.

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

[orion59]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:43am

Hear My Song from Songs For A New World
Love Who You Love or Welcome To the World from A Man Of No Importance

Grateful by John Bucchino or any number of songs written by him.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:47am

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!

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:49am

(um, redhot, "joeyjoe" is all small letters) LOL!!!

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:53am

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!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:54am

"joeyjoe" you're telling me this NOW, after being together almost 9 months?????LOL! O'tay, Panky!

Updated On: 4/6/04 at 11:54 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 12:02pm

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.)

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 12:09pm

I love "Dreamers" from "Jean Seberg".

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 12:21pm

I'm loving these suggestions - thanks everyone!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 3:56pm

Any more ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 8:20am

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

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 8:57am

nope - that show is too churchy for what I plan on doing. and we all know how I feel about his music...but it was a worthy suggestion!

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 9:08am

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

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 9:38am

I worked on Someday - but it is just too "pop" for my voice...though I do like his style. I may have to get that Beechman CD to give it a listen. THANKS!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 9:50am

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?

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

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 10:06am

Dreamers is on John Barrowman's CD "Reflections from Broadway"

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 10:14am

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;...)

Posted: 4/7/04 at 11:23am

Laurie Beechman does the Brel number I mentioned above on that same CD menken recommends.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 11:41am

Then it's a "must buy!"

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 1:27pm

No One Is Alone~INTO THE WOODS
Hear My Song~SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
The Impossible Dream~MAN OF LA MANCHA
Seize the Day!~NEWSIES Updated On: 4/30/04 at 01:27 PM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 2:10pm

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