Love Songs – Day 3
Love comes wrapped in many packages. Here, TCD friends and staffers unveil theirs through thoughtful words and memories about songs and lyrics that have impacted their lives in meaningful ways.
TCD blogger/columnist Judith Ann Moriarty‘s Picks:
Tosca — Maria Callas: Shortly before my excellent friend, photographer and MIAD educator Francis Ford had major heart surgery (as I write, he’s recovering at St. Luke’s), he burned a copy of Tosca, an opera sung in 1953, by his favorite lady, Maria Callas. This, of all love songs, is the ultimate. Francis was at a theater in south Milwaukee, watching a Metropolitan Opera flick, when his heart took a dive. Your friends love you, Francis. Our hearts will beat for yours until you recover.
“Stardust” — Willie Nelson: From his Columbia/Legacy album by the same name, it remains a favorite if only because I fell in love with Hoagy Carmichael’s tune as a teen.
“Georgia On My Mind” — Willie Nelson: From the same album.
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“Three O’Clock in The Morning” — Lou Rawls: This little charmer with waltzing melodies was the inspiration for many early morning (or late-night, if you will) slow dances and smooches with some special ladies that were kind enough to give me the time of day. Channeled through Lou Rawls’ vocal chords, it is a mix of pure romanticism and the hint of a little possible nookie. I still get mooney whenever I listen to it (now with my ever-loving wife).
“What A Difference A Day Makes” — Dinah Washington: Good day or bad day, Dinah Washington reminds me every time I listen to this song that I basically have no control over what comes my way. The song also serves as an anthem for living every day fully because you never know what is coming the next. And, Dinah Washington … come on, does it get any better than that?
“A Day in the Life of A Fool” — Frank Sinatra: This is the song I put on whenever I’m feeling blue. It is so sad, so lonely and so lovely. And somehow, whenever I listen to it in a blue mood, I automatically feel better. The combo of Sinatra and Luiz Bonfa’s heart-wrenching lyrics and melodies is a tonic I will always turn to when life seems too glum.
(Here’s Old Blue Eyes with more!!)
Look for more Power of Three: Love Songs throughout the week on TCD!
Read more!
Love Songs from Day 1
Love Songs from Day 2
Jonathan, I thought I’d heard everything from Sinatra, but had no idea he’d done this great Bonfa tune. By the way, I ran across Black Orpheus on cable a few weeks ago and sat mesmerized in front of it. Bonfa wrote the song for this 1959 film, set in Carnaval in Rio, and AC Jobim did the rest of the music. An amazing movie; take a look.–Tom
Ithak Perlman also did an amazing rendidtion of this song, but I’m partial to Bonfa. After seeing Black Orpheus, this became my “morning song.”
Strini, wait until you hear Sinatra’s version of BAD, BAD LEROY BROWN. Not as stunning as the Bonfa turn, but it is it’s own pleasure treasure. Black Orpheus…thanks to Erin and Strini…it’s on the top of my list now.