Category Archives: Turning 50

WEEK 05 – 25 JULY to 31 JULY 2014

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29 FRIDAY 25 JULY 2014

El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés – Rubén Blades – Top 10 Contender

029 The Cali Sessions

Although I grew up in Latin America, you may have noticed that my music taste gravitates towards Broadway musicals primarily. There are only a handful of songs in Spanish in my iTunes library, so if you see one of them on the list, you’ll know that it must be a song close to my heart. Such is the case of this beautiful gem from Panamanian Rubén Blades.

El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés (Father Antonio And His Altar Boy Andrés) is a ballad/salsa inspired by the assassination of El Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero in 1980. It tells the story of Father Antonio Tejeira, a Catholic priest from Spain and his altar boy Andrés Eloy Pérez.

Father Antonio is a pacifist; he condemns violence, and in every sermon, he talks about love and justice. Andrés is a ten-year-old who loves swimming in the river, playing soccer and day-dreaming. One Sunday mass, during communion, an assassin enters the Church and opens fire right in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer. Father Antonio falls to the ground not knowing what is happening; a host is still in his hand. Andrés passes away next to him. On the wall, the wooden Christ on the crucifix dies again.

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COMING UP – WEEK 05 PREVIEW

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Week 05

These are the songs I picked between 25 July and 31 July 2014. I’ll talk about them in my next instalment.

El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés * – Rubén Blades

It’s A Lovely Day Today – Galina Talva, Russell Nype and The Chorus

Adios Hermanos – Marc Anthony, Michelle Rios, Natascia Diaz, Nestor Sanchez, Renoly Santiago, Rubén Blades & Sophia Salguero – … We came out during intermission saying, “Now, this isn’t so bad. Why people hate it?” The girl who sold us the show window card agreed with us. But then we went in to see Act II; it wasn’t so good; actually it was very bad.

Almost Like Being In Love * – Frank Sinatra – … In a perfect manner, the song captures the state of elation and happiness that now and then we experience for no particular reason. 

Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart – Judy Garland

Don’t Rain On My Parade – Judy Garland & Liza Minnelli – … Judy reportedly turned to her companion and said: “Fuck Liza, we’ll make money with this one,” or something along those lines.

Agnus Dei * – Dale Warland Singers

* Top 10 Contender

WEEK 04 – 18 JULY to 24 JULY 2014

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22 FRIDAY 18 JULY 2014

Act II: The Game – Richard Kind, Howard McGillin, Michele Pawk, Herndon Lackey

022 Bounce

First Sondheim appearance on the list and you may wonder why I’ve chosen a song from this 2003 unsuccessful musical. Let me remind you that I’ve arranged the records by alphabetical order, so that was the first Sondheim record in my iTunes Library. But rest assure there’ll be many Sondheim songs on the list.

Originally titled “Wise Men,” the musical tells the story of Addison and Wilson Mizner, a couple of brothers whose accomplishments include the urban development of Boca Raton in Florida. It was eventually revised and retitled Road Show, but more on that when we get to the letter “R.”

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COMING UP – WEEK 04 PREVIEW

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Week 04

These are the songs I picked between 18 July and 24 July 2014. I’ll talk about them on my next instalment.

Act II: The Game – Richard Kind, Howard McGillin, Michele Pawk, Herndon Lackey

Putting It Together – Barbra Streisand – … As much as I had finally fallen in love with Psychology, I knew I had to find a more creative and if you will, artistic profession.

Just In Time * – Sydney Chaplin, Judy Holiday – … So, hot summer of 1991 and a story about bunch of El Salvadoran immigrants trying to adapt to America, how do they both fit in with Just in Time? 

Treat Me Rough – Mickey Rooney

What Kind Of Fool Am I? – Anthony Newley

Dames – Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte, Ann Morrison, Guy Stroman – … Many people are of the opinion; myself included, that hadn’t it been for Busby Berkeley the movie musical genre may not have even existed as we know it.

Lullaby of Broadway – Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte, Ann Morrison, Guy Stroman

* Top 10 Contender

WEEK 03 – 11 JULY TO 17 JULY 2014

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15 FRIDAY 11 JULY 2014

Cuban Pete – Desi Arnaz

015 The Best Of Desi Arnaz The Mambo King

I know you must be wondering why this one moved to the list so soon after only being on the runners up list for a few days. Well, it’s not the same version. Desi Arnaz recorded this one in 1946. The one on the runners-up list is the version Desi recorded with Lucille Ball for their 1950s mega-hit “I Love Lucy.”

Introduced by Desi himself in 1946 in the movie of the same name, Cuban Pete, along with Babalu, is closely associated with of Desi Arnaz’s act.

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COMING UP NEXT – WEEK 03 PREVIEW

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WEEK 03

These are the songs I picked between 12 July and 19 JULY, 2014. I’ll talk about them on my next instalment.

Cuban Pete – Desi Arnaz

That Old Black Magic – Frank Sinatra – … I had a very hard time listening to Frank Sinatra today, so hard that for a moment, I wondered if Sinatra might have been a tad over-rated.

You Do Something To Me – Frank Sinatra – … Anyway, it was while hearing You Do Something To Me that I came up with my first story. You see, for years I’ve used music as an inspiration to write short stories, scripts, and novels. 

I Could Write A Book – Frank Sinatra

Bye Bye Blackbird * – Rod Stewart

(The) Japanese Sandman – Vince Giordano And The Nighthawks

Cut, Print… Moving On – Katharine McPhee – … The excitement of the unknown convinces us that the next best thing is just around the corner for sure. Just let go of the past and move on.

* Top 10 Contender

WEEK 02 – 4 JULY TO 10 JULY 2014

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08 FRIDAY 4 JULY 2014

I Got The Sun In The Morning – Ethel Merman

008 Annie Get Your Gun (Original Cast Recording) [1988 Remaster]

People! Turn down the volume on your iPods; Ethel Merman has arrived at the list. Oh! Don’t act surprised, you knew La Merman would be on the list, how could she not? Yes, there’ll be more belters joining her.
For almost 25 years I Got The Sun In The Morning has been one of my all-time favourites. It is kind of poetic that it comes on the list on the 4th of July. You see, that is the day I left Venezuela in 1990, exactly a week after my 25th birthday.
At the end of the summer, I arrived in Washington, D.C. I had been accepted in the Film and Video Master’s program at AU (American University.)

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COMING UP – WEEK 02 PREVIEW

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WEEK 02

These are the songs I picked between 4 July and 11 July 2014. I’ll talk about them on my next instalment.

I Got The Sun In The Morning – Ethel Merman

Anything Goes – Sutton Foster – … However, this version made it to the list because of Sutton Foster, the woman can do no wrong.

Varsity Drag Mambo – Cesar Concepción

The Glory Of Love – Jimmy Durante – … The year was 1993, and after graduating the year before and landing a good job at a big organization as a photographer and videographer, I was ready to move on with my life. 

That’s Entertainment – Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant

Be Our Guest – Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach – … Although it would eventually make it to the stage, Beauty and Beast was described at the time as the best Broadway show not playing on the great white way.

There Will Never Ever Be Another You – Chet Baker

WEEK 01 – 27 JUNE TO 3 JULY 2014

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These are the songs I picked on my first week, between 27 June and 3 July 2014.

01 FRIDAY 27 JUNE 2014

The Spirit of Adventure – Craig Copeland

I was introduced to this song when I saw the movie “Up” in 2009, and I instantly liked it. Actually, the entire soundtrack of this movie is a masterpiece. Effortless, yet multi-layered, this Academy Award-winning score by Michael Giacchino no doubt will be regarded in the future as one of the greatest scores of this early century.

When I chose this song, I hadn’t created any of the playlists yet. I picked it that day at the gym after I read the “Packing for a Long Trip” chapter on Jane Pauley’s book. I decided to include it perhaps with the idea of what the year ahead had in store for me or how special I would make the next 12 months. There may not be any big adventures, but no doubt that the catchy and inviting syncopation of the melody made me believe at that moment of a great year full of possibilities.

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COMING UP – WEEK 01 PREVIEW

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WEEK 01

These are the songs I picked between 27 June and 3 July 2014. I’ll talk about them on my first instalment.

The Spirit of Adventure – Craig Copeland

Proud of Your Boy – Adam Jacobs – … On that day, 28 June, Proud of Your Boy took me back to the days when I was a kid, and either my mother or father tucked me in bed every night.

Long Ago And Far Away – Helen Forrest, Dick Haymes – … The idea that there is one particular person predestined for you; or someone you can dream of, and who will be easy to recognise when you meet them, gave me hope.

The Way You Look Tonight – Teddi King

Maybe – Alicia Morton –  … However, my friend couldn’t come up with new music for my lyrics, so I had to use the Maybe melody with my newly minted lyrics.

Coney Island – Amanda Balon, Gary Beach, Harve Presnell, Kathie Lee Gifford, Shelly Burch

Who Do You Love, I Hope – Andrew Palermo, Nicole Ruth Snelson