I am rather a softie and when life gets tricky,
I hum, or (in my bath) serenade the world with some sentimental songs to
stiffen my resolve and bring a lump to my throat. I am not able to broadcast my
quavering tones live, luckily for you, but I share a list of 10 heart-warmers
sung by pros with a link provided, which I hope you will enjoy. Ensure a packet
of Kleenex is to hand!
(1)
We’ll Meet Again sung by
Vera Lynn (1939)
This song was just one in Vera’s
showband repertoire, then it became her signature tune and gradually as she
rose to be the strong-voiced Forces’ Sweetheart, it morphed into the iconic
British war-time song. A tireless tourer thereafter, Dame Vera is now 103-years
young – well done, old girl!
(2) I’ll
Walk beside You sung by Webster Booth (1938)
Webster Booth, often partnered by
Anne Ziegler, was a very familiar tenor voice from the 1930s to the 1950s in
theatres and on the radio. This affecting love song was much sung by our
parents with its aspirational and uplifting climax.
(3)
We’ll gather Lilacs by Ivor Novello from Perchance to Dream (1945)
sung by
Toby Spence and Sophie Bevan at the Proms (2012)
This song is typical of the immensely popular
works of Ivor Novello, the Welsh-born actor, lyricist and composer whose lush
orchestrations and romantic themes won him a huge audience, particularly among
the ladies. This tune was written for his operetta Perchance to Dream
which ran in London from 1945 to 1949 and followed his earlier 1930s hits King’s
Rhapsody and Glamorous Nights. Written just as WW2 was ending, it
beautifully evokes the pain of separation and the anticipated joys of reunion
while painting a flattering picture of rural England.
(4)
You’ll Never walk Alone by Rodgers and Hammerstein from Carousel (1945)
Performed by André Rieu’s company
in Maastricht (2018)
This wonderful anthem is a show-stopper from
perhaps Rodgers and Hammerstein’s finest musical, Carousel. It is intended to steady the down-hearted
and inspire the lonely. It has famously been adopted as the fans’ anthem at
Liverpool FC., but is cherished everywhere. André Rieu gives it
the full works here. I recall seeing the film with Gordon MacRea and Shirley
Jones in 1957 and this song is sung twice, the reprise taking MacRae back to
heaven on golden steps after his one-day visit to his widow and daughter, the
song taken up by a celestial choir. How we blubbed then and I blub now!
(5) Deep in my Heart, Dear, from The Student Prince, composed
by Sigmund Romberg (1924)
Sung by Edmund Purdom (lip-synching Mario
Lanza) and Ann Blyth (1954)
This very popular love song was
composed by Sigmund Romberg, the Hungary-born American composer whose
Lehar-like operettas were much appreciated. The film version attached was sung
by Mario Lanza, who had a fine set of pipes but whose drunkenly abusive
behaviour on set led to him being summarily sacked. The music had been
pre-recorded and Edmund Purdom did a good job of lip-synching. Lanza,
Philadelphia-born, went on to live in Italy but his career was ended.
(6)
Make Believe, from Showboat by
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein (1927)
Sung by Howard
Keel and Kathryn Grayson from the 1951 film
Showboat was a highly
successful old-style musical, but it dealt with serious racial and tangled relationship
themes too. It contrasted with the Ruritarian romantic operettas hitherto so
easily digested on Broadway and on the West End. The lovely song Make
Believe is here rendered by Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson, two stalwarts
of the 1950s Hollywood musical.
(7)
There’s a Place for Us from West
Side Story by Leonard Bernstein (1956)
Sung by Katherine
McPhee in concert 2007
A lovely song in the electrifying
Bernstein musical, it was not done justice in the 1961 film performed by
Richard Beymar and Natalie Wood. Katherine McPhee sings it well here. The song
speaks eloquently of better times ahead – Somewhere.
(8)
Keep Right on to the End of the Road sung
and composed by Sir Harry Lauder (1916)
Harry Lauder, a well-known Scots
comic entertainer, composed this song in 1916 after his only son was killed on
The Somme. Harry was famed for touring to the soldiers at the front and his
song later became obligatory in his theatre and music hall act. It evoked so
many memories for the WW1 generation and gave comfort and resolution to all
those who were bereaved.
(9)
If You Leave Me Now performed by Chicago
(1977)
Moving on from the scratchy 78
rpm world, Chicago’s tender song sticks in the memory with its famous “OO-OO-HOO
no baby, please don’t go” phrase to brighten matters up! It belongs to a rather
younger era than mine, but it deserves to be classed as a heart-warmer.
(10) Let It Be by The Beatles (1970)
The Beatles were so influential
on my and later generations that this song, in effect their swansong, is still
fresh although it was released 50 years ago. Paul McCartney was the lead
vocalist on this track and the band broke up sadly but inevitably. How much
pleasure they gave and this is their wry Amen to it all.
I hope my readers have derived
some comfort and some inspiration from these very varied 10 songs. Enjoy,
Reflect and Keep Right On!
SMD
13.05.20
Text copyright © Sidney
Donald 2020
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