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How about an actor who thinks that he can sing?

MacArthur's Park:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iplpKwxFH2I

Nielsen Symphony No.2 - San Francisco Symphony/Blomstedt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfn1S_XXJVs
Nielsen is becoming more widely recognised as one of the great composers and I hope that trend continues. The 2nd symphony is my favorite.

Prokofiev violin concerto no1 - Lisa Batiashvili
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cvsq1IoAOo
Love this concerto. Sweet tone from Batiashvili.


Richard Strauss - Eine Alpensinfonie - Staatskapelle Dresden/Kempe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJYMdiB6fME
R Strauss is a bit of an acquired taste. Someone once said of Wagner's music that "It has some beautiful moments but terrible quarter-hours", well I feel that Strauss has beautiful quarter-hours and terrible moments. I love him though so I forgive his faults of which there are many. The start of this symphony has a terrible three and a half minutes, but it's done deliberatly to represent the murk of night and add contrast to the sunrise which follows. One of my favorite moments in music.

21/50

Opera but no phat lady sings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBqMbefDgys

Taylor Swift song 'August' from Folklore album, played on repeat.

She's one of my top fav artists. I'm a total Swiftie I guess

As with Abba, so I face similar agonies of choice with other artists [:(]

I will look at Blutengel and Arcade Fire next. Same rules apply, I have to assume that only one track from each will make it to the 50.

So for those happy go lucky German songsters there is a choice between Silent Death or Silent Tears.... What the hell, this is impossible. I will put them both in and perhaps have to take one out later.

Absolutely no idea what this is about - as its sung in German, but the English title probably gives a hint, and its fairly safe to say its not about a jolly holiday with Mary.....

No.17 Silent Death (Blutengel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN7WBGqHmSw

This track is just.... Beautiful voice, desperately tragic lyrics, and just a beautiful piece of music with an instrument that comes in at around 2:48 that takes a sad track into another level of darkness... wow

No.18 Silent Tears (Blutengel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugFKARtzByU

The albums these are from is not the one below, I just happen to like it....

Tripping on a hole in you heart by the Stone Temple Pilot

Tripping on a hole in you heart by the Stone Temple Pilot

23...

Toshiko Yonekawa - Cherry Blossoms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK51LblcEOw

24...

Heart of the Dragon Ensemble - Return of the Fishing Boats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQh3cvrMoB4

25...

Anoushka Shankar - Voice of the Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzoO756PvL8

A taste of the east from Japan, China, and India.

Best wishes,
Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZPlJpXSPmg

Welcome back to the Dexter Lake Club. What until Otis sees us.

Shama Lama Ding Dong

26...

Vladimir Horowitz - Sonata in B minor: Domenico Scarlatti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd0TRy41Fxg

27...

Heather Schmidt - Notturno in G major: Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5V2dUy-pok

28...

John Williams - Asturias: Isaac Albeniz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEfFbuT3I6A

Best wishes,
Steve

The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss (1866)

Performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan

2001: A Space Odyssey scene, directed by Stanley Kubbrick in 1968

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAIX3NddcAE

I'm going to take the same approach with Arcade Fire that I took with Blutengel and put in two tracks and will accept that one may be taken out....[:(]

Such an incredible record with so many twists and turns - it's like a twisty, turny thing..... Strong vocals (a bit of French) and David Bowie. Superb.

No.19 Reflektor (Arcade Fire)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E0fVfectDo

The track that got me into this group. Such a brilliant sound. The track is totally brilliant... and then it enters its last minute..... and wow!!

No.20 Ready to Start (Arcade Fire)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stj5Wijk-0s

Well, I am a simple man, so I am not as confused as warspite1...

29...

Arcade Fire - Sprawl II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-G-JXHFiUg

The unique sound of Arcade Fire. Awesomely awesome.

Best wishes,
Steve

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 LPO/Haitink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRH22KRsU0
I have to be in the mood for Shostakovich. It's not exactly music to relax to When I am in the mood I find Haitink's interpretations to be most to my liking.

Schubert Arpeggione Sonata - Harrell/Levine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgR1014gJtQ
Schubert's music is full of sweet melodies and harmonies. I loved this recording from the moment I first heard it 30 years ago and it still sounds fresh to my ears today.

Beethoven Tempest Sonata - Grigory Sokolov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfciSCzKvp4
If asked to name the greatest pianist of our age I would answer Sokolov without hesitation. He has done very few studio recordings and he is extremely fussy about where he goes and what he plays. He can afford to be though because he's in great demand all over the world. Here he is playing the Allegretto from one of my favorite Beethoven sonatas.

Halfway 25/50

30 ...

Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott - Le Cygne: Camille Saint-Saens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qrKjywjo7Q

This is what you listen to as the world ends.

Best wishes,
Steve

Four tracks from the females of the opposite sex now. All very different tracks.

This first is a very powerful track with very strong vocals.

No.21 Set Fire To The Rain (Adele)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2giXO6eyuI

The second is just sooooooo delightful it takes the breath away. Ms Bush's voice is so delicate, so fragile, so damn beautiful its untrue

No.22 This Woman's Work (Kate Bush)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXzx--YefD8

Why is this in my 50? There is no specific reason. It has beaten the test of time and well...... it's just a Cult. Song. It. Just. Works.

No.23 Echo Beach (Martha and the Muffins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNy8ePVkPVk

This wonderfully melancholy song gets into the 50 thanks to the orchestral version. Beautiful.

No.24 Young and Beautiful (Lana Del Ray)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXYqDXAAtK4

...and speaking of Cult. I wouldn't know another Nirvana track if it got up and bit me on the bum. But this? This wonderfully intense, monumentally sad track just hits the right spot. Crank up the volume boys....

No.25 Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg

Did someone say intense? It was a straight choice between this and Stan - but this track gets it by a nose

No.26 Lose Yourself (Eminem)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yhyp-_hX2s

Two more as we edge toward the 30. Boy is this getting tough....

Mick Hucknall's voice is perfect for this intense track that has remained a favourite since the mid-eighties. As with many great tracks its the last minute or so that really moves this good song into the great dept.

No.27 Money's Too Tight (To Mention) (Simply Red)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S8qTwrg3_o

A great mix of sounds gets this track into the 50. I love the drums running through it - the strings going ten to the dozen too, but its the woodwind type sound that appears at around 2:30 that catches the ear - followed by some sort of brass effect at 3:02. Special.

No.28 Run Boy Run (Woodkid)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmc21V-zBq0

Its getting so tough to choose. I need more classical, more 80's, more Irish, more dance, more disco more..... there just aren't enough spaces...

http://www.sixdegreesofradio.com/smooth/