Blog posts

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  Dec 05, 10:45 PM

  The Fun's Begun

  

  This song is one of those holiday songs that is always in my head, one of those I sing lustily and make up half the words because, really, who knows the words to this song?

  
  

  Well, me, actually, as of yesterday. Hooray!

  
  

  And I also found out that the song (written by Leon Jessel) is from a Betty Boop short that costars King Kong. Making this an obvious choice for the second in my holiday song sketch series.

  
  

  If you want a copy, just let me know in a comment (please make sure you leave your email if it's your first time asking). I'll email it and you can share it with everybody!
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  Nov 29, 09:33 AM

  Been an Angel All Year...

  

  The Thanksgiving turkey is being made into turkey sandwiches, every store has new shopping bags in red and/or green, eggnog is a viable milk alternative at Starbucks which means... it's officially time when I can post up holiday songs!
  

  
  

  I thought I'd kick off my seasonal song sketch series with this song I recorded with producer Dan Garcia in L.A. in Christmas 2004 - before I was even born! Well, maybe a bit after I was born but still a while ago.
  

  
  

  Hope your holiday season is beginning well! If you want a copy of this song, just leave a comment and I'll email it out.

  
  

  P.S. The sable I asked for was faux.
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  Nov 21, 11:12 PM

  Two Drifters Off to See the World

  

  It's that little dreamy time in between fall and winter, before the holidays and after the summer, that it seems the perfect time to post one of my special requests and one of the sweetest, dreamiest songs of all time.
  

  
  

  I absolutely love Henry Mancini (and of course the lyricist, Johnny Mercer). He writes the most effortlessly cool songs (Pink Panther!) but then can turn out a melody as unassuming and beautiful as this one. And I always listen to Audrey Hepburn's angelic rendition whenever I need inspiration. So I loved getting the chance to record it.
  

  
  

  As always, if you want a copy of the song, just leave a comment along with your email (unless you've asked for a copy of a song before - then I'll already have your email so just a comment is fine) and I'll send it right over.
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  Nov 15, 08:14 AM

  What Is the Name of that Song?

  

  As any of you who used the Google homepage this past week are aware of, it was just Sesame Street's 40th birthday. Anything that so beautifully coordinates music, multiculturalism and furry monsters deserves all the celebration it receives.

  
  

  If you want a copy of this song to share with you and any other monsters on your mailing list, just let me know in a comment on my blog (that includes your email!).
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  Oct 31, 10:52 PM

  More Night... Less Day

  

   

  For me, the day the time change happens and the night gets longer is officially the beginning of winter. So, to herald the advent of Emma-considers-it-winter-now-day/end of Daylight Savings, I covered the gorgeous Cole Porter song, Night and Day.

  
  

  This is one of the most intricately crafted songs of all time, Bach's fugues included. The chord changes, the melody and the lyrics combine to make an unsettling but ultimately satisfying symphony. I love it.

  
  

  Remember, if you want a copy of the song for yourself and your friends, just let me know in a comment on my blog. Please leave either your email or make sure your name is linked to an email so I can know where to send it!
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  Oct 24, 11:02 PM

  It's Witchcraft

  

   

  Odd thing... I went to record my song this time but when I sat down at my piano, I saw that it was covered with tiny, sooty footprints!  I thought that was awfully strange but it was stranger yet when I opened up the file on the computer and saw that the entire piano part was already recorded.  Spooooky... So I guess someone or something wants me to do this song for Halloween!  
  

  I think my cat saw who did it but she's not telling...
  

  
  

  
  

  Remember, if you want a copy of the song, just email me or leave a comment.  I'm sure my mysterious partner won't mind sharing...
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  Oct 17, 10:41 PM

  The Simple Secret of the Plot...

  

   

  As I'm sure you all know from my Wikipedia article (What? I don't have a Wikipedia article? Someone needs to get on that!), this is my birthday weekend! So in honor of the person who did the most work on my birthday, ahem, I covered my mother's favorite song. It is also the request of one of my song sketch devotees - feeding two birds with one peanut butter pine cone!
  

  
  

  I hadn't really heard much of this sweet Rodgers and Hart song except Harry Connick, Jr.'s big band version in the soundtrack of When Harry Met Sally. It seemed perfectly suited to be a jazz waltz with its romantic lyrics and lilting melody.

  
  

  Please leave a comment and if you want a copy for yourself and your friends, just mention it in your comment (along with your email) or email me and I'll be happy to send it out to you.
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  Oct 11, 08:20 AM

  Have You Anything to Say to Me

  

  It doesn't feel like Fall at all here and were there not Halloween decorations everywhere and the grocery stores filled with pumpkins and cinnamon brooms, I should doubt we were even out of July. However, I am the one who chose to live in Orlando so it's hardly sensible that I complain. Therefore I decided to enjoy the extended summer we seem to have been given here in Florida, and sing a song that makes me think of summer (although it never actually mentions it).

  The song was written by Hoagy Carmichael, who Brian Solomon (intrepid blogger I interviewed on Thursday) mentioned does not get his proper due as a songwriter. I myself tend to gush about Porter, Gershwin, Berlin and Kern before Mr. Carmichael. Properly chastened, I thought I would cover one of his beautiful melodies. The words are also gorgeous, written by the magnificent Johnny Mercer.

  
  

  If you want a copy for yourself, be sure to email me or leave a comment. I really, really love comments, so don't be shy!
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  Oct 04, 08:38 AM

  Happy Birthday, dear Julie

  

  One of my favorite actresses/singers/performers* is the divine Ms. Andrews.  As her birthday was on October first, I wanted to honor her by singing one of her songs.  As she has sung some of the best songs ever, it was difficult to choose.  So I narrowed it down to the song with the most yodeling and mentions of beer, goats and coats.  Now, I have no yodeling experience at all but if you sing along while listening, you won't be able to tell...

  
  

  If you want a free mp3 for yourself, just leave a comment with your email address or email me and I'll be happy to send it out!
  

  
  

  
  

  *Actually also quite an accomplished author as well.

   
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  Sep 27, 08:50 AM

  Let's... Misbehave

  

  This week, my blog song is the result of a request by a faithful reader/listener (who has a fun and quirky blog of her own, for all you classic film lovers).  The song was, once again, a Cole Porter song (can anyone write cleverer lyrics than he?  I think not) and quite possibly the only standard I can think of that has the word "camels" in it.  
  

  
  

  Once again, let me know if you would like a copy of this song for your own personal, non-stop enjoyment by either emailing or commenting.