Renditions of Good songs

"Swanee" is an American popular song written in 1919 by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Irving Caesar. It is most often associated with singer Al Jolson. The song was written for a New York City revue called Demi-Tasse, which opened in October 1919 in the Capitol Theater. Caesar and Gershwin, who was then aged 20, claimed to have written the song in about ten minutes riding on a bus in Manhattan, and then at Gershwin's apartment. It was written partly as a parody of Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home". It was originally used as a big production number, with 60 chorus girls dancing with electric lights in their slippers on an otherwise darkened stage

"You Light Up My Life" is a ballad written by Joe Brooks and originally recorded by Kasey Cisyk for the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The song was performed in the film by its lead, Didi Conn, who lip synched Cisyk's version. Pat Boone's daughter, Debby Boone, was recruited to record the single, which became a massive success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record-setting ten consecutive weeks. It easily became the most successful single of the 1970s in the United States and set a new Hot 100 record for longest reign at No.1. (Elvis Presley's double-sided "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog", then recognized as the longest-running No.1 of the Rock Era, spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Best Sellers chart in 1956, before the debut of the Hot 100.) The record was matched in 1982 by Olivia Newton-John's Physical, but never surpassed until a 1991 change in chart methodology allowed songs to achieve longer reigns at No.1 ("End of the Road" by Boyz II Men set the new record, 13 weeks). The single, which was certified platinum by the RIAA, also hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and even reached #4 on the Country chart. Although written by Brooks as a love song, the devout Boone interpreted the song as inspirational and proclaimed that it was instead God who "lit up her life."

"Tea for Two" is a song from the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette with music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Irving Caesar. It is a duet sung by Nanette and Tom in Act II as they imagine their future.

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan for the soundtrack of the 1973 film Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In 2004, representatives of the music industry and the press voted this song #190 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

True Blue is an Australian folk song written in 1981 by singer-songwriter John Williamson. The lyrical content in the song utilises Australian slang heavily, with the title being an example of this, meaning totally Australian. (The phrase itself may have originated in England where it was used to describe the blue shown by members of the Order of the Garter, but only survived in common usage in Australia.)

"Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. Although it has been described as a protest song, it poses a series of questions about peace, war, and freedom. The refrain "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind" has been described as "impenetrably ambiguous: either the answer is so obvious it is right in your face, or the answer is as intangible as the wind"

"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is the best-known song from the 1978 musical Evita with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Sung by the title character Eva Peron, it was titled "It's Only Your Lover Returning" before Rice settled on the eventual name. It appears early in the second act as Evita addresses the crowd from the balcony of the Casa Rosada and features a sweeping melody tied to broad emotional themes of regret and defiance, characteristic of Lloyd Webber's most popular songs.

"Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, which was released on his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The Byrds also recorded a version of the song that was released as their first single on Columbia Records, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart, as well as being the title track of their first album, Mr. Tambourine Man. The Byrds' recording of the song was influential in initiating the musical subgenre of folk rock, leading many contemporary bands to mimic its fusion of jangly guitars and intellectual lyrics in the wake of the single's success.

"Hello" is a song by Lionel Richie. Taken as the third single from Richie's multi-platinum album Can't Slow Down, the song was released in 1984 and reached number one on three Billboard music charts: the pop chart (for two weeks), the R&B chart (for three weeks), and the adult contemporary chart (for six weeks). The song also went to number one on the UK Singles Chart. It is considered by some to be Richie's signature song. The song is particularly memorable for the line "Hello, is it me you're looking for?". In an interview broadcast in the UK on Channel 4's Top 100 Number One Hits, Richie said he had been thanked by a large number of normally tongue-tied men who had proposed marriage after a slow dance to the song.

"Feeling Good" (aka Feelin' Good) is a song written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd and has since been recorded by many artists, including Nina Simone, Muse, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Darin, Traffic, Michael Bublé, The Pussycat Dolls, George Michael, John Barrowman, John Coltrane, Toše Proeski, Adam Lambert, Joe Bonamassa, Frank Sinatra Jr and most recently by Jennifer Hudson for a Weight Watchers campaign.

"When Will I Be Loved" is a popular song, written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers and a #8 hit single for that duo in the summer of 1960. The track had been recorded in 1959 while the Everly Brothers were contracted to Cadence Records; by 1960 they had moved to Warner Brothers and recording in a more mainstream Pop/Rock style than previously. The belated release by Cadence of "When Will I Be Loved" provided the Everly Brothers with a final rockabilly style hit

The fact that I cannot sing does not mean I will not. Music by Patrick Poulou Lyrics and vocals by David Daniel Ball Images include Video Blocks sourced images http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/one-step-forward-and-another-one-back.html Oh father, do you love me? Father, do you need me? Father, can you hear me? I'll walk to you One step forward and another one back Oh lord how many steps will I take this way? How many steps will I have to stay? Walking here and walking there Praying this and wanting that Give me hope, a straight path and your favor You give grace and in the eyes of your people I see love Don't close your eyes good people Give me a straight path and your favor Praying this and wanting that Walking here and walking there How many steps will I have to stay? Oh Lord, how many steps will I take this way? One step forward and another one back === I was raised as an Atheist. I learned, after reading the Bible, that God loves me, and you. This is his song for you too. He loves you, and wants to be with you. All the elements are me and mine. ARIA ISRC number AUAWN1208118

1961 single by Shelby Flint Shelby Flint (born September 17, 1939, North Hollywood, California) is a singer who had two top-100 hits, "Angel on My Shoulder" in 1961 and "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" in 1966.

Because I love her. The song is devotional for God. === The Hillsong United band is an Australian band that originated as a part of Hillsong Church. The band tours the world, performing at the various Hillsong church locations as well as general concert venues. They compose the songs for their own performances and for the other Hillsong Church worship teams that perform at weekly services. Subsidiary bands perform monthly in London and at summer camps sponsored by Hillsong. === I was raised as an Atheist. I learned, after reading the Bible, that God loves me, and you. This is his song for you too. He loves you, and wants to be with you. All the elements are me and mine. ARIA ISRC number AUAWN1304222

4 her I love her. I have not yet learned how to serve her, to be her friend, as I desire to be. But I'm learning, praying, searching. Maybe it isn't what God wants for me. But He has given me this image. The song is a Jud Strunk number, written in 1973. It is my singing, acoustics and recording. Not professional, but sincere. The moving images are licensed through Videoblocks.com. The recording issues are related to my lack of talent and lack of carpet in the concrete shell that is my unit after the sewage leak. === I was raised as an Atheist. I learned, after reading the Bible, that God loves me, and you. This is his song for you too. He loves you, and wants to be with you. All the elements are me and mine. ARIA ISRC number AUAWN1310123

This video is for faith, love and loss. "Danny Boy" is a ballad written by English songwriter Frederic Weatherly and usually set to the Irish tune of the "Londonderry Air" I recently lost everything I have ever owned. It is a challenge. But I want to serve God, not be served by him. === The video has images licensed from Videoblocks as well as sundry personal ones. === I was raised as an Atheist. I learned, after reading the Bible, that God loves me, and you. This is his song for you too. He loves you, and wants to be with you. All the elements are me and mine. ARIA ISRC number AUAWN1311111

A lovely man whose legacy will be a joy for many millions for a long time to come "Words" is the title of a song by the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. Barry said in 1996 on the VH1 Storytellers television show that it was written for their manager Robert Stigwood. Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE (22 December 1949 -- 20 May 2012) was a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice and older brother Barry. He had another younger brother, Andy Gibb, who was also a very popular solo singer. Born in the Isle of Man to English parents, the family later moved to Manchester before settling in Brisbane, Australia. Gibb began his career as part of the family trio and when the group found their first success they returned to the United Kingdom where they achieved worldwide fame. In 2004, the Bee Gees received their CBEs from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace for their "contribution to music". With record sales estimated in excess of 200 million units, the Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time. After a career spanning six decades, Gibb last performed on stage in February 2012 supporting injured British servicemen and women at a charity concert at the London Palladium. On 20 May 2012, Gibb died after a lengthy battle with colorectal cancer.

Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins; January 25, 1938 -- January 20, 2012) was an American singer whose style spanned a variety of music genres including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz. http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com/2012/01/at-last-etta-james-tribute.html

I still like this number. I can't do multiple voices .. but I try .. sympathetically. It doesn't really work, but it isn't a complete failure either. The backdrops montage is meant to be humorous and poignant. Use of Videoblocks plus images sourced from Google image using words like "Les Miserables", "Miserable" or "Sad" Les Misérables ( /leɪ ˈmɪzərɑːb/ or /leɪ ˌmɪzəˈrɑːb/; French pronunciation: [le mizeˈʁablə]), colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz /leɪ ˈmɪz/, is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/les-miserables-finale.html

"L-O-V-E" is a jazz song written by Bert Kaempfert and Milt Gabler for American singer-pianist Nat King Cole's 1965 album L-O-V-E (the last album released before Cole's death on February 15, 1965). The song had already been an instrumental track on Kaempfert's Blue Midnight album in 1964. Nat King Cole also recorded L-O-V-E in Italian, French, German and Japanese. I wanted to make a love offering for Valentine's Day. This seems a goody http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/love-nat-king-cole.html

From the music and lyrics of Frederick Martin Lehman, 1919. This is a tribute to Jimmy Little. The song was his most popular. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/o/royaltel.htm http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/jimmy_little_now_on_the_other_end_of_his_phone/

"Funny Face' is a 1972 single written and recorded by Donna Fargo. "Funny Face" was Fargo's follow-up release on the country chart after "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA". Like its predecesor, "Funny Face" hit number one on the country chart and was a Gold Record. "Funny Face" remained at number one for three weeks and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the chart. "Funny Face" would also cross over to the pop chart, peaking at number five. === I remembered the song being Monkey Face, and I searched for it recently. So I thought I would record it as I remembered it, rather than as it was. A former student had a monkey face as a FB profile pic, but I was inspired to do this by a young woman who rejected me and blocked me from FB. I have to respect her wishes. I can and do petition God on the matter. He has said no too. But my heart is hedging, saying the no God is telling me is 'not now' and possibly not 'not ever.' Whenever I see her she is in the centre of my field of vision, and when I see her friends I look to see if she is nearby. And I know it isn't really possible. But if God says yes, anything is possible. http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com/2011/10/monkey-face.html

"Beyond the Sea" is a 1946 contemporary pop song with music taken from the song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet and lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Trenet had composed "La Mer" (which means "The Sea") with French lyrics totally different and unrelated to the English language version that Lawrence composed. Trenet's French version was an homage and ode to the changing moods of the sea, while Lawrence, by just adding one word "Beyond" to the title, gave him the start whereby he made the song into one of a lover pining for a lost love. It has been recorded by many artists, including Benny Goodman, Mantovani, Roger Williams and Gisele MacKenzie, but Bobby Darin's version released in 1959 is the best known by many, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song reached the top 40 twice prior to the Darin version (Goodman-1948, Williams-1955). http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com/2011/11/la-mere-somewhere-beyond-sea.html

"People Get Ready" was a 1965 single by The Impressions, and the title track from the album of the same name. The single is today the group's best-known hit, reaching number-three on the Billboard R&B Chart and number 14 on the Billboard Pop Chart. The gospel-influenced track was a Curtis Mayfield composition, and displayed the growing sense of social and political awareness in his writing. http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com/2011/11/people-get-ready.html

The fact I cannot sing, does not mean I will not "Both Sides, Now" is a single by Joni Mitchell. Her recording first appeared on the album Clouds, released in 1969. She re-recorded the song in a jazz style for the album of the same name, released in 2000. http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com/2011/12/both-sides-now.html