Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Weekly Song Challenge-Week 15

 


I am really loving this new series because I don't feel I have to be an expert, just think of songs that fit the themes for each week. I know I go against the grain, normally, because I often don't pick rock songs but it doesn't matter and I hope some of you have a chance to listen to some of them. Jingle, Jangle, Jungle is the brain child of this weekly event and here are her 3 themes:

A SONG WITH "LADY" IN THE TITLE

A SONG WITH "LOVE" IN THE TITLE

A SONG WITH LUCK OR LUCKY IN THE TITLE

1. FOR MY LADY-THE MOODY BLUES-1972


This exquisite love song is on the Moody Blues album, "Seventh Sojourn", written and sung by Ray Thomas(my favourite of the Moody blues and who sadly passed away in 2018 after years of failing health. He is a troubadour  from the romantic times of years passed and this song is one of the most romantic songs I ever heard. I had this as my first song at my wedding(song prevails, marriage did not). I would love to learn more about this song and like to think he wrote this for his lady love at the time. 

2. YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU SUNG BY JUDY GARLAND IN 1937


This song was written in 1913(My Dad's birth year) by James Monaco and James McCarthy( the lyricist not the nasty senator from the 1950s) and was the hit of its day. Judy Garland sang this to Clark Gable for his birthday at MGM. It was such a hit they had her repeat her performance in the "Broadcast of 1938."  You can hear how youthful, sweet and innocent she sounds before so much took hold of her. 

3. LUCK BE A LADY-SUNG BY MARLON BRANDO-1955


Yes, Marlon Brando, before he went all Godfather on us, ate to many hamburgers and went totally apeshit weird. He ended up as the star in Guys and Dolls a Broadway musical from 1950 starring Robert Alda (Alan Alda's dad). The songs were written by Frank Loesser and it became a huge hit finally culminating in the musical co-starring Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivien Blaine who reprised her role as the hapless girlfriend of Sinatra's from Broadway. I took this version because this is the one I know plus, even though I could find Robert Alda's version on Youtube directly, I could not find it  through blogger...I hate that. I also refuse to showcase Frank Sinatra's version because he is a real snot. He hated to play second fiddle to Brando and made life difficult on the set. When Brando asked for his help in singing, Sinatra refused. Loesser hated Sinatra's singing for this role and found he made the role and the singing of Nathan Detroit too smooth and lacklustre, not like it was supposed to be. 

So what can you think of?

13 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    I have come to join you in this week's song challenge, dear friend!

    Thanks for sharing the touching story about the romantic Moody Blues ballad "For My Lady" used as one of your wedding songs. (Mrs. Shady #1 and I used the prophetic "Hit The Road, Jack, and don'tcha come back no more.") Back to your song pick, "For My Lady" is indeed a wonderful recording with a sweet, sincere, old school style lead vocal.

    WHAT??? "Love" is the second song topic? Didn't we just do that one a couple of weeks ago? I can't think of a single song!!! :) Hey, my dad was also born in 1913 (October). How about that? Yessum, I prefer to watch and listen to Judy Garland in her early career performances before her struggles with substance abuse ruined her looks and wrecked her health. I enjoyed her rendition of "You Made Me Love You" from the Broadcast of 1938.

    Thanks for the interesting backstory about the tension between Brando and Sinatra on the set of the 1955 film Guys And Dolls. "Luck Be A Lady" is a terrific pick for this challenge.

    Now here are my song picks:

    LADY SONG: "The Lady Is A Tramp," introduced by former child star Mitzi Green in the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms. The song was also used in the film version of Pal Joey starring Frank Sinatra. In the movie, Sinatra (the guy you just wanna smack) sings the song to Rita Hayworth. "The Lady Is A Tramp" was also released in 2011 by Tony Bennett as a duet with Lady Gaga.

    BONUS LADY SONG: "She's A Lady," a song penned by Paul Anka and waxed by Tom Jones, a chart-topping 1971 single for the Welsh heartthrob. (I am often mistaken for T.J. at the mall and mobbed by frenzied female fans.)

    LOVE SONG: "Love The One You're With" by Stephen Stills, a single that peaked at #14 on the Billboard pop chart in early 1971.

    LUCK OR LUCKY SONG: "Lucky Ladybug," a song by the vocal duo Billy & Lillie. Their single also hit #14 on the Billboard chart. The record reached its peak of popularity in the early weeks of 1959.

    Thanks, dear friend BB. See you tamale "At The Movies!"

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    1. OMG! I just listened to Lucky Ladybug-so cute and fun. It placed a smile on my face.

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  2. I’m so glad you are enjoying this challenge and have joined in. Yes, it seems love has returned but there are so many songs it is hard to choose just one. I would so want to smack Frank Sinatra as well but I bet there is a long line. I love The Lady is a Tramp and love the rendition by Lena Horne. Tom Jones has one of the most powerful voices that is not operatic and love this song which I totally forgot about. I love Love the One You’re With..it’s such a cool song. Your last choice I don’t know and must go to YouTube to listen to it.

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  3. I absolutely LOVE the Moody Blues, but I have never heard that song before. Yes, I've been told I was born a generation too late, since the songs I love come from the 70s and 80s. It's a lovely song, but new to me.

    I've heard of Luck be a Lady, but I thought Frank Sinatra sang it. Of course, it's not one I would listen to unless I had to.

    You certainly are getting into the spirit of this challenge, dear. I'm loving it, too.

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  4. So, 'Lady be Good', 'It's a Love-ly Day Today' and 'Luck be a Lady'. And I do like 'The Lady is a Tramp', especially 'she don't bother with people she hates'. That's me, lol.

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  5. I like your info/gossip even more than your fabulous picks. Frank Sinatra was that jealous of Marlon Brando huh? What a snot. I love Brando's "Luck be a Lady." So sexy!

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  6. I hate that Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh instantly popped in to my head. If it gives me an ear-worm I shall hold you responsible! Love - where on earth do you start? There must be millions but let’s say I Feel Love, Donna Summer. And I Should be so Lucky with Kylie.

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  7. Marlo Brando singing...never expected that or knew that Sinatra acted like a jerk about it.

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  8. Fun series! The only song I'm familiar w/ is LUCK BE A LADY but Marlon Brando singing it? Now, that I've never seen before!

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  9. Birgit,

    The only song I know is You Made Me Love You but I don't think I've heard Judy Garland covering it until now. Wait...I do recognize Lucky To Be A Lady. I like Marlon's rendition. Frank Sinatra is great vocalists but he always came across as someone not easy to get along with. The camera picks up on a person's character flaws. Sometimes you don't know why you don't like a person but it's there. Great picks!

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  10. Hi sis... hmmmm... what does it say about me when the first song with the word "Lady" in it is Lay, Lady, Lay by Bob Dylan? Next up is I'm Not in Love by 10cc, one of those songs I would have been embarrassed to admit I liked when I was younger. No such issue these days. My final choice is Lucky Man by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer... still a stunning piece of work some 50 years later.

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