Theme from Home And Away
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Theme from Home And Away

After the past few days’ focus on Neighbours-themed songs, and a request from a friend who will rename unidentified, here’s the theme from the Australian soap Home And Away, to balance things up a bit! The theme song was written by Mike Perjanik and over the years seven different versions have been used, gradually getting shorter with verses and choruses cut to fit time restrictions. The original version of the sung was sung by Karen Boddington and Mark Williams and was released as a single in the UK in 1989, peaking at #74 on the UK Singles Chart.

There are more TV themes here, and if it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/home-and-away

Suddenly
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Suddenly

On logging on to Facebook this morning I was surprised to see that 25 years ago today at 5:30pm most people my age were watching Charlene and Scott’s wedding on Neighbours. The only song I could possibly play today therefore was Angry Anderson’s Suddenly, which shot (almost) to the top of the charts as a result of being featured as the wedding song in this episode of the soap opera. And which song kept Suddenly off the top spot? Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan’s Especially For You, coming soon to 365Songs…

If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/suddenly-1

Half The World Away
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Half The World Away

Today’s song is Half The World Away. This song was originally by Oasis, but it has been in the forefront of my mind over the past few days since a cover by Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora was featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert, released on Friday. The original version was used as the theme tune to The Royle Family. 

Noel Gallagher admitted that the tune of Half The World Away was “adapted” from Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s This Guy’s In Love With You, even commenting “I’m surprised he hasn’t sued me yet”! There seems to be no hard feelings: Gallagher sang This Guy’s In Love With You live in 1996 at a Burt Bacharach concert, accompanied by Bacharach himself on the piano!

I hope you like my version which, admittedly, is much more Aurora than Oasis! If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/half-a-world-away

 

Evening Hymn and Last Post
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Evening Hymn and Last Post

Today is Remembrance Sunday and I thought it would be appropriate to play this piece which combines the hymn tune St Clement or This Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended and The Last Post. Unfortunately I didn’t have a good trumpet/bugle sound to use for The Last Post, but I think the Oboe works quite well.

If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/evening-hymn-and-last-post

Pity The Child
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Pity The Child

Here’s another song from the musical Chess today: Pity The Child. This is the song performed by Freddie Trumper, the American Chess champion, as he reflects on his difficult childhood and the lack of support from his parents.

There are more songs from Chess here, and if it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/pity-the-child

Where I Want To Be
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Where I Want To Be

I’m playing another song from the musical Chess today: this time it’s Anatoly’s solo Where I Want To Be. I hope you enjoy this piece.

There are more songs from Chess here, and if it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/where-i-want-to-be

Mountain Duet
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Mountain Duet

This evening I’m off to see a local production of the musical Chess so I’m playing Mountain Duet from the musical today. This is the moment when Anatoly and Florence first realise they have feelings for each other, before they are interrupted by the return of Freddie who has been discussing terms with the media.

There are more songs from Chess here, and if it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/mountain-duet

Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly
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Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly

Today’s tune is the beautiful Humming Chorus from the Puccini opera Madame Butterfly. We were recording Coffee Break Italian yesterday and talking about Opera in our “caffè culturale” segment and this got me thinking about some of the beautiful music from Italian opera, so I decided to play this piece today.

It’s used as an entr’acte between Acts II and III of the opera. Pinkerton’s ship has been sighted. Butterfly, his Japanese wife, has waited three years for his return. She puts on her bridal gown and keeps vigil through the night. The haunting voices offstage hum this song in the the stillness. I hope you enjoy this one!

For more of my piano versions of operatic music, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/humming-chorus-from-madam

Fix You
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Fix You

Today’s song is Coldplay’s Fix You from 2005. This beautiful song became a tribute to the victims of the 2005 London bombings, and was also performed by the band at the memorial service for Steve Jobs. I’ve loved the song for many years, particularly the chorus, and I hope my performance does it justice.

There’s more Coldplay here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/fix-you

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