Mother Glasgow
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Mother Glasgow

And the tree, and the fish, and the bird, and the bell…

I decided to play this Michael Marra song today when I heard that some friends were going to be involved in a new recording of the song to raise funds for those affected by the George Square bin lorry tragedy. There’s more information about this here and the new recording featuring Tom Urie and the Glasgow Philharmonia Orchestra will be available in February. The first time I heard the song was on the Hue and Cry Bitter Suite album. Here’s a video of Hue and Cry performing the song in 1990. I hope you enjoy my version of Mother Glasgow.

If it’s your first time here, you can find out more about the 365 Songs project here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/mother-glasgow

Everywhere
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Everywhere

Today’s piece is the 1987 Fleetwood Mac song Everywhere. It reached #4 on the UK chart in February 1987 and then it was released again in 2013 and peaked at #13 after featuring in an advert for mobile phone company 3. And today’s random fact is that S Club 7 sampled the backing track for their song Summertime Feeling from the album Sunshine!

If it’s your first time here, you can find out more about the 365 Songs project here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/everywhere

Re: Stacks
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Re: Stacks

This Bon Iver song was first introduced to me by a friend and ever since I heard the haunting falsetto vocal and the repetitive suspended chords I knew I would always love the song. The lyrics are complex and in the words of the composer “deliberately and appropriately oblique”, but musically I think this is genius. Have a look at the original performed live in Paris if you’re interested.

If it’s your first time here, you can find out more about the 365 Songs project here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/re-stacks

Honey, Honey
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Honey, Honey

Today’s song is one of the few Abba songs which I didn’t play in my 2010 challenge! It dates from 1974 and was the second single from their second studio album, and the first track to be released after the success of Waterloo winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.

If it’s your first time here, you can find out more about the 365 Songs project here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/honey-honey

I Won’t Give Up
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I Won’t Give Up

This Jason Mraz song is another great track which has been released since my 2010 challenge. It was released as the first single from the 2012 album Love is a Four Letter Word. Talking in Billboard about the song, he said:

“For me, the true meaning exists in the bridge saying ‘I don’t want to be someone who walks away so easily, I’m here to stay and make a difference.’ That is for all of us. We all have something that we’re fighting for or that we’re striving for. Whether we want to coach our soccer team to victory or lose five pounds in a month, whatever it is, there’s nothing too small worth fighting for and there’s nothing too big worth going after.”

Wise words. I hope you enjoy this song. If it’s your first time here, you can find out more about the 365 Songs project here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/i-wont-give-up

Cheek to Cheek
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Cheek to Cheek

Something a bit jazzy today: Cheek to Cheek from the 1935 film Top Hat. In the film it’s performed by Fred Astaire as he dances with Ginger Rodgers. This song was nominated for a Best Song Oscar in 1936, but it lost out to Lullaby of Broadway. Mental note – I need to add that one in to my list at some point!

Thanks to everyone for your comments on Facebook. Please feel free to comment here on the blog! If it’s your first time here, find out more about the 365 Songs project.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/cheek-to-cheek

Sous le Ciel de Paris
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Sous le Ciel de Paris

Following yesterday’s attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, I changed what I was planning to play and thought this would be more suitable. It was written for the 1951 film of the same name which showed various intertwining events in the daily lives of Parisians. The song was later recorded by Édith Piaf. I’ve always loved way the song goes from minor to major and back to minor again. It seems to be particularly appropriate today. This piece is dedicated to all those affected by the atrocity #jesuischarlie

First time here? Find out more about the 365 Songs project.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/sous-le-ciel-de-paris

Theme from The Flintstones (as a piano ballad!)
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Theme from The Flintstones (as a piano ballad!)

Something a bit daft today – the Theme from the Flintstones as a piano ballad! This isn’t quite as crazy as it may seem: the theme was actually based on the second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.17. If you’re curious, have a listen here: open.spotify.com/track/1LLrztm0J5iEFp6brpVRMo

First time here? Find out more about the 365 Songs project.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/theme-from-the-flintstones

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