1987

Fragile
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Fragile

Song 37:365 is my version of Fragile by Sting, dating from (my favourite musical year) 1987. I remember hearing this first in the Portuguese version on the EP Nada Como El Sol, and then discovering the English version. Fragile is a tribute to an American civil engineer who was killed by the Contras while working on a hydroelectric project in Nicaragua. It was also poignantly used to open Sting’s concert at the Bataclan in Paris when it reopened one year after the 2015 terror attacks.

I hope you enjoy my piano version. There’s more Sting here, and if it’s your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m trying to record a piano tune every day here.

From a Distance
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From a Distance

Song 18:365 is From a Distance, made popular by Nashville singer Nanci Griffith in the year I claim is the best year in history for music, 1987 – just click on my 1987 songs to see what I mean! It was later covered by Bette Midler and Cliff Richard, but I think Griffith’s version is much better. I hope you like mine!

I hope you enjoy my performance. There’s more country-style music in my collection here, and if it’s your first time on the site, find out why I’m posting a tune a day here.

Fairytale of New York
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Fairytale of New York

I was wondering which song to play this morning and I discovered a friend had had a real fairytale evening last night in New York: she and her boyfriend watched NYC ballet perform The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center and then her boyfriend proposed to her in Central Park! I thought Fairytale Of New York would be a good choice for today’s 365Song. ¡Muchísimas felicidades a Teresa y a Jorge!

The 1987 song by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl apparently came about as the result of a bet by their producer at the time, Elvis Costello, who wagered that the band would not be able to come up with a Christmas song. Fairytale Of New York was born and promptly topped the Irish charts. It was kept off the #1 spot in the UK by The Pet Shop Boys’ Always On My Mind.

I hope you enjoy this tune today. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project. For more Christmaciousness, see all of my December songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/fairytale-of-new-york

Never Gonna Give You Up
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Never Gonna Give You Up

Or should I say Never Gonna Give You Up, ever so slightly mashed up with Here Comes The Hotstepper! This one is for Julie who celebrates her birthday today. Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up was recorded in 1987, though I’m not sure if this helps my claim that 1987 was the best musical year of the 80s! It topped the charts in no fewer than 25 countries, but more recently has been the subject of the Rickrolling internet meme. The idea is that internet users are baited into clicking on a link which has nothing to do with the Rick Astley classic, but on clicking on the link they end up seeing the video for Never Gonna Give You Up. Unfortunately Rick Astley hasn’t benefitted from this meme, earning only $12. It has, however, succeeded in ensuring that this wonderful Barack Obama Rickroll video was seen by over 7 million YouTube viewers:

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my version of Never Gonna Give You Up. Happy birthday, Julie! If it’s your first time on the site, find out why I’m playing a tune a day here or see all of my November songs.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/never-gonna-give-you-up

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

On The Turning Away
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On The Turning Away

From 1991-1992 I spent a year working as a language assistant in Menton, France and I remember Pink Floyd’s On The Turning Away being studied by one of my English classes. Both musically and lyrically it’s a haunting song, and I’ve tried to convey that in my arrangement. It dates from 1987 (further proof!) and was first featured on the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason.

To hear all of my August songs, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m trying to record a piano tune every day here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/on-the-turning-away

The Way You Make Me Feel
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The Way You Make Me Feel

Today’s song is the 1987 (the greatest musical year of the 80s!) Michael Jackson classic, The Way You Make Me Feel. I’ve slowed it down a bit and (hopefully successfully!) given it a bit more bluesy feel. This song came to mind this week as I read an article about a Peruvian girl who was a contestant on the Peruvian equivalent of The Voice. She has become something of an internet sensation as she has released a version of this song in Quechua, the language of the Inca. A very talented young lady, and quite a clever idea, even if she’s not actually a Quechua speaker herself!

To hear all of my August songs, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m trying to record a piano tune every day here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/the-way-you-make-me-feel

With Or Without You
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With Or Without You

Today’s song is U2’s With Or Without You. It was voted “Best Single of 1987” by Rolling Stone magazine readers. I’ve decided to play it a bit differently and I hope you enjoy my version.

To hear more August songs, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m trying to record a piano tune every day here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/with-or-without-you

China In Your Hand
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China In Your Hand

It’s time for another 80s classic from the “year of years”, 1987. Today I’m playing T’Pau’s China In Your Hand. The lyrics make reference to the story of Frankenstein, and according to the lead singer, Carol Decker, when you hold a china cup up to the light you can see your hand through it, so “china in your hand” refers to something as transparent. I’ve played the song in B Flat major, but interestingly the released version is half way between B Flat and B, because the speed of the recording was increased to reduce the running time of the single!

Listen to more 80s songs here, and to hear more July songs, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m trying to record a piano tune every day here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/china-in-your-hand

Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You
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Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You

We had friends over last night and were enjoying an 80s playlist in the garden. This particular song had everyone singing along – something I never thought I’d see! Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You was written by song-writing giants Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin and was originally recorded by George Benson in 1985. However, it became particularly famous after Hawaiian singer Glen Medeiros released it in 1987. No surprise then that we decided that 1987 was the best musical year of the 80s last night!

To hear all of my June songs, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m trying to record a piano tune every day here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/nothings-gonna-change-my-love

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