D minor

A Spaceman Came Travelling
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A Spaceman Came Travelling

I’m running a bit late with today’s song after a marathon recording session for Coffee Break Spanish. I’ve decided to play Chris de Burgh’s A Spaceman Came Travelling which dates from 1975. Although not a hit in the UK when it was first released, this song has since featured on countless Christmas compilation albums.

Around the time he wrote the song, de Burgh had read Erich von Däniken’s book Chariots of the Gods and this book apparently made him think “what if the star of Bethlehem was a space craft and what if there is a benevolent being or entity in the universe keeping an eye on the world and our foolish things we do to each other”.

I’ve tried to make a reference to the 1970s style of the original with my choice of instruments for this one. I hope it works! If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or for more Christmaciousness, see all of my December songs here.

Adiemus
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Adiemus

Today I’m playing the main song from the first of Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus albums, Songs of Sanctuary. It feels a bit strange to be playing a piece of music which is so intrinsically vocal on the piano so I’ve added a bit of voice/synth to the layering to make up for the lack of vocals! Adiemus was originally created by Welsh composer Jenkins for a Delta Airlines commercial and the project grew from there. The words don’t mean anything: Jenkins wanted the voice to be a true instrument without the distraction of lyrics.

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.

Careless Whisper
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Careless Whisper

Here’s my version of George Michael’s first solo hit, Careless Whisper, dating from 1984. Careless Whisper knocked Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Two Tribes off the #1 spot, and went on to become the fifth best-selling single of 1984, along with Two Tribes, Relax, Do They Know It’s Christmas and I Just Called To Say I Love You.

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

Supreme
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Supreme

Today I’m playing Robbie Williams’ song Supreme for my sister and family who are on their way to Italy and are starting their holiday at the Lucca Summer Festival tonight where Robbie Williams is playing in the Piazza Napoleone. This song was released in 2000 from the Sing When You’re Winning album, and interestingly features the instrumental from Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive in the break, inspired, apparently, by tourists humming this melody while Robbie was on tour in Switzerland!

This is another of those songs where I’m duetting with myself – there was just too much going on for two hands! As a result it’s a bit messy I’m afraid, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!

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.

Lay All Your Love On Me
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Lay All Your Love On Me

A bit of a different song today: it’s ABBA’s Lay All Your Love On Me, but not quite in the 80s disco style that you may be used to. Ranked as one of the greatest dance songs of all time by Slant Magazine, this track made if to #7 in the UK charts, and was curiously released only as a 12″ single. I’m sure I’ve still got this rare 12″ single somewhere!

There are more ABBA 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.

Rise Like A Phoenix
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Rise Like A Phoenix

Here’s the last of my Eurovision songs to celebrate the contest tonight in Vienna. The reason it’s taking place in Vienna is because last year, Conchita Wurst sang Rise Like A Phoenix as the Austrian entry and ended up winning the contest. I hope you’ve enjoyed my Eurovision-themed week. Normal service will resume tomorrow… 😉

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

Tu Te Reconnaîtras
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Tu Te Reconnaîtras

We’re going back a few years with this Eurovision classic: it’s Anne-Marie David’s winning song for Luxembourg in 1973. She recently performed this song at the 50 Years of Eurovision celebration concert and demonstrated that she’s still got it! Tu te reconnaîtras (meaning “You will recognise yourself”) was closely followed by Mocedades’ Eres Tú which also became a worldwide hit in 1973. I hope you enjoy this blast from the past.

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

Nocturne / Fairytale
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Nocturne / Fairytale

And Eurovision week has begun here on my 365 Songs! It’s only right that we begin with a Norwegian ‘mashup’ today as it’s the 17th May, Norwegian National Day and I’d like to send my beste hilsen til alle mine norske venner. Gratulerer med dagen, kjære venner, og jeg håper solen skinner for dere i dag! Very best wishes to my Norwegian friends today!

Back to today’s song. I’ve put together two of the most well-known Norwegian Eurovision entries for the first day of my Eurovision special: Nocturne by Secret Garden (which sounds arguably more Irish than Norwegian) which won in 1995, and Alexander Rybak’s Fairytale which won for Norway in 2009, just after midnight local time on the 17th May.

I hope you enjoy today’s song. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my May songs here.

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