Today’s Christmacious song is Go Tell It On The Mountain which first appeared in a collection of spirituals in 1865. A popular song to be performed by Gospel groups, this song has been recorded by hundreds of performers. I hope you enjoy my version.
Today I’m playing a song which I first heard over 30 years ago being performed by BoneyM. It’s the Swahili song Malaika and it’s one of the most widely known of all songs in Swahili. The word malaika means “angel” and the song is the song of a poor young man who has fallen in love but who can’t afford to marry his “angel” because the dowry price is too high.
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika
Angel, I love you angel
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika
Angel, I love you angel
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio
and I, what should I do, your young friend
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
Ningekuoa Malaika
I would marry you, angel
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
Ningekuoa Malaika
I would marry you, angel
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.
It has been a week of birthdays, and today’s song is the main song from the musical Phantom of the Opera and it’s dedicated to Louise who celebrates her birthday today! This song in the musical is sung by the Phantom and Christine as he escorts by boat to his lair in the lagoons beneath the Opera Garnier. At the end of the song, Christine sings her highest note of the musical, an E6.
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. If you’re looking for more songs from Phantom of the Opera and other musicals, have a listen to my Curtain Up album.
Here in the UK we probably know this song best in the Westlife version, and in the US it’s most likely to be Josh Groban’s version with which most people are familiar. However, You Raise Me Up was actually first recorded by Norwegian/Irish group Secret Garden and was written by Rolf Løvland and Brendan Graham. It has since been covered over 125 times, and I’ll add my version to the collection!
First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.
