Songs of the Season: Let The Joy Ring Out – Allegro’s Holiday Concert 2025

As I have mentioned before, one of the joys of Señora‘s life is music, especially singing.  She has been a member of this 50+ choir since it started up in St. Louis.

I normally attend, but I missed this concert.  The concerts have become so popular that they have started doing two, one on Saturday and another on Sunday.  This last time around they had started requiring tickets to prevent the overfilling of the venue.  While they ask for a $20 donation per ticket, it is not mandatory. I normally donate anyway as I know you cannot put on these sort of events without money, and to support Señora.

Somehow Señora missed the ticket requirement, and I was unable to get one.

Here is the YouTube video of the concert, ENJOY.  Señora is sitting on the far right just behind the piano.

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Astral Weeks – Van Morrison

Assume the lotus position, start this CD on whatever device you use these days to play music, begin slow, rhythmic, deep breathing…

Here is a taste, the eponymous track that starts the CD.

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Give Yourself to Love

Señora has been carrying around a poem/song for years little realizing it was by one of her favorite singers, Kate Wolf, who passed away much too soon.

Give Yourself to Love

Kind friends all gathered ’round, there’s something I would say:
That what brings us together here has blessed us all today.
Love has made a circle that holds us all inside;
Where strangers are as family, loneliness can’t hide.

You must give yourself to love, if love is what you’re after;
Open up your hearts to the tears and laughter,
And give yourself to love, give yourself to love. Continue reading “Give Yourself to Love”

American Tapestry of Song, Allegro’s 2025 Spring Concert

Besides yours truly (smiley face), Señora has a few other passions in her life, her gardens, her ceramics, but above all music.  The Allegro Choir is a choir for folks who have obtained at least 50 year’s worth of life experiences.  They put on two concerts a year.  They have moved to doing two performances each time as they fill up the auditorium for each performance.

If you look real close you can see Señora.  She is sitting just behind the piano player and a little to the left.

Enjoy.

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Recognize this tune?

A cover/interpretation of one my favorite classic songs  from 1970… or any year for that matter. The way the voices of this group blend together reminds me of possibly my favorite group of all time, Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Enjoy Laredo singing El Boxeador.

If you enjoyed El Boxeador, try this one: LAREDO – El Último Guateque (1977). Even if you do not understand the words, it has a nice beat. The song title translates as The Final Party. I do wonder if the gentleman in the middle was going for a Frank Zappa look.

Currently, I am reading a novel in Spanish, Gatos Callejeros by Juan Fernández, set in the  period just after the death of the Spanish dictator, Franco. The chapter titles are songs that were popular in Spain during this period.  All of the book’s songs can be found on YouTube. It has been interesting delving into another culture from another time.

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Love Song to a Dog: Maggie’s Song by Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert

Love Song to a Dog: Maggie’s Song by Chris Stapleton with Miranda Lambert doing the melody.

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Chris Stapleton – Loving You On My Mind | Move Over Barry White

Move over Barry White!

Chris Stapleton‘s Loving You On My Mind…  I can hear this song playing with scented candles flickering in the background.

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Señora Attends Allegro 2024 Summer Camp

Just in case you are not a long time reader (tehehe) of my silly little blog, Allegro is a choral group for persons 50 and over.  Señora repeatedly tells me that she just loves being around so many talented folks.

Señora is on the first row, second from the left in the opening shot.  She is also to be seen at various points during the video.  Enjoy the music.

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Allegro “We Will Rock You” 2024 Spring Concert

Allegro, a choir for those who are 50+, is one of the two choirs that Señora is currently singing in.  Señora is the very pretty lady just to the left of the choir director, generally the second person from the left, sitting.  They filled this large church – no association other than they can use it to practice and as a performance venue – to the capacity, with more than 600 souls.

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Raye live at SWR3 New Pop Festival 2023

If you got an hour to spend, this is an incredible concert Raye did in Baden-Baden, Germany.  She plays most of the songs off her debut album, 21st Century Blues, and a few more. She also talks in between offerings about the roots of each song which I found very interesting. She has hip hop/rap roots, so at times, the language is a little rough, but  that is the state of music now days.  Don’t let that put you off such an incredible talent.

I was reading an article that claimed she was creating her own genre of music.  She certainly does blend many styles into wonderfully different musical experience.  I love it when she goes off on those jazz riffs.

Yup, bit stuck on her music right now.

And so it goes.

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