Category: Music

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John Fullbright – Hallelujah

I first encountered the song, Hallelujah, written by Leonard Cohen, on the 2010 CD, Dark Hope, an album of mainly indie rock covers by the opera soprano, Renée Fleming. I must have listened to the CD dozens of times the first month I owned it. While there are several very good songs on the CD, the one that really talked to me was her cover of Cohen’s Hallelujah. Although I have listened to the song innumerable times, it never fails to move me, leaving me pensive and frequently, a little weepy. Yeah, I can’t totally explain it.

One website, in an article entitled, 25 of the Most Covered Songs in Music History, places the song at number nine on their list. Another site claimed that in 2008 (when the article was written) there were over 300 known covers of the song. Obviously, it touches a lot of folks like it touches me.  I have discovered though, that to share your favorite cover of this song is a bit dangerous, as everyone seems to have a favorite which, more often than not, is not yours.

John Fullbright is an Okie musician who came on the scene around the same time Fleming released her CD, Dark Hope.  As an aside, he did a house concert at our abode here in Chesterfield, MO the year before he was nominated for a Grammy in 2013 for the best new American Roots album for his CD, From the Ground Up.  He did not win, but just being nominated is a great honor.

I had not listened to his album, Live at the Blue Door,  for a while, and did so a couple nights ago.  I had forgotten that he covered Hallelujah as the ultimate song on this release. All I can say, is that he owned the song. They say (or actually I said) you can take the Okie out of Oklahoma, but you can’t take Oklahoma out of the Okie.  All by way of saying that his Oklahoma drawl comes through on this song, especially the opening few bars. That does nothing to distract from the song, and for me, it was a bit of a bonus.

Another aside – The Blue Door is a famous, small music venue in Oklahoma City, very similiar to The Focal Point here in St. Louis.

Enjoy.

Here is an interesting video that attempts to explain the song: What Does “Hallelujah” REALLY Mean? | Lyrics Explained 

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Dolly Parton – Stairway to Heaven

As I am sure you know, Dolly Parton passed away yesterday at the age of 80.  She has been one of my favorite entertainers for decades.  And while it is hard to tell with public figures, she always came across to me as a truly good person, something very rare, especially in the public sphere as so many of those folks seem to be driven by neurotic needs.

Here she is singing what I – and many others – consider the best Rock ‘N’ Roll song of all time. According to Parade Magazine Dolly Parton’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Cover Was Really a Love Letter to Husband Carl Dean as it was his favorite song.

I am betting, though, that Robert Plant never envisioned the song arranged with a banjo and steel guitar.

Enjoy.

A few years ago I posted a video by a collaboration of Dolly Parton, Linda Rondstadt and EmmyLou Harris (does it get any better than that?) that resulted in two albums, Trio and Trio II. They are covering the Neil Young song, After the Goldrush.  It is truly haunting.   If you would like to listen to that here is a link to my article: After The Goldrush Live – Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt

Just one more Dolly Parton song.  Years ago after a bad breakup I made a mix CD that I am still listening to after decades. One of the songs on that CD was
Dolly Parton  – I Will Always Love You Of course, this was a mega hit for Whitney Houston as well as Dolly. Dolly also talks briefly about the history of this particular song.

She will be missed.

I have listened to Stairway to Heaven countless times, and I have always interpreted the song as a woman trying to buy her way into heaven.  Thinking about that I decided to look up the lyrics.  A deeper dive into the lyrics also describes a saner, more naturalistic approach to the woman’s goal… which she is probably not going to take. I suppose at an even deeper level it can be considered a Christian song as the core belief of Christianity is that you cannot achieve heaven by good works or money.  This differs from all the other major religions I have studied.  Having said all that,  I have no idea of Robert Plant’s religious beliefs.

Here is a link to the lyrics: Lyrics to Stairway to Heaven

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Bonnie Taylor: 8 June 1951 – 8 July 2026

What can I say, a song from my past that once meant a lot to me.  The song silly…

I learned today that she passed away recently.

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Can I Buy You a Drink?

Last night was Senora’s and mine thirteenth wedding anniversary.  I discovered a few months ago that one of Senora’s favorite singers, Gillian Welch, was to be in town with her husband and musical collaborator, David Rawlings that same night. I bought the tickets as soon as I could as it being in a smallish venue, the concert sold out rapidly. Before the concert we went to one of our favorite, low-key Italian restaurants here in St. Louis, Vito’s Sicilian Pizzeria & Ristorante.

It was a good night. We both enjoyed the restaurant, having a meal of calamari, salad and lasagna. Senora turned me on to Gillian Welch a few years back and I have been a fan every since.  David Rawlings I had not heard of before, but he is an extraordinary Continue reading “Can I Buy You a Drink?”

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Songs of the Silver Screen, Allegro’s 2026 Spring Concert

This is one of the choirs that Señora sings in.  It is for persons who are at least 50 years of age.  Señora almost never comes home from a practice without extolling how many talented folks there are that are members of this group.

This particular concert featured songs everyone knows from the movies, including some songs I knew but did not know were movie tunes.

Señora is sitting, just to the left of the pianist.

Enjoy!  I know I did when I attended the concert.

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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”

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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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