Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 75 - Numbers
This week's theme is numbers. In addition to pieces with a number in the title, I think you will find the following interesting. It comes from my rather talented son-in-law, Andrew Barnett-Jones. Do look at the two 5 minute videos.
"Numberblocks is a BAFTA winning show about numeracy, a huge success on CBeebies but also increasingly around the world on Netflix. It aims to instil a love of numbers in the very young - but is crammed with hidden references and call outs for older viewers.
"More to Explore was the series 4 finale, written when we didn’t know if there would be any further episodes, and therefore is our attempt to do ‘all of the rest of maths’ in five minutes, in song. Look out for hidden Pythagorean Theory, Fibonacci Numbers and a famous dressing gown - but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there’s a LOT of hidden numbers in there! Link to More to Explore.
"Other episodes of note to musical and classical music fans are Odd Side Story - a homage to West Side Story with two rival gangs dancing out their differences - and Stampolines and Snow Day Doubles, both featuring classical music underscores. Series 5 introduced singing times tables providing cameos for professional singers - a standout is Greg Porter singing the ‘Two Times Shoe Times’ table.
"I was a lead writer on series 1-2, script editor on series 3-4, and head writer on the recent series 5."
"Numberblocks is a BAFTA winning show about numeracy, a huge success on CBeebies but also increasingly around the world on Netflix. It aims to instil a love of numbers in the very young - but is crammed with hidden references and call outs for older viewers.
"More to Explore was the series 4 finale, written when we didn’t know if there would be any further episodes, and therefore is our attempt to do ‘all of the rest of maths’ in five minutes, in song. Look out for hidden Pythagorean Theory, Fibonacci Numbers and a famous dressing gown - but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there’s a LOT of hidden numbers in there! Link to More to Explore.
"Other episodes of note to musical and classical music fans are Odd Side Story - a homage to West Side Story with two rival gangs dancing out their differences - and Stampolines and Snow Day Doubles, both featuring classical music underscores. Series 5 introduced singing times tables providing cameos for professional singers - a standout is Greg Porter singing the ‘Two Times Shoe Times’ table.
"I was a lead writer on series 1-2, script editor on series 3-4, and head writer on the recent series 5."
Monday August 16
76 trombones
The Music Man is a 1962 American musical film based on Meredith Willson's 1957 Broadway musical of the same name. Robert Preston played the leading role for both. The show and the film won awards and today's song is a perennial favourite, especially for brass bands.
Recording
Tuesday August 17
7 little girls
Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat is a song written by Bob Hilliard and Lee Pockriss. It was recorded by Paul Evans (US No. 9) in 1959, and covered the same year by The Avons (UK No. 3).
Recording
Wednesday August 18 (DAY 3)
3 Coins in the Fountain
Three Coins in the Fountain is a 1954 American romantic comedy film. The film's main title song Three Coins in the Fountain, sung by an uncredited Frank Sinatra, went on to become an enduring standard. The title refers to the act of throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome while making a wish. The film received two Academy Awards — for Best Cinematography and Best Original Song ('3 coins'), and was nominated for Best Picture.
Recording
3 Little Maids From School (from The Mikado)
Topsy-Turvy is a 1999 British musical period drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh. The story concerns the 15-month period in 1884 and 1885 leading up to the premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. Despite the fact that the movie is rather long (2hrs 40 mins), I think it is well worth watching, especially if you have an interest in Gilbert and Sullivan. Three Little Maids from School is a trio from the first act of The Mikado. This recording from Topsy Turvy features the wonderful Shirley Henderson as Yum Yum.
Recording
Thursday August 19
24 hours from Tulsa
Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and was originally a hit for Gene Pitney. I listened to the lyrics, probably for the first time ever, and realised what the song is really about. What a rotter!
Recording
Friday August 20
Un bel di (One fine day)
Un bel dì, vedremo (One fine day we'll see) is a soprano aria from the opera Madama Butterfly (1904) by Giacomo Puccini. It is sung by Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) on stage with her maid, Suzuki, as she imagines the return of her absent love, Pinkerton. It is the most famous aria in Madama Butterfly, and one of the most popular pieces in the soprano repertoire. I chose this recording as it features one of my favourites, Albanian soprano, Ermonela Jaho, in the current Royal Opera production of the opera.
Recording (4 mins)
CORRECTION
It has been pointed out that Un bel di has appeared before on Tonic Jukebox. To recover from this quite inexcusable error I offer you an alternative. Not for the number '1', but for '2'.
We're a Couple of Swells
We're a Couple of Swells is an American comedy duet song performed by Judy Garland and Fred Astaire in the film Easter Parade (1948). It was written by Irving Berlin. One for Bryan and me I think.
Recording
Weekend August 21/22
Scheherazade (1,001)
Scheherazade is a symphonic suite composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in 1888 and based on One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the Arabian Nights, from the first English-language edition (c. 1706–1721), which employed the title, The Arabian Nights' Entertainment.
Today's Jukebox choice is the third part (of 4), The Prince and Princess. You can find Part 1 in Tonic Jukebox week 54.
Part 3 of Scheherazade (10 mins)
If you are left wanting more here is Part 4:
Part 4 of Scheherazade (12 mins)
76 trombones
The Music Man is a 1962 American musical film based on Meredith Willson's 1957 Broadway musical of the same name. Robert Preston played the leading role for both. The show and the film won awards and today's song is a perennial favourite, especially for brass bands.
Recording
Tuesday August 17
7 little girls
Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat is a song written by Bob Hilliard and Lee Pockriss. It was recorded by Paul Evans (US No. 9) in 1959, and covered the same year by The Avons (UK No. 3).
Recording
Wednesday August 18 (DAY 3)
3 Coins in the Fountain
Three Coins in the Fountain is a 1954 American romantic comedy film. The film's main title song Three Coins in the Fountain, sung by an uncredited Frank Sinatra, went on to become an enduring standard. The title refers to the act of throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome while making a wish. The film received two Academy Awards — for Best Cinematography and Best Original Song ('3 coins'), and was nominated for Best Picture.
Recording
3 Little Maids From School (from The Mikado)
Topsy-Turvy is a 1999 British musical period drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh. The story concerns the 15-month period in 1884 and 1885 leading up to the premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. Despite the fact that the movie is rather long (2hrs 40 mins), I think it is well worth watching, especially if you have an interest in Gilbert and Sullivan. Three Little Maids from School is a trio from the first act of The Mikado. This recording from Topsy Turvy features the wonderful Shirley Henderson as Yum Yum.
Recording
Thursday August 19
24 hours from Tulsa
Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and was originally a hit for Gene Pitney. I listened to the lyrics, probably for the first time ever, and realised what the song is really about. What a rotter!
Recording
Friday August 20
Un bel di (One fine day)
Un bel dì, vedremo (One fine day we'll see) is a soprano aria from the opera Madama Butterfly (1904) by Giacomo Puccini. It is sung by Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) on stage with her maid, Suzuki, as she imagines the return of her absent love, Pinkerton. It is the most famous aria in Madama Butterfly, and one of the most popular pieces in the soprano repertoire. I chose this recording as it features one of my favourites, Albanian soprano, Ermonela Jaho, in the current Royal Opera production of the opera.
Recording (4 mins)
CORRECTION
It has been pointed out that Un bel di has appeared before on Tonic Jukebox. To recover from this quite inexcusable error I offer you an alternative. Not for the number '1', but for '2'.
We're a Couple of Swells
We're a Couple of Swells is an American comedy duet song performed by Judy Garland and Fred Astaire in the film Easter Parade (1948). It was written by Irving Berlin. One for Bryan and me I think.
Recording
Weekend August 21/22
Scheherazade (1,001)
Scheherazade is a symphonic suite composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in 1888 and based on One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the Arabian Nights, from the first English-language edition (c. 1706–1721), which employed the title, The Arabian Nights' Entertainment.
Today's Jukebox choice is the third part (of 4), The Prince and Princess. You can find Part 1 in Tonic Jukebox week 54.
Part 3 of Scheherazade (10 mins)
If you are left wanting more here is Part 4:
Part 4 of Scheherazade (12 mins)