Look to the Stars (week 4)
For the first three weeks of 'stars', December 1-19, go to STARS WEEK 1, STARS WEEK 2 and STARS WEEK 3.
Monday December 20
The Second Star to the Right
Peter Pan is a 1953 American animated adventure fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on the 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, by J. M. Barrie. The Second Star to the Right is sung by an offscreen chorus and refers to directions for Neverland. Some of you might have been on the Peter Pan ride in Disneyland. When the pod in which we were sitting flew out of the nursery window I was so scared I nearly fainted. Too much excitement for a 40-something year old.
Recording
Tuesday December 21
E lucevan le stelle
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini which premiered in Rome on 14 January 1900. After the drama of the previous scene, Act 3 opens quietly at dawn. A shepherd boy is heard singing offstage, as church bells sound for matins. The guards lead in Cavaradossi and a jailer informs him that he has one hour to live. He asks permission to write a letter to Tosca. He begins to write, but is soon overwhelmed by memories. He sings E lucevan le stelle (And the stars were shining). This is one of Puccini's great arias sung by one of the greatest tenors ever.
This recording of the first part of Act 3 runs for 14 minutes. We featured this aria in week 68 of Tonic Jukebox.
English captions are available. Use 'settings' and 'subtitles'.
Complete recording of opening of Act 3 (14 minutes)
Just the aria (4 minutes)
Wednesday December 22
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a 1984 British musical, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. The musical tells the story of a young but obsolete steam engine, Rusty, who races in a championship against modern engines in the hope of impressing a first-class carriage, Pearl. The actors perform the entire show on roller skates.
Performance
And another song from the same show
Thursday December 23
No business like show business
There's No Business Like Show Business is an Irving Berlin song, written for the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun.
This clip is from the 1950 film starring Betty Hutton and Howard Keel. The words that make this fit the theme are 'Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star.'.
Recording
Jukebox EXTRA (not on the theme of stars)
Sad news today (BBC News) of the passing (at the age of 91) of Sally Anne Howes. In 1958 she took over from Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady on Broadway. Amongst many other roles, she played the part of Truly Scrumptious in the wonderful 1968 movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Truly Scrumptious - song
Doll on a Music Box (with Dick Van Dyke)
Friday December 24
Stars
Simply Red are a British soul and pop band formed in Manchester in 1985. Stars is a 1991 song by Simply Red, released as the second single from their fourth album of the same name.
Recording
Saturday December 25
On this night of a thousand stars
Evita is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita's early life, rise to power, charity work, and death. This song occurs early in the show and is sung by the (real life) character, Agustín Magaldi, a singer. In the musical, he is the first man that Eva uses in her climb to the top, though this is unlikely to have happened in real life.
Performance (movie)
Sunday December 26
When you wish upon a star
When You Wish Upon a Star is a song written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio.
Recording
Take away the orchestra, the choir and the graphics, replace the singer and you have this version, one track of a CD recorded for Judy's 40th birthday.
The Second Star to the Right
Peter Pan is a 1953 American animated adventure fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on the 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, by J. M. Barrie. The Second Star to the Right is sung by an offscreen chorus and refers to directions for Neverland. Some of you might have been on the Peter Pan ride in Disneyland. When the pod in which we were sitting flew out of the nursery window I was so scared I nearly fainted. Too much excitement for a 40-something year old.
Recording
Tuesday December 21
E lucevan le stelle
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini which premiered in Rome on 14 January 1900. After the drama of the previous scene, Act 3 opens quietly at dawn. A shepherd boy is heard singing offstage, as church bells sound for matins. The guards lead in Cavaradossi and a jailer informs him that he has one hour to live. He asks permission to write a letter to Tosca. He begins to write, but is soon overwhelmed by memories. He sings E lucevan le stelle (And the stars were shining). This is one of Puccini's great arias sung by one of the greatest tenors ever.
This recording of the first part of Act 3 runs for 14 minutes. We featured this aria in week 68 of Tonic Jukebox.
English captions are available. Use 'settings' and 'subtitles'.
Complete recording of opening of Act 3 (14 minutes)
Just the aria (4 minutes)
Wednesday December 22
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a 1984 British musical, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. The musical tells the story of a young but obsolete steam engine, Rusty, who races in a championship against modern engines in the hope of impressing a first-class carriage, Pearl. The actors perform the entire show on roller skates.
Performance
And another song from the same show
Thursday December 23
No business like show business
There's No Business Like Show Business is an Irving Berlin song, written for the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun.
This clip is from the 1950 film starring Betty Hutton and Howard Keel. The words that make this fit the theme are 'Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star.'.
Recording
Jukebox EXTRA (not on the theme of stars)
Sad news today (BBC News) of the passing (at the age of 91) of Sally Anne Howes. In 1958 she took over from Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady on Broadway. Amongst many other roles, she played the part of Truly Scrumptious in the wonderful 1968 movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Truly Scrumptious - song
Doll on a Music Box (with Dick Van Dyke)
Friday December 24
Stars
Simply Red are a British soul and pop band formed in Manchester in 1985. Stars is a 1991 song by Simply Red, released as the second single from their fourth album of the same name.
Recording
Saturday December 25
On this night of a thousand stars
Evita is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita's early life, rise to power, charity work, and death. This song occurs early in the show and is sung by the (real life) character, Agustín Magaldi, a singer. In the musical, he is the first man that Eva uses in her climb to the top, though this is unlikely to have happened in real life.
Performance (movie)
Sunday December 26
When you wish upon a star
When You Wish Upon a Star is a song written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio.
Recording
Take away the orchestra, the choir and the graphics, replace the singer and you have this version, one track of a CD recorded for Judy's 40th birthday.