I Think It's Going to Rain Today

Here's a really gorgeous song I've been wanting to post for some time now. I hope some people actually know it. It was written by Randy Newman and is perhaps most known by Bette Midler's rendition of it from the tear-jerker movie, Beaches, but has been in fact been covered by many artists. Norah Jones and Audra McDonald have particularly lovely versions of it. 
Here are the lyrics: 

Broken windows and empty hallways
A pale dead moon in a sky streaked with grey
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's gonna rain today

Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
The frozen smiles to chase love away
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's gonna rain today

Lonely, lonely
Tin can at my feet
I think I'll kick it down the street
That's the way to treat a friend

Bright before me the signs implore me
Help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing

And I think it's gonna rain today

Lonely, lonely
Tin can at my feet
I think I'll kick it down the street
That's the way to treat a friend

Bright before me the signs implore me
Help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's gonna rain today

Here's Bette Midler's version in it's entirety, which is the one I have posted

Almost There -The Princess & the Frog

Is it bad to keep luring people in with Disney songs? Oh well, I gotta figure if I love them, there must be a reason so many others do. Here's one from the rather underrated Princess and the Frog where Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose (a Broadway veteran, in fact) sings about how all her hard work is about to pay off. As final exams are nearing I can't help but view it as a sort of anthem about how I'm "almost there" and the holidays are just around the corner!
Here are the lyrics:

Mama, I don't have time for dancing
That's just gonna have to wait a while
Ain't got time for messing around
And it's not my style

This whole town can slow you down
People taking the easy way
But I know exactly where I'm going
And getting closer, closer, everyday

And I'm almost there, I'm almost there
People down here think I'm crazy but I don't care
Trials and tribulations have had my share
There ain't nothing gonna stop me now 'cause I'm almost there

I remember Daddy told me, fairy tales can come true
You gotta make 'em happen, it all depends on you
So I work real hard each and everyday
Now things for sure are going my way
Just doing what I do
Look out boys I'm coming through !

And I'm almost there, I'm almost there
People gonna come here from everywhere
And I'm almost there, I'm almost there

There's been trials and tribulations
You know I've had my share
But I've climbed the mountain, I've crossed the river
And I'm almost there,
I'm almost there,
I'm a-almost there!

Here's that adorably animated scene from the movie:

I Hate Men -Kiss Me Kate

Here's some Cole Porter for you aficionados out there. This one's from "Kiss Me Kate" where Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" is set as a musical within a musical. (Meta much?) In this number, Katherine sings about the double standard between men and women, concluding vehemently that she "hates men." It's a pretty fun number, if not a bit old school.
I invite you all to join! I should be joining too within a few days, since my voice is sort of coming back (at last).
Here are the lyrics:

I hate men
I can't abide 'em even now and then

Than ever marry one of them, I'd rest a maiden rather
For husbands are a boring lot and only give you bother
Of course, I'm awfully glad that mother deemed to marry father
But I hate men

Of all the types I've ever met within our democracy
I hate the most the athlete with his manner bold and brassy
He may have hair upon his chest but, sister, so has Lassie
Oh, I hate men!

I hate men
They should be kept like piggies in a pen

Don't wed a trav'ling salesman though a tempting Tom he may be
From China he will bring you jade and perfume from Araby
But don't forget tis he who'll have the fun and thee the baby
Oh, I hate men

If thou shouldst wed a businessman, be wary, oh, be wary
He'll tell you he's detained in town on business necessary
His business is the business with his pretty secretary
Oh, I hate men!

I hate men
Though roosters they, I will not play the hen

If you espouse an older man through girlish optimism
He'll always stay at home at night and make no criticism
Though you may call it love, the doctors call it rheumatism
Oh, I hate men

From all I've read alone in bed, from A to Z, about them
Since love is blind, then from the mind, all womankind should rout them
But, ladies, you must answer too, what would we do without them?
Still, I hate men!!!

Here's a pretty great rendition of this number starring Rachel York:

Belle -Beauty & the Beast

I've been feeling rather Disney-ish as of late so I thought I'd post this one from "Beauty and the Beast." For those who don't know, it's the opening number of the movie (and Broadway show) where we are introduced to Belle, a lovely bookworm who doesn't

quite fit into her "little town." I just so happened to find a track with the chorus part, so I invite you to sing as Belle in this one!

Here are the lyrics:

[Belle:] Little town
It's a quiet village
Ev'ry day
Like the one before
Little town
Full of little people
Waking up to say:

( [Townsfolk:] Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour! )

[Belle:] There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Ev'ry morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town

( [Baker:] Good Morning, Belle!

[Belle:] 'Morning, Monsieur.
[Baker:] Where are you off to?
[Belle:] The bookshop.
I just finished the most wonderful story
about a
beanstalk and an ogre and a -

[Baker:] That's nice. Marie! The baguettes! Hurry up! )

[Townsfolk:] Look there she goes that girl is strange, no
question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Never part of any crowd
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
No denying she's a funny girl that Belle

[Man I:] Bonjour
[Woman I:] Good day
[Man I:] How is your fam'ly?
[Woman II:] Bonjour
[Man II:] Good day
[Woman II:] How is your wife?
[Woman III:] I need six eggs
[Man III:] That's too expensive

[Belle:] There must be more than this provincial life

( [Bookseller:] Ah, Belle.
[Belle:] Good Morning. I've come to return the book
I borrowed.
[Bookseller:] Finished already?
[Belle:] Oh, I couldn't put it down.
Have you got anything new?
[Bookseller:] Ha Ha! Not since yesterday.
[Belle:] That's all right. I'll borrow . . . . . this one!
[Bookseller:] That one? But you've read it twice!
[Belle:] Well, it's my favorite! Far off places, daring
swordfights, magic
spells, a prince in disguise -
[Bookseller:] If you like it all that much, it's yours!
[Belle:] But sir!
[Bookseller:] I insist.
[Belle:] Well, thank you. Thank you very much! )

[Townsfolk:] Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
With a dreamy far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle

[Belle:] Oh, isn't this amazing?
It's my fav'rite part because you'll see
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three

[Woman:] Now it's no wonder that her name means "beauty"
Her looks have got no parallel
[Shopkeeper:] But behind that fair facade
I'm afraid she's rather odd
Very diff'rent from the rest of us
[Townsfolk:] She's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, diff'rent from the rest of us is Belle

( [LeFou:] Wow! You didn't miss a shot, Gaston! You're the
greatest hunter
in the whole world!
[Gaston:] I know.
[LeFou:] No beast alive stands a chance against you.
Ha ha ha!
And no girl,
for that matter.
[Gaston:] It's true, LeFou.
And I've got my sights set on that one.
[LeFou:] Hm! The inventor's daughter?
[Gaston:] She's the one - the lucky girl I'm going to marry.
[LeFou:] But she's -
[Gaston:] The most beautiful girl in town.
[LeFou:] I know, but -
[Gaston:] That makes her the best.
And don't I deserve the best?
[LeFou:] Well, of course! I mean you do, but - )

[Gaston:] Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell
Here in town there's only she
Who is beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle

[Bimbettes:] Look there he goes
Isn't he dreamy?
Monsieur Gaston
Oh he's so cute
Be still my heart
I'm hardly breathing
He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute

[Man I:] Bonjour!
[Gaston:] Pardon
[Man II:] Good day
[Man III:] Mais oui!
[Matron:] You call this bacon?
[Woman I:] What lovely grapes!
[Man IV:] Some cheese
[Woman II:] Ten yards
[Man IV:] one pound
[Gaston:] 'scuse me!
[Cheese merchant:] I'll get the knife
[Gaston:] Please let me
through!
[Woman I:] This bread -
[Man V:] Those fish -
[Woman I:] it's stale!
[Man V:] they smell!
[Baker:] Madame's mistaken.

[Belle:] There must be more than this provincial life!

[Gaston:] Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife!

[Townsfolk:] Look there she goes a girl
who's strange but special
A most peculiar mad'moiselle
It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in
'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle

Here's that scene from the movie!:

Pure Imagination -Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Here's a song I'm pretty fond of from the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" based on the children's book by Roald Dahl. This is of course from the original 1971 interpretation of the book starring Gene Wilder (not the 2005 Tim Burton/Johnny Depp one). In this scene candy maker Willy Wonka welcomes the winners of his contest into his factory, aka a world of "pure imagination." There is actually a rather recent musical called "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" but truthfully, I have yet to listen/know if it's any good. Until then I invite you to sing this classic.
Here are the lyrics:

Come with me and you'll be
In a world of pure imagination
Take a look and you'll see
Into your imagination

We'll begin with a spin
Trav'ling in the world of my creation
What we'll see will defy
Explanation

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world, there's nothing to it

There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there, you'll be free
If you truly wish to be

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world, there's nothing to it

There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there, you'll be free
If you truly wish to be

Here's that scene from the movie...it always makes me hungry:

Also worth checking out is Michael Feinstein's rendition of this song, which I truly adore:

Show Me -My Fair Lady

Hello again my lovely friends! It's been quite a while since I last posted, but life has gotten pretty busy as of late. I'm currently battling a cold which has left my voice sounding like the most seasoned of cigar smokers so I won't be able to sing for a bit, but I figured that shouldn't stop me from posting a few OC's and listening to all your wonderful voices.
I thought I'd kick things back into gear with a little "My Fair Lady." In this one, Eliza Dolittle, fed up with words and empty gestures, tells her suitor Freddy to "show her" how much he cares for her. The marvelous Julie Andrews played the original 'Liza and in the movie she was portrayed by Audrey Hepburn and sung by Marnie Nixon (who btw played Sister Margaretta in the movie "Sound of Music" --a little fun trivia for you theater geeks out there).
So I invite you to gimme your very best Eliza Dolittle and "show me" what'cha got!
Here are the lyrics:

Words, words, words!
I'm so sick of words
I get words all day through
First from him, now from you
Is that all you blighters can do?

Don't talk of stars, burning above
If you're in love, show me!
Tell me no dreams, filled with desire
If you're on fire, show me!

Here we are together in the middle of the night
Don't talk of spring, just hold me tight
Anyone who's ever been in love will tell you that
This is no time for a chat

Haven't your lips longed for my touch?
Don't say how much, show me, show me
Don't talk of love lasting through time
Make me no undying vow
Show me now!

Sing me no song, read me no rhyme
Don't waste my time, show me!
Don't talk of June, don't talk of fall
Don't talk at all!
Show me!

Never do I ever want to hear another word
There isn't one, I haven't heard
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream
Say one more word and I'll scream

Haven't your arms, hungered for mine?
Please don't "expline", show me, show me!
Don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow, show me now!

Here's that scene from the movie!