With only a few weeks to go to our Summer Concert, Eamonn is very pleased with our repertoire and feels we can learn at least one, if not two new songs, as well as a chorus to sing with the ringers singing the verses.
Perfect Day is a simple song from the point of view we are all singing the tune, however, the timing of the phrases is very challenging. With a little bit of guidance and repetition we will be perfect!
Perfect Day is a song written by American musician Lou Reed in 1972. It was originally featured on Transformer, Reed's second post–Velvet Underground solo album, and as a double A-side with his major hit, "Walk on the Wild Side". Its fame was given a boost in the 1990s when it was featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting and after a star-studded version was released as a BBC charity single in 1997, reaching number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway. Reed re-recorded the song for his 2003 album The Raven.
The original recording, as with the rest of the Transformer album, was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson (who also wrote the string arrangement and played piano on the track). The song has a sombre vocal delivery and a slow, piano-based instrumental backing.
The song was written after Reed and his then fiancée (later his first wife), Bettye Kronstad, spent a day in Central Park. The lyric is often considered to suggest simple, conventional romantic devotion, possibly alluding to Reed's relationship with Bettye Kronstad and Reed's own conflicts with his sexuality, drug use and ego.
We haven’t sung Africa for a few years and we did remember it fairly well. As usual the Oohs at the beginning are the bête noire for the sopranos! The tenors mainly have the tune for a change.
Eamonn pointed out to all of us that when we sing ‘Ahs’ they should NEVER sound choral EVER!!!!!!
‘Ahs’ should be bright and performed with a big wide smile giving a totally different sound.
In Flagrante will always sing ‘Ahs’ brightly and joyously.
Africa is a song by American rock band Toto, the tenth and final track on their fourth studio album Toto IV (1982). It was released as a single in the US through Columbia Records in October 1982.
The song was written by band members David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, produced by the band, and mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Elliot Scheiner.
We ran through Hallelujah, which he felt well so well done we must always sing it like that. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was also in good shape. Vincent needs the sopranos to hit the high notes consistently. Jan’s heavy breathing classes before rehearsals should help with this if the techniques are used when singing. These sessions are really extremely helpful and everyone who arrive early is encouraged to come as it will not only benefit you as an individual, but also as a choir.
The end of perfect day gave us a very happy Eamonn and a feeling of great achievement.
However, we can’t afford to sit back and glow in this well earned praise. We must continue to practice each day like any professional, to keep improving and raising our standards to make our concert a perfect day.
Don’t forget to publicise the concert so we can have an even bigger audience than last time!
