Good friend James Kwok doesn't reveal himself too much because he is a quiet and private person but when I asked him to write a little tale for me for this blog, he relented and sent this piece below. Just shows how songs influence our lives in so many ways.
Thank you James for connecting Louis Armstrong's famous hit with memorable incidents in your life:
"Earlier this month some former students (many years my junior) from my primary school organized a get-together to celebrate Teachers Day. They invited former teachers and students who are still contactable for a time of memory recollection by friendly folks over food and fun.
Among the songs played was ‘What a Wonderful World,’ which sure brought back memories for me. I first heard it over Rediffusion back in 1967. The following year, at the Teachers Training College Dinner n Dance, all of us in the final year joined in singing it as our farewell song.
As the years passed, the song, with its meaningful and uplifting lyrics sung to an unforgettable tune, has been aging without growing old. Then just last weekend at the birthday party for one of my grandsons, his parents played it on the karaoke and got all the parents and grandparents to sing along.
As I looked at my grandchildren and all their many young friends, and at my children and their spouses, the words of the last stanza are right now still echoing in my mind:
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow,
they’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know.
And I think to myself, What a Wonderful World.
Yes, I think to myself, What a Wonderful World.
Wo Yeah..."
8 comments:
Good morning Andy
I may have done the writing, but your
arranging and 'choreographing' with
the most suitable graphics sure added
the needed shine.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you James. Without you and other great friends this blog would not have been.
"What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele (as "George Douglas") and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released in 1967 as a single, which topped the pop charts in the United Kingdom.
Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world - Thiele as a producer and Weiss as a composer/performer. Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
The publishing for this song is controlled by Memory Lane Music Group, Carlin Music Corp. and BMG Rights Management.
Anne Murray, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sarah Brightman and a host of other stars have recorded this truly memorable song.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's ukulele version sold 2.5 million copies in US and Canada alone.
Hi Andy. This is one of those songs that has poetic words. They dont write songs like these anymore. Thank you James Kwok! Of course thanks to Andy for "harassing" James to do the piece. God bless!
A great song for many. And greater memories for some ..who can forget the unique coarse voice of the Great Satchmo Louis Armstrong. As for me it means much more. It's my oldest daughter (Jessica's ) choice for her father- daughter dance at her wedding.
Lyrics
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world
Written by George David Weiss, Robert Thiele • Copyright © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Carlin America Inc, BMG Rights Management US, LLC, Imagem Music Inc
Good Morning Andy,
Thanks for the opportunity to share a melodic memory. Cheers and Blessings in Jesus.
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