Showing posts with label William Shakespeare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Shakespeare. Show all posts

Thursday, April 03, 2025

Johnny Tillotson and Val Kilmer: Tributes From A Singaporean Fan.

 


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Johnny Tillotson and Val Kilmer
One was a singer, the other an actor. Both have left us on First April, 2025. 

Johnny Tillotson was famous for his good looks and pop hits that are being sung even today. These included, Poetry In Motion, Dreamy Eyes, Earth Angel, Judy, Judy, Judy and others. It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin', was another pop hit, that came up tops in 1962. He composed at least 12 songs since he started his career.

He began in 1958 with the song, Dreamy Eyes but came into prominence with Poetry In Motion. Although there were other holders to this song, his version was the most successful. 2 Grammy Awards, 112 artistes recorded, A-Hurtin' and 10s of millions of records sold.

He was a big scene in Singapore 60s with a huge following and his hits being sung at T-Dances, cabarets and nightclubs by local pop singers. The ladies love him with his own dreamy eyes and handsome features. In the early 80s, he was on a singing tour that included Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. 

He died at 86 years. "And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone..."

Johnny Tillotson: Poetry In Motion. 1974.
YouTube Video by: RGM304

Val Kilmer passed away at 65 on the same date and was in the forefront on the silver screen when he took the Bruce Wayne/Batman role in 1995 with Batman Forever. It became a financial success. His movies included, Top Gun, Tombstone, The Doors, Iceman and others. His last movie was in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick. 

Henry IV [1], Hamlet, As You Like It, are plays written by William Shakespeare and Kilmer appeared in these productions on Broadway around the 80's and 90's. A Shakespearean actor too! That meant a lot!

These two stars are personal favourites of mine and Tillotson, together with Presley, Humperdinck, Jones and Darin were the most influential pop singers that period. Kilmer, a personal opinion, with his rugged and tough guy looks had the suave and personality to be Batman and Hamlet; two entirely different scripts and roles to decipher and act out!

Rest In Peace Johnny Tillotson and Val Kilmer. 

Comments are welcome.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer: 'Batman Forever': 10/10 Movie Clip.
I Have A Riddle For You [1995] HD.
YouTube Video from: Movieclips

Disclaimer:

Informational extracts have been taken from the Internet but the article above is not AI generated but a personal composition and opinion. 

Images: Google.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

'Music Maker' [1963] Richard Anthony: Dedicated To All Music Makers


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'Music Maker' sung by Richard Anthony. 
YouTube Video by: RockFur2
Richard Anthony passed away on 19.04.2015.

Romanticism At Its Most Eager

Richard Anthony:

Many music lovers are aware of Ray Anthony the 1950's famous band leader and trumpeter. Shakespearean lovers would be aware of Mark Antony, Caesar's loyal friend in the play who was also with Cleopatra. 

Not many though would remember Richard Anthony, the French singer who recorded a song that I love, even till today. 

This post is dedicated to all music makers... 

French singer The late Richard Anthony
sings 'Music Maker'

Music Maker

[1] Let them build a tower to the stars

I don't care what others do

I just wanna be your music maker

And sing my song to you

 

[2] Let them build a bridge of steel and stone

Mountain high and oceans long

I just wanna be your music maker

And link our hearts with a song

 

Long as, I have music and the words to sing

If you're, there to sing to

I have everything


[3] Let the others look for fame and fortune

This is all I want to do

I just wanna be a music maker

And sing my song to you

 

Long as, I have music and the words to sing

If you're, there to sing to

I have everything


[3] Let the others look for fame and fortune

This is all I want to do

I just wanna be a music maker

And sing my song to you

I just wanna be a music maker

And sing my song to you...


Composers: Sid Tepper n Roy C. Bennett 

Orchestra: Arranged/conducted by Ivor Remonde

Columbia Records 1963.

Band leader / trumpeter 1950's
Ray Anthony

Julius Caesar's friend. With Cleopatra too.
 Mark Antony.

Any more Anthonys that you might remember?
Hmmm! What about Marc Anthony, who used 
to be with Jennifer Lopez? A list indeed...

And the songs Richard Anthony sings?
He sings English songs in French too.
Do you know any of them? Here's one below:

Richard Anthony: 'Peggye Sue' in French.
YouTube Video by: sadonani59

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Mid Autumn Festival - Harvest Moon - An International Festival [中秋 - 丰收月是国际性的]


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The Mid-Autumn Festival or Harvest Moon Festival 
is celebrated by almost everyone in the world. 
The article below discusses the nationals that do. 
The song Shine On Harvest Moon explains it too.

''Since January, February, June and July,
S'no time, ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon.
So shine on, shine on harvest moon
For me and my gal/guy...''

The moon is usually a romantic symbol of love.

''Do not swear by the moon, for she changes constantly. 
Then your love would also change.'' 
[Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare].


Image from - twinkl.co.uk [Singapore]

 The Chinese celebrate it traditionally by eating moon-cakes and 
praying to the Moon Goddess for prosperity. Like the roundness 
of the moon, it's for completeness and unity in family.

Shine On Harvest Moon [1955] - The 4 Aces
YouTube Video from 'CatsPjamas1'
Thank You.

Have a grand tong chu pia eating spree everyone.
Cheers.

Connect To Other Moon Festival Postings On This Blog
And Listen To Chinese Songs




Neil Young - Harvest Moon [1992]
YouTube video from vikoRock10
Thank you.


Images and YouTube Video - 
In case of copyright issues, will be deleted immediately.
Please inform on Comment page.

Cinema Poster From 'Shine On Harvest Moon'

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Andy 60s: Music References By William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet (Parting is such sweet sorrow) : A painting by Frank Madox Brown (1870).

"Who is it in the press that calls on me,
I hear a tongue shriller than all the music..."

William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 - 23 April 1616) made more than 500 references to music in his plays, sonnets, and poems. Do you know from which play the above quotation came from? No romance here, but a tragedy indeed.

Below are 6 meager samplings of some of them. Images are also shown of musical instruments used during that period.
 Musicians: Baroque Artists, Dutch; Artist: Dirck Hals; Oil On Wood; The Hermitage; St. Petersburg, Russia, 1623.
(1)
Romeo:
It is my soul that calls upon my name.
How silver-sweet sound lover's tongue by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!

(Romeo and Juliet: 2: 2)
A guitar-like musical instrument used during the Elizabethan period in England in the 14th and 15th Century, the golden age of English history, when Queen Elizabeth I was the ruler.
Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits (1980) composed by Mark Knopfler.


The Taming of The Shrew (Katharina and Petruchio); Artist: Washington Alston 1809; South Carolina US.

(2)
Lucentio:
Preposterous ass, that never was so far to know the cause that music was ordain'd!  Was it not to refresh the mind of man after his studies or his usual pain?

(The Taming of the Shrew: 3: 1)

A modern interpretation from Bristol's Old Vic in 2018 supplied by Mature Times

(3)
Orsino: 
If music be the food of love, play on...

(Twelfth Night: 1: 1)
(4)
Lorenzo:
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sound,
Is fit for treason, stratagems, and spoils...

(The Merchant of Venice: 5: 1)
The Egyptian Queen: 19th Century engraving: Granger Collection New York

(5)
Cleopatra:
Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love

(Anthony and Cleopatra: 2: 5)


US President Ulysses Grant asks Senator Carl Schurz to play on a flute he proffers using the same Shakespearean quote.

(6)
Hamlet:
Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?
Call me what instrument you will,
Though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me.

(Hamlet: 3: 2)
Love theme from 'Romeo and Juliet' called, A Time for Us' by Henry Mancini in 1968.

Images and Videos from Google and YouTube Subscribers.

Image from EricBronson Wong [HongKong] showing scenes 
from the movie versions of 'Romeo and Juliet'.