Aug 12
Video: Judi Dench at the Proms
I love this woman for her enormous talent, her intelligence and beauty and most of all for her courage. To see her in this unusual, but oh-so-dear haunt of my student years has touched my heart. And currently, in my life . . . she says it all.
You may need to scroll down a little if you want to read the lyrics:
Isn’t it rich? Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground and you in mid-air
Send in the clowns
Isn’t it bliss? Don’t you approve?
One who keeps tearing around and one who can’t move
But where are the clowns? Send in the clowns
Just when I stopped opening doors
Finally finding the one that I wanted was yours
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines
No one is there
Don’t you love farce? My fault, I fear
I thought that you’d want what I want, sorry my dear
But where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns
Don’t bother they’re here
Isn’t it rich? Isn’t it queer?
Losing my timing this late in my career
But where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns
Well, maybe next year
September 19th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Glorious, P! But this vid has been removed so I searched youtube for another. Found the same one, fabulous, which then led to an earlier one, which if you are ready with the tissues you may enjoy even more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rEhOnd8S-8
Look forward to seeing you dancing before too long!
xx
September 19th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Dear Morgan – thanks so much for finding this, you’re correct, I like it even more than the first one. What an actress she is! And, I have always loved this particular song, so to have this earlier version is wonderful.
September 19th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
I have to say that another “corny” song I adore is “Alfie”. Was hoping to find a classic Dionne Warwick version but this one by Cilla stunned me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAuoNa5g6i8
She is not even looking at the composer/conductor Burt Bacharach. Just flowing. Amazing what a little hat-check girl from Liverpool can do! We all have it inside us somewhere! I am going to have a crack at this song myself one day.
M xx
September 19th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Extended version with interviews here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc1bf7pbRnU
M xx
September 19th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
WOW – what a voice! Why don’t they sing with that innocence and purity any more? Any one else reading this might like to know that Morgan Fisher is an exceptional, published composer in his own right. Morgan, maybe you could do a retro something-or-other to capture that time and space. It may not be in your remit – but it’s an idea! x P
September 19th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Not a question of retro – just a pure melody and lyric grabbing me like crazy! But yeah, people like Cilla sang that way because No-one Had Done It Before – or at least not on TV/radio for the world to see/hear – whereas now all the musical kids have to try and emulate the brilliant music of their parents – poor things. I mean, what to do if your mum and dad already love Hendrix, the Pistols, etc…? We were lucky that our folks loved things we could easily rebel against. Not easy being young these days I reckon. Never easy, I suppose…
M xx
September 19th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Oh by the way there is, or was, one young man who sang with innocence and purity in recent years – Jeff Buckley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKnxmkOAj88
Tragically he died young in a drowning accident. really a shame, but he left a good recorded legacy.
M xx