Thursday, February 01, 2007

how even schlock can be impactful

i actually got teared up watching "american idol" from last night. you have to be no older than 28 to audition, but this old dude showed up. he had a petition of 330 signatures with him. when he went in front of simon, randy, paula and guest olivia newton-john, he admitted he wasn't eligibile, but he told them his story.

his wife was diagnosed with cancer. he thought it would be funny and easing for her if he got people to sign a petition for him to audition. they laughed about it. it helped pass the time.

anyways, just two days before the show, she passed away.

and this sweet man said that he believes that this petition helped make her passing a little bit softer. and so he was here before them to sing "you belong to me" in a tribute to the woman he loved.

and he rocked it. beautifully.

when he left (after shaking everyone's hands), he looked at the camera and said, "today, i won".

and some people say there's nothing but junk on tv.

anyways, i went on itunes to buy the song, and it's essentially been recorded by everybody - from dean martin to patsy cline to bob dylan to johnny mathis to bing crosby to anita baker to sam cooke to jerry lee lewis, and they also have the versions from patti page and also from jo stafford. i played the 30 second cuts of them, and they all have different musical twists and inflections. different flairs, if you will.

but whenever i think of that song, the music is clean. there's no harps or whistles or anything about the music that draws attention to itself. the song is meant to be not only a love affair between singer and muse, but it's a romance of vocals and lyrics. and, in my head, when i think of that song, the background is simple, almost bassy, and i hear a strong voice sing the hell out of it.

and it's not from anyone from above. can anyone help me on this? here's the wikipedia entry for that song and everyone who sang it. anyone? help.

but, to be honest, even if i find that perfect version of that song lingering in my head, it still doesn't match what that old man sang on "idol". that was truly sung from his heart, from him to his love, eloquent, elegant and touching.

somewhere, she smiles.

See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sunrise on a tropic isle
Just remember darlin' all the while
You belong to me

See the market place in Old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me

I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too, and blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember 'til you're home again
You belong to me

I'm gonna be so alone without you
And I'm hopin' maybe you'll be lonesome, too, and blue

Fly that ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember til you're home again
You belong to me


beautiful.

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