LOVE SONGS... and Musical Birthdays

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Happy Birthday to you

We all sing "Happy Birthday to you". But when the person sung for is "Mr. President", we would only remember Marilyn Monroe... among the most popular American actress of all time, model and singer... who was born on this day in 1926... 90 years ago...

There's been a time in all of our lives, where our favorite music has been LOVE SONGS. I remember back in the '80s where people would record their favorite collection of Love Songs on an audio cassette (some of you may never have seen one) and gift it to the boy or a girl they've loved. And they would play it on and on again... till the tape would wear out. 

In the 2000s, they probably burned a selection on CD... (I don't know what it would be today)... I've received many Wedding and Anniversary giveaways including the couple's favorite songs... and most of them would be love songs.

Was going through the list of #MusicalBirthdays today... and came across a common thread that connected many of the singer who celebrate their birthday today... 'a song of love'...

Pat Boone was a successful singer of the 1950s and 60s with 'Love Letters in the Sand'... also an actor and the television personality having his own show. I know my dad sang many of the songs he did. 

But I know the 80s... Another actor-singer with a birthday today is from Down Under. Australian Jason Donovan got initial fame in #Neighbours - the Australian soap that still continues... (I remember watching a few seasons on TV). He played the role of Scott alongside Kylie (Charlene). While they were understood to be dating, their characters got married on screen. Here's their most popular duet - "Especially For You" 

Going back to the American country, with a duo this time - Ronnie Dunn (one-half of Brooks and Dunn) was born on 1st June 1953. And they have an answer to Marilyn Monroe. 

We all enjoy the Love Ballads. What's yours? Go ahead... List your top three love songs...

Gold and Diamonds - The Highlight of Festivities

Mumbai is all aglow. The Diwali festivities have begun with Dhanteras today. While the focus of the day is on gold and precious jewelry, I thought I'd keep this post all glittering with a peek into some precious songs.

I asked my friends on a couple of Social Network groups to list songs they know with 'Gold' or 'Diamonds' in the title. I was surprised at the number of party and Mumbai Masala songs they came up with - "Golden chains around her neck, whose lovely daughter is she?" and "Golden tiles on the top of the house" - songs I know sung in English, Marathi and Konkani at least. Other contributions includes some of Bollywood's tunes that I don't quite recall. And talking about movies, I can think of two James Bond 007 movies with Gold in their titles - Goldfinger (1964) and Golden Eye (1995).

Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey

Gold was not sufficient for James Bond and they even had to go for Diamond. "Diamonds are Forever"

Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey

Leave the spies alone, Diamonds were also a topic of discussion in the romantic comedy of the 50s, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" - featuring Marilyn Monroe telling us that "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" - a song covered more recently by Madonna and Nicole Kidman and so many others. Do you want to know why? 

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend - Marilyn Monroe

In 2012, 'Diamonds' was a big winner for Rihanna.

Diamonds - Rihanna

And while on the theme of Gold and Diamonds, the 'true gold' is what we see in the fields of a good harvest. 

Fields of Gold - Sting

Have a wonderful festive season. And enjoy the holidays...



(Thanks to all my friends on MCI and FB who listed possible songs for inclusion in this post)