For you diehard Queen fans, go to YouTube or your favorite online collection of live performances – wherever that may be – and find a live version of Freddie singing this with Queen; Brian May on acoustic guitar. Absolutely gives me chills not only listening to Freddie sing the song, but commanding the stage and the audience.
To my favorite Auntie Cynthia of San Diego…I believe this is one of your favorites…
Did you ever listen to a song where the lyrics, music, tone…everything just perfectly fits? Here’s one of them, and Elton – with Bernie Taupin – probably has more songs in that category than anyone. From the opening note on this song to the end, everything fits.
It’s the title track from my absolutely favorite Elton John album, and one of my favorite Elton songs. Challenging song to sing – I hope I did it at least some justice. Watching a few Elton live performances of this song provided some inspiration. Liner note credit to our 5-month old Golden Retriever puppy, Stella, whose collar can be heard at the beginning of the song. I call it her tambourine. Kinda like the little girl in The Partridge Family.
This has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs. I remember first hearing the version by The Eagles when I was a kid, but over time I’ve discovered several other versions that are equally as good, the best of which is by Aaron Neville. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
If you grew up on Long Island, NY back in the late 1970s to mid 1980s as I did, you might remember the radio station WBAB (102.3 on your FM dial). Back then, they played what was known as “AOR” – album oriented rock – meaning they were classic rock songs but they could play any song on an album; not just the songs that the computers and programmers told them to play, and this was one of the Billy Joel songs that they would play that few other stations would (“A six minute song? Oh my goodness!”). And whenever they played a Billy Joel song, they would start by saying “Here’s a song by Long Island’s own…Billy Joel.” Always one of my favorite Billy Joel songs, this one goes out to my buddies that I grew up with.
Really Dave? Haven’t we heard this song a million times? Correct we have, but if ever a time to revisit a song about making it through tough times to not only survive but live strong and thrive, 2020 was that time. And to sing a Queen song that has the amazing vocals of Freddie Mercury! Honestly I can’t sing like Freddie, but it’s fun to try. While we’ll all be glad to put 2020 behind us, I’ll look back on it in many ways, but one was to end up spending more time with something that is not just a hobby for me, but a true passion – music. However good at it I may or may not be, the journey is da thing…and it’s a fun one.
Sara Smile is one of my favorite Hall and Oates songs. Daryl Hall can sing R&B soul like nobody’s business, and the way he can ad lib at the end of a song is awesome. If you listen to live versions of their songs, he rarely sings songs the same way twice, keeping it interesting for him and the audience.
Ah what the heck – one more song from “Long Island’s own” – Billy Joel. Another one of my favorite’s from him. “Slow down you crazy child…” – I’ve heard Billy interviewed about this song, and he wrote it about and for himself. Not to sound preachy (ok I do), but there’s a message in there for all of us. š
Definitely one of my all-time favorite Van Halen songs, this one goes out to the late great Eddie Van Halen. Off their first album, when the sound was raw, sounded like they just plugged in and hit record. Eddie’s guitar on this one is absolutely amazing. Love to do it live with the band, and our guitarist Arthur does Eddie justice. Rock on!
A bunch of songs from Dave Yarin and not one Beatles song? C’mon Dave give us a break. Here ya go…one of my faves from the Fab Four. From the Abbey Road Studios rooftop…
Photo taken by and courtesy of Beth Murphy
Rockin’ out on stage with my guitarist Arthur and our band – Jeremiah Circle. Look very closely and you’ll see our drummer John’s leg behind us, and our bass player Brian’s fingers to the side. You’re welcome John and Brian! š
