American Composer Burt Bacharach Passes Away.

American legendary composer, record producer, songwriter and pianist Mr Burt Freeman Bacharach (1928 – 2023) passed away yesterday, of natural causes, aged 94 years.

One of the most important composers of 20th-century popular music, he composed hundreds of pop songs, often in collaboration with fellow lyricist Hal David, which he met at the Brill Building in New York City, and thus began their writing partnership which included:- ‘The Story of My Life‘; – ‘Make It Easy on Yourself ‘; – ‘This Guy’s in Love with You‘; – ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head‘; – ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself‘; – ‘Wishin’ and Hopin‘; – ‘Walk on By‘; – ‘Always Something There to Remind Me‘; – ‘What the World Needs Now is Love‘; – ‘What’s New Pussycat?‘; – ‘The Look of Love‘; – ‘I Say a Little Prayer‘; – ‘Do You Know the Way to San Jose?‘; – ‘They Long to Be Close to You‘, – ‘Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)‘ and ‘That’s What Friends Are For‘.

Among his lifetime achievements were Six Grammy Awards; Three Academy Awards; The George and Ira Gershwin Award, for Musical Achievement; An Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music; The Thornton Legacy Award USC; National Academy Of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), New York Heroes Award; and The Polar Music Prize, latter presented in Stockholm by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

In his private life Mr Bacharach was married four times. His first wife was Paula Stewart for five years (1953–1958). His second marriage, to actress Angie Dickinson, lasted 15 years (1965–1980). The couple had a daughter (Nikki Bacharach), latter who died of suicide in January 2007, at the age of 40.
His third marriage was to lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, which lasted for nine years (1982–1991) during which they adopted a son named Cristopher Elton Bacharach.
His fourth wife, was Jane Hansen, whom he wed in 1993. Together they had two children, a son named Oliver and a daughter named Raleigh.

His autobiography, ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart‘, was published in 2013.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Lyrics: American folk singer and social activist Peter Seeger.
Vocals: British-Irish singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Chris de Burgh.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing,
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago,
Where have all the flowers gone, picked by young girls every one.
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing,
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago,
Where have all the young girls gone, gone to young men every one,
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone, long time passing,
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago,
Where have all the young men gone, gone to soldiers every one,
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing,
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago,
Where have all the soldiers gone, they’ve gone to graveyards every one,
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing,
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago,
Where have all the graveyards gone, gone to flowers every one,
When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?

End

Same Old Hurt.

Vocals: American Musician, Actor, Radio Host and author Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives. (Burl Ives 1909 – 1995).
Lyrics: Nashville singer & songwriter Hank Cochran (Real Name: Garland Perry Cochran)

“Same Old Hurt”

‘Got that same old hurt in my heart.’

Got a new house with new lumber.
Even got a new phone number.
Did it all since we broke apart.
Got acquainted with new faces.
Started going to new places,
But I’ve got that same old hurt in my heart.

Got a new suit for next Sunday.
Got a new job starting Monday.
Got everybody thinking I’m half smart.
Got a new vocabulary.
Even got a new canary,
But I’ve got that same old hurt in my heart.

No matter what I change,
Same old hurt stays the same,
Always there reminding me that we’re apart.
Got a new wallet full of money.
Got a new girl that calls me ‘Honey’,
But I’ve got that same old hurt in my heart.

No matter what I change
That same old hurt, it stays the same.
It’s always there reminding me that we’re apart.
Got a new wallet full of money.
Got a new girl that calls me ‘Honey’,
But I’ve got that same old hurt in my heart.

‘Got that same old hurt in my heart.’

END

Words.

“Words”.

“Always engage brain before operating mouth.” Same was a regular piece of advice doled out by Eliza Jane, my Grandmother.

Proverbs 15:28: “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

According to the late Robin Gibb (CBE), (1949 – 2012) of the musical group, “Bee Gees” the song ‘Words’ reflected a mood, and was originally written following an argument. Barry and Robin Gibb had both been arguing with someone, about absolutely nothing. They were just words, however, as we all appreciate, the spoken words can make a person happy or words can make a person sad and angry.

Vocals: Bee Gees
Lyrics: Maurice Ernest Gibb; Robin Hugh Gibb and Barry Alan Gibb

Smile an everlasting smile,
A smile can bring you near to me.
Don’t ever let me find you gone,
‘Cause that would bring a tear to me.
This world has lost its glory.
Let’s start a brand new story now, my love.
Right now, there’ll be no other time,
And I can show you how, my love.
Talk in everlasting words,
And dedicate them all to me,
And I will give you all my life.
I’m here if you should call to me.
And you think that I don’t even mean,
A single word I say.
It’s only words and words are all I have,
To take your heart away.
And you think that I don’t even mean,
A single word I say.
It’s only words and words are all I have,
To take your heart away.
It’s only words and words are all I have,
To take your heart away.
It’s only words.

END

“The Banshees Of Inisherin” Nominated For An Incredible Nine Academy Awards.

A massive congratulations must go to the three Thurles performers, namely Thurles actress Ms Kerry Condon and Thurles actors Mr Brendan Gleeson and Mr Pat Shortt, latter whom today contributed to the awarding of no less than 9 Academy Award nominations, for the film “The Banshees Of Inisherin”.

The nine nominations are as follows:-

Best Director: Martin McDonagh.
Best Movie: “The Banshees of Inisherin”.
Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Farrell.
Film Editing: Mikkel E. G. Nielsen.
Best Supporting Actors: Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan.
Best Supporting Actress: Kerry Condon.
Original Screenplay: Martin McDonagh.
Original Score: Carter Burwell.

In all Ireland had a record day in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, picking up in total 14 nominations in advance of this year’s Oscars.

An Cailín Ciúin ( Irish – ‘The Quiet Girl’ ) has made history by becoming the first Irish-language film ever to be nominated as ‘Best International Film’.
Maynooth born, Irish actor Mr Paul Mescal has been nominated as best actor for his role in “Aftersun”.
Irish animator, Mr Richard Baneham has been nominated in the best-visual-effects race for Avatar: ‘The Way of Water’.
Dublin’s Mr Jonathan Redmond alongside Australian film editor Mr Matt Villa, has been nominated in the best-editing category for Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’.
Hailing from England and Ireland respectively, co-writer/directors Mr Tom Berkeley and Mr Ross White’s Northern Irish film ‘An Irish Goodbye’; shot in rural Northern Ireland, has been nominated for ‘Best Live-Action Short’.