Content (by award-chronological order):
Additional information:
About:
All of my comments on this channel (award) are my personal opinion, have no relation to any organization or company.
This is derivation of SoPeRe Music Award. Contain award winner performances which originated from North America.
Editor´s remark: Listen music with non English lyrics for many people can be unpleasant. But song with in its original lyrics is expressive and can transmit more feeling.
All By Myself
SongWriter: Eric Carmen, Sergei Rachmaninoff
Award winner is: Céline Dion vocal, Live in Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden, 12 Aug 2008, Click here
Reference for comparison: Celine Dion vocal, Grammy Awards 1997, Click here
Backstage: Céline Dion - Dressing Room Rehearsal (from the film "Through The Eyes Of The World") Click here .
Backstage: Céline Dion - A New Day... ALL ACCESS (Backstage, Las Vegas 2007) - FULL DOCUMENTARY HD Click here .
The award winner performance and recording open some dispute for sure, because this is not a standard interpretation of a song.
The song "All By Myself" tell about feeling everybody have experience from own life. Time go forward, and this why every people lost something. Song "All By Myself" explain this feeling in art level. But this message locked deep in a song. To free it need fire of CD´s interpretation and performance.
Many devotee of CD imagine the singer in a cage of a show, where all tone and movement predesigned. There is no freedom of art. But few times somebody forgot to lock door of this cage. If it is happened, then CD got a “free space” for performance (see backstage)? to free all of own emotions, break its own barrier and transmit feeling of a song to audience like never before or after.
The award winner performance is a very good example for this. Sing this song with piano, voice alone and together with the band in front of 15T people is quality of just the greatest singers. I can say this was a moment when CD grow up for "All By Myself". This performance is extracting CD from a show and rise up to level of a deep art. Moreover deliver for the audience unrepeatable particular interpretation and performance of a song.
If you do not believe me just look first hand movement of CD. Its tell everything. For this song the show just symbolic because this is art now.
This performance (exceptionally) was live, not a playback. Moreover inspiration by audience and the live recording was essential for this level of performance.
The audio and video recording was good but not perfect.
What can be little bit better is CD´s makeup, cloth and hair, and choreography for CD (for this song).
Walk On By
SongWriter: composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David
Award winner is: Diana Krall piano and vocal, (Live In Rio de Janeiro), Arranger ?!, Nov 2008, Click here .
The award winner performance is a special one. Exactly say this is an professional improvisation on this song with orchestra.
This song is from Burt Bacharach. The composer is a legend and the song is legendary too.
Then how it possible to do any special with? For example by jazz style improvisation. But improvisation is mostly dangerous. Entice to improvising just for improvisation, which push to lost meaning and message of a song.
Instead DK´s performance is fund a well narrow way. Improvising like DK, but much as possible transmit meaning and message of a song. Every song has its own aura, but sometimes singer forgot it. Sometimes improvise just for the improvisation and lead far listener from the original song. Brilliance of DK´s interpretation is extracting listener from original song for seconds without break its aura, break its melody. Moreover Diana´s style and song interpretation itself is an adventure. I become a feeling this is a top of a world.
Every time when I hear this song I ask a question: how this song found a way to this concert? It is much more "professional" and serious than other song in.
But this is not all. The performance of leading instruments and the orchestra was near perfect. Just look faces of leading instrument musicians. This is only song of a concert use most resources of.
Audio and video crew done a very good job (within limitations). Normally instruments of brass and string section are recorded by individual mic. But strong character of a brass instrument are destroy the aura of a recording. This audio crew exceptionally chosen to recording string and brass section by concert hall mic. In this way include moderated reflection and join effect of a room (concert hall). The result is exceptional fine join of orchestra to leading instruments and to a leading vocal. Other words the best recording way is recognized by audio crew.
Last dance
SongWriters: Paul Jabara for film Thank God It´s Friday
Award winner is: Donna Summer vocal, Night of the Proms, Orchestra Il Novecento, conducted by Robert Groslot, Arranger ?!, Sportpaleis Antwerp Belgium, 2005, Click here .
Reference: Donna Summer, 2009, Live at Nobel Peace Prize Concert Oslo City Hall Norway, Click here .
Reference: Donna Summer, from VH1 Presents Live, 1999, Click here .
Reference: Donna Summer, original video, 1978, Click here
The song is winner of more other award and today is a classic disco song. Explain feeling "this is your last dance" and "this is your last chance" in its special artistic way.
PJ the songwriter use a special way to encapsulate emotion into this song. The slow intro represent well the hesitation for "last chance for last dance". And then core of a song radiate irresistible rhythm to command your feet to dance. This why Last dance as song is unique and become a classic song.
To find the award winner one for me was little bit painful. I have a first issue of this song on mono vinyl. Fortunately there is just a few changes in performance of.
This song belong to DS, there is no question. But what performance of is fit for SoPeRe award? During decades this song become a classic. This is why performance of get better and better orchestration and more freedom to present its emotional content.
If I rate nominees just by DS performance, then 2009 at Oslo is a best. Close to the first video from 1978. But this is SoPeRe award. Therefore the winner is performance 2005 at Antwerp.
The award winner performance is not a best ever of DS. What I miss from is performance freedom of a leading vocal. But performance of the background vocal and mainly the all orchestra was near perfect. Believe me, to play this song not an easy task for the orchestra but done it well. Other key element is a background vocal. It is easy to destroy the all song if the background vocal not found harmony with leading vocal and the orchestra. But fortunately in this performance both key element found its well place in a song. The audio and video recorded well too. The song is find a clear way to audience of a concert hall. But performance of DS was better at Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2009. Instead the overall rating of performance and recording was better at Night of the Proms 2005. This is why it is a winner.
About the 2009 at Oslo performance. Up to this all DS performance (for me) was like examination in a Victorian school. Was no any kind of artist´s freedom in. But in this concert DS step into next dimension of a song performance. At this performance I saw DS as bird free from its cage and I saw how DS step into freedom of an artist. My only lament is for arrangement of background singers. This is like for a gospel song, not suitable for this performance. The recording was not a best one. Therefore this overall performance it is not worth SoPeRe award.
Come On Over (Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You))
SongWriters: Johan Aberg and Paul Rein , with Christina Aguilera, Ron Fair, C. Blackmon, R. Cham, E. Dawkins, Shelly Peiken, and Guy Roche.
Award winner is: Christina Aguilera vocal, Stripped live tour, London Wembley Arena, 2003, no online reference found, as taste Click here .
This song is a special romantic (love) song. It contain many emotion, but need special talent to free it from music sheet. The song has Jazz, Acoustic and (in my opinion) Clip version. The official version is a Clip.
The winner performance is based on Acoustic version of this song.
Harmony of a leading vocal, three background vocal and three leading musical instrument is exceptional. With the background vocal, its harmony and its audio representation on a recording is incredible. This is the moment where the "band" is find harmony of performance and emotional content of this song.
But CA´s style make it unique, even it is some kind of unplugged experiment. The young CA´s style is perfectly match to this song and able to free all emotion from. Moreover the “stripped concept” for this song mean: stripped from any unwanted show and music element. The only show element is a claret-coloured hat (to hide CA). But this is all and no more what this song and performance need. As result, this performance shift song to a level of deep art.
Looks like the “band” find this harmony in NYC and Mexico for MTV special at year 2002: Click here and Click here . And London was a best place to perform this for audience.
The audio crew is done a well job. Harmony of a leading and background vocal and the leading musical instrument is near prefect. This may can be done jut at Wembley Arena.
The video crew find a right angle over the all performance and the lighting was perfect for. Moreover in a right moment the crew found angle to below the hat, and show CA´s face.
For me the official clip is far away from this performance and smell “mass clip production”.
What I miss (as maximalist) from the first moment when I heard this song is a string section as background instruments (instead keyboard). Ok I know the budget, but this performance is (can) worth.
My Way
SongWriter: Jacques Revaux, English lyrics by Paul Anka
Award winner is: Michael James Hucknall vocal and Simply Red orchestra, (Symphonica in Rosso), Live at Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam; 28 October 2017, Official concert recording, Click here .
Reference for comparison: Frank Sinatra; 2008 remastered, UMG; Producer: Charles Pignone; Conductor: Don Costa; Click here .
The award winner performance and recording open some dispute for sure.
My Way is one of an iconic song of a music world. Music and lyrics express feeling a point of life where after a long way people become close to the final point. Therefore this song is fit for greatest male and female senior singers. Other side performance of are very sensitive.
Song My Way is performed by countless singers. Most of people associate the best performance to Frank Sinatra. The interpretation of a song and orchestra at year 70´s can transmit feelings of a song best as possible. Even more than 56M listen of this recording (video) are tell near all.
But maybe because the concert hall, the audience or personal reason by my ratings the award winner is the best one. Maybe exceptional warm-up provided by “Rosso” concert for this song. The “Rosso” orchestra and leading vocal of MJH at this point of time was capable to provide the best known performance. Transmit more feeling and express the all song better than any other after or before. And finally (please forgive me) MJH performance style can encapsulate more felling than FS performance, and the do it.
The audio recording was good but not perfect. The video recording quality was good but editor sometimes miss the best angle and distance.
Laughter in the rain
SongWriters: Neil Sedaka, lyrics by Phil Cody
Award winner is: Neil Sedaka, 1974, Audio: The 1974 single version, Click here and Click here where video is Neil´s live performances on "Sedaka in Concert", and a 1983 BBC broadcast.
Song: Idea to bring happiness into a rainy day is unique (except Singing In The Rain by Gene Kelly). Use song, lyrics, orchestration, harmony in a master way to transmit and explain it to the audience. Use a string section of orchestra and the background signers to amplify to free emotional content of this song. If someone listen this song, then can believe there is some happiness in the falling rain.
Up to this time NS´s own classic performance is the best one. Looks like he understand own song better than any other performer. The background vocal and the orchestra provide best background for this performance. And finally NS´s performance style and personality itself bring warm and happiness into a falling rain.
Quality of the audio recording is good (LP?) even track is originated from single 1974.
History reference: Neil Sedaka - Laughter In The Rain - Professor of Rock´s The Story Of, Click here
Beauty and the Beast (of film Beauty and the Beast 2018)
SongWriters: Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice
Award winner is: Emma Thompson vocal and Disney orchestra, 2018, Click here .
The song itself is a masterpiece, radiate influence of TR. My only worry is, the song is modified on some point to adapting to a film´s scene (because it is key song of a film). This little bit degrade emotional radiation and value of this song.
First, ET is an actress who can sing. She´s performance as actress in this film (in my opinion) not a classiest one. But she´s voice as Mrs. Pott a teapot is incredible. Every word of she´s voice has own message and transform a single teapot into life.
This song is performed by many great singer, but only ET can understand and reflect fully its emotional message. She´s performance do it at high artistic level, and Disney orchestra well framing this performance. Looks like just ET the actress and Disney orchestra together have capability to explain and perform well emotional content of a song.
Quality of a audio recording is good. But I miss a LPCM audio track for.
Falling Into You
SongWriter: Marie-Claire D´Ubaldo, Rick Nowels, Billy Steinberg
Award winner is: Celine Dion, San Remo, Recorded by Italian State Television RaiUno at theatre Ariston, 22 of March 1996, Click here .
Reference for comparison: Marie-Claire D´Ubaldo, original CD, 1994, Click here .
The song itself is reflecting well feeling of "Falling Into You" and (I can say) itself is a masterwork.
The writer and first performer MCD is free near every feeling locked in the song. MCD ‘s performance is very good. CD´s studio album is walk in a same way. But looks like environment of San Remo and a big amount of praise and flattering boost CD to better performance than its own studio recording in a same year. Perform it with more empathy than any performance before or after. Exactly say this performance is expose and transmit all what is in this song and very close (I say) to perfect.
Other words this performance exceptionally worth SoPeRe award because add something for originally high value performance.
Stranger In Paradise
SongWriter: music composed by Alexander Borodin, Robert Wright, George Forrest
Award winner is: Sarah Brightman, Arabian Nights, The Harem World Tour, Live from Las Vegas, 2004, Click here .
This song originated from 19th century, and become popular song for musical Kismet at middle of 20th century. It is a fine art, where this song explain a moment when somebody found its lover. In this way song become an all-time classic.
As classic this song performed by many top singer. But (I think) SB is a best ever performer for this song. SB itself master of classic song performances. She´s voice is enough wonderful for. But over decades she perform this song in countless time. So which one is the best? I think the award winner performance is. Maybe the sparkling hungry environment, maybe the audience, maybe the show, but this performance is a better I found.
Because it is Las Vegas, quality of video recording is better than audio. But because performance of SB is so exceptional, this recording is worth SoPeRe award.
Alone Again (Naturally)
SongWriter: Gilbert O´Sullivan
Award winner is: Michael Bublé & Diana Krall, 2014, Ar: David Foster, Chris Walden, Click here .
The song itself is a ballad. Reflect with many emotions sad of the songwriter about lost its parents. And reflect at deep art level, because based on personal experience of GOS.
To perform, it is a very sensitive song. But fortunately DK´s performance style naturally and perfectly fit for a song. DK need no any word of lyrics to transmit full emotional message of a song.
But unfortunately MB at first part of a song sing MB instead a song. But for a second part wake up and pass to DK by style. At this moment the performance become a real pearl, and performance of both singer reflect emotional message of a song.
Because it is a studio recording, the audio quality of is good.
All the Way
SongWriter: Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn.
Award winner is: Celine Dion virtual duet with Frank Sinatra live, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1999, Click here .
As far as we known this performance was an experiment where CD sing a virtual duet with FS (recorded audio and video). Duet with FS itself is a challenge. Instead at performance CD put so many real feeling to the song. Looks like forget the show and exceptionally sing "by hart". Can anybody sing a ‘remember" duet with FS in other way? Later this song is appear in many concert with better recorded video performance, but CD never than this put this amount of feeling to performance.
This is why this performance worth SoPeRe award.
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
SongWriter: William "Pat" Best, Ivory "Deek" Watson
Award winner is: Rod Steward, from One Night Only! Live at Royal Albert Hall, 2004, Click here .
I agree with RS, this is a beautiful song filled with many emotions. Looks like this song is a good example for a song evolution. First performances of are vocal and orchestra like today but from songwriter viewpoint the orchestration has more freedom than near hundred year before.
As performer for this song without any doubt the best is RS. RS get experience for by Great American Songbook 1 and 2 and 3. And the concert "One Night Only" join a professional orchestra and arrangement for. The result is a real top performance explain well root of a song and well apply to demand of today´s audience. Moreover performance of RS together with orchestra free all feeling hide in a song.
For the audio and video recording have a perfect crew because we are in London and in Royal Albert hall. Therefore the audio and video recording quality is good. Editor´s remark: I miss a LPCM audio recording.
Sailing
SongWriter: Sutherland Brothers
Award winner is: Rod Steward; from One Night Only! Live at Royal Albert Hall, 2004, Click here .
The song is inspired for SB by real sailing, therefore hide many real emotions. Has two version, a original SB and a popular RS.
As performer for this song without any doubt the best is RS. Performance of SB are not uncover emotions hide in the song. The concert "One Night Only" join a professional orchestra, choir and arrangement for. The result is a real top performance explain well root of a song and well apply to demand of today´s audience. Moreover performance of RS together with orchestra free all feeling hide in a song.
For the audio and video recording have a perfect crew because we are in London and in Royal Albert hall. Therefore the audio and video recording quality is good. Editor´s remark: I miss a LPCM audio recording.
Somethin´ Stupid (Something Stupid)
SongWriter: C. Carson Parks
Award winner is: Frank and Nancy Sinatra, 1967, Album version, Click here .
This song is probably the most popular harmony song of a world. Explain well relation of two people who are very close to each other by emotion.
Ok. I agree. FS/NS interpretation is a "best known version". Some kind of tribute for CCP (songwriter of) is the version of RW/NK. Near the same interpretation and orchestration become big success 40 year later. Remember: the best songs never need a "modernization". Its best is the original version.
Ok there is some people say the NK/RW version of this song is the better one. I against. The NS/FS version is 40 years older recording than RW/NK one. This difference can cheat most of listener. But in my opinion the orchestra and guitar of NS/FS version is better than other one. Moreover this song is written for pair of singer where first singer is a leading vocal and the other singer just leaded by. Moreover this song is for singers who have some kind of spiritual relation to each other. NK/RW both are very good actress/actor, but nobody can just "play" spiritual relation required by this song. Moreover FS are much more leading vocal than NK or RW.
Walking on Sunshine
SongWriters: Kimberley Rew
Award winner is: Katrina and the Waves, Children in Need Rocks the 80s, from Wembley Arena, 2017, Click here .
First of all KR´s song are one of exceptional song, because its dynamic hide many emotion. Its written 40 years before, but today still have more "power" to unlock emotion from.
It is very hard to decide for the best performance. But looks like the community limitations of decades provide many help. The first 20 performing years of a song are never be limitless. Request less big balance and less fire from "fire Kate". Therefore as compromise I choose the award winner performance from 2017. From that point was no any limitation for music expression by community. This is way have less importance of Katrina ages. Its remarkable, the response and reaction of a young audience was very good for a near 40 year old song.
Because this a Wembley Arena the audio and video quality is a best.
This Is My Life
SongWriters: Bruno Canfora, Antonio Amurri, Norman Newell
Award winner is: Shirley Bassey, The Birthday Concert at Althorp Park England, Drg recording, 1997, Click here .
Can we rate song This Is My Life like song My Way. The songwriters hide many emotion in, wait to be free (perform).
Without doubt this song is belong to (Dame) SB, who perform this son many times. Every time when do it, then free more and more true emotion from. But which performance is the best? For SoPeRe I choose birthday concert from 1997 with reason. To perform this song need to be enough seasoned. This concert was some kind of high point for SB. Therefore this performance free and transmit more true emotion than no other after or before.
This recording has an speciality. It is an early DDD recording. Not perfect but good.
Never Never Never(Grande Grande Grande)
SongWriters: Tony Renis, Alberto Testa, Norman Newell
Award winner is: Shirley Bassey, The Birthday Concert at Althorp Park England, Drg recording, 1997, Click here .
This song is originally written with Italian language lyrics. Its English version lyrics written by NN later. But exceptionally this song with both lyrics are contain may emotion and have some radiation of fine romantic.
This song performed by many great singer in Italian and in English version including Mina, Viki Carr and Julio Iglesias. But for SoPeRe can SB performance can have enough artistic freedom to explain all emotion hide in this song. From all performance the best one is birthday concert from 1997. Looks like this point is when SB was enough and well adult to sing this song in a spectacular way.
Moreover, the orchestra, arrangement and audio mixing fill this recording with extra emotional radiation. This recording is one of exceptional one, because sometimes listener can really swim on sound of a recording.
And finally the experimental early DDD technology is bring some exceptional colour onto this recording.
What a wonderful world
SongWriters: Bob Thiele (as "George Douglas") and George David Weiss
Award winner is: Louis Armstrong, vinyl single of film "Good Morning Vietnam", 1988, Click here .
Reference: Rod Steward, from One Night Only! Live at Royal Albert Hall, 2004, Click here .
This song can be one of world classics traditional pop song. No other song can explain better how you think "what a wonderful world" in a middle of destruction and in a river of a death. But other side it is very hard to find a right performer for.
This song is performed by many singer including a great Rod at American Songbook. But looks like to put some essence is need to be live in time of war. This is why LA and only LA can be a best performer of this song. Exceptionally put so many real feeling in like no other performer. Moreover the film "Good Morning Vietnam" is boost many on this performance. The remastered recording is provide an extraordinary performance and explain all felling hide in a song and hide in history.
I´m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
SongWriters: written by Scottish duo The Proclaimers
Award winner is: Idina Menzel, live from Hackney Empire London, BBC Concert Orchestra, Conductor Mike Dixon, 2013, Click here (not a full quality publishing).
The song is sound like a Scottish folk-song. Other side it is dangerous. Its emotional content need a very careful and other sides a wild performance.
I run through many recording of this song. Based on, this performance by IM (wicked witch of west) is the best. Its dynamic make this performance unique and genuine. The Hackney Empire, the audience and the "return to England" felling just amplify value of a performance.
My only worry is the recording. It is done by BBC just for ad-hoc digital broadcasting. Its quality is not a best. But if I rate from SoPeRe viewpoint, then it is worth the award.
You Better Sit Down Kids
SongWriters: Sonny Bono, John Kander, Fred Ebb
Award winner is: Liza Minelli, from album Liza Minelli, A&M studio recording, 1968, Click here .
This song is originally written by SB for Cher. "Sung from a father´s perspective, the lyrics tell the story of a divorce as explained to the couple´s children". It hide many pain and emotion wait to free. Its highpoint by lyrics is "I too big to cry".
There is many catastrophic interpretation of this song. Instead can anybody say, this song belong to Cher. But I´m sure the performance by LM is the award winner one.
LM mainly actor and showwoman. Other side pain and emotion of a song was part of she´s past life. Therefore in theory she is a best performer for this song. But not just in theory, in the practice too. In this performance LM play an all scene in high artistic level even there is no any video recording. Put feelings in high artistic level to every word of the lyrics.
Even it is near more than 50 year old, the A&M recording is professional and reinforce emotional say of a song.
Everybody´s Talking (Everybody´s Talkin´)
SongWriters: Fred Neil (from film Midnight Cowboy)
Award winner is: Liza Minelli A&M Gold Series 1991 Probably recorded live at The Olympia In Paris 1972 (remixed version), No online source found, some taste Click here .
Reference for comparison: Liza Minelli, Live At The Olympia In Paris, A&M recording, 1972, Click here .
Reference for comparison: Harry Nilsson, song for film Midnight Cowboy, Click here .
This song is an iconic one. Well (and in best way) explain in artistic level a feeling when somebody think and fell much differently like its environment.
This song is performed by many great singer. But for SoPeRe I´m sure LM is a performer. Moreover listen LM´s related recordings I must say it is differ from each other. LM dynamic and and performance style wake up all emotion hide in a song. The simplicity of a band just emphasize message of a song.
From recording viewpoint the remixed A&M shift this performance high as no other before or after.
(They Long to Be) Close To You
SongWriters: Hal David, Burt Bacharach.
Award winner is: Karen Carpenter, The Carpenters, 1970, Ar: Richard Carpenter, studio recording version Click here , TV broadcast version Click here .
This song is one of best cooperation between HD and BB. This song is Enclose many feeling. Therefore need extreme careful performance.
This song is performed by many great singer. But without doubt the best one is belong to Carpenters. KC´s natural born talent and suggestive voice is the guarantee for. If KC is sing behind a drums then free unlimited feeling form a song. Moreover RC´s natural born arranger talent make it unique. As far as I remember even BB said, this is a most special performance of a song.
Both recording are more than 50 years old, but well transmit all aspect of a performance.
Your Baby Doesn´t Love You Anymore
SongWriters: Lawrence (Larry) Weiss
Award winner is: Karen Carpenter, from album Reflections 1995 or from album Voice Of The Heart 1983, Ar: Richard Carpenter, Click here .
In my opinion this song is one of the sensual one I known. The title "Your Baby Doesn´t Love You Anymore" near tell every think about. It is very sensitive for arrangement and performance.
First of all to free all emotion hide in this song need RC´s arrangement talent. Good example for failures of the first performers Ruby & the Romantics. But the arrangement is not all. Only and just KC´s natural born talent and suggestive voice can perform it at high artistic level. Unfortunately the Carpenters first performance just released after death of KC. Therefore has no video recording of this song. But voice and performance of KC from unimaginable distance is wonderful and extraordinary.
The recording´s audio quality is good at LP vinyl quality.
All of you
SongWriters: Julio Iglesias, Tony Renis, Cynthia Weil
Award winner is: Diana Ross & Julio Iglesias, from album 1100 Bel Air Place, 1985, Click here .
The song itself well designed for this duet. The music is written by TR writer of legendary and timeless song "QUANDO QUANDO QUANDO". Lyrics of written by CW. The song and lyrics well expressing dilemma of "If you would like to stay here all night".
First of all I hate electronic effects and electronic musical instrument, but the award winner performance is use many of them. But duet of DR and JI cause to be forgotten all of this mistake. Interpretation of a singers are near perfect and rich. Use duet and harmony in a high professional way to expressing message of a song. At first sign character of DR and JI are fare from each other, but maybe this distance put more essence to the performance.
The arrangement and recording is enough quality to worth SoPeRe award.
This Is The Moment
SongWriters: Frank Wildhorn, Lesslie Bricusse
Award winner is: Michael Ball, from concert Past & Present, live at Royal Albert Hall, 2009, No online source found, some taste Click here .
This song is written by FW and LB for musical Jekyll & Hyde. The song itself one of the best to explain a high point moment of an individual human´s life. But because its many hide emotion the arrangement and performance of are very sensitive.
The base for adjudicate performances can be performance for musical itself. But when I run through all performer I must accept the best performer for is MB. MB´s dynamic and sensitivity to audience able to perform this song at highest artistic level. Moreover MB´s can transmit all emotion hide in the song and lyrics to audience.
The audio and video recording at RAH good but not perfect (if you have a original one). Therefore performance and recording together worth SoPeRe award.
Mack the Knife
SongWriters: Kurt Weill with lyrics of Bertolt Brecht
Alternative titles: "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" German: "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer".
Award winner is: Michael Ball, from concert Past & Present, live at Royal Albert Hall, 2009, No online source found, some taste Click here .
Reference: Broadway original album, 1954 (released 2000), Click here , DECCA recording.
The song is originally written by BB and KW for music drama The Threepenny Opera (German: Die Dreigroschenoper). Its geniality is how encapsulate inhumanity of the underworld. Not just encapsulate, but filled with a humour to cause its pain to be forgotten.
This song is originally performed by the great Bobby Darin, and later by many great performer like Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra. But from SoPeRe viewpoint the best one is MB´s interpretation and performance. The key for this song is a balance between a humour and worry. MB´s dynamic and sensitivity to audience able to perform this song at highest artistic level. Moreover MB´s can transmit all emotion hide in the song and lyrics to audience.
The audio and video recording at RAH good but not perfect (if you have a original one). Therefore, performance and recording together worth SoPeRe award.
Could you be loved
SongWriters: by band Bob Marley and the Wailers
Award winner is: Joe Cocker, Live "Across from Midnight Tour", Waldbuhne, Berlin, 1997, Click here .
Reference: Bob Marley, from album Uprising, Click here .
The song written by BM is now some kid of classic.
We can say the performance is belong to BM, because has near 80M view. But looks like JC can add more dynamic and expressive performance to this song. Moreover environment, band and background vocal at award winner performance make it unique. Even JC cannot perform this song at this level before or after.
The video and audio recording quality is good, therefore worth SoPeRe award.
All I Ask Of You
SongWriters: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, form musical Phantom of the Opera
Award winner is: Michael Ashley Ball and Sarah Brightman, from concert Andrew Lloyd Webber 50 th Birthday, Royal Albert Hall; 1998, Click here .
This is one of a most romantic song originated from ALW. Moreover this sing is written for a duet and orchestra. Hide many feeling, but this make it hard to perform well.
This song is performed by many great performer. But from SoPeRe viewpoint maybe duet of SB and MB can be a best. This pair of singer performed this song near endless times. The absolute best of its performance is the boss´s birthday concert. There the environment, the orchestra, the audio and video crew was a top one. But can improvisation of MB make this performance unique. The recording´s real value is: the orchestra follow well this irregularity.
Up where we belong
SongWriters: written by Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Will Jennings
Award winner is: Joe Cocker, Live "Across from Midnight Tour", Waldbuhne, Berlin, 1997, Click here .
This song is originally written and recorded for film An Officer and a Gentleman. The songwriters in professional way hide many emotion in.
This song is without doubt belong to JC as performer. But looks like the background vocal, environment and the band at award winner performance make it unique.
The video and audio recording quality is good, therefore worth SoPeRe award.
You can leave your hat on
SongWriters: written by Randy Newman
Award winner is: Joe Cocker, Live "Across from Midnight Tour", Waldbuhne, Berlin, 1997, Click here .
Reference: Randy Newman (original), 1972, Click here
This song written by RN is probably one of the world best erotic (striptease) song. Today it is classic. It is used in film 9 and half Weeks for striptease scene.
RN´s performance was a good base for this song. But JC (like always) can add more emotion, life and movement to performance. If we take base the performance for film, then the award winner live concert performance can add more emotion to. Maybe the band, the background vocal or the audience, but make it SoPeRe award winner.
The video and audio recording quality is good.
As If We Never Said Goodbye
SongWriters: Don Black and Christopher Hampton (with additional lyrics by Amy Powers) and Andrew Lloyd Webber, from musical Sunset Boulevard
Award winner is: Glenn Close, from concert Andrew Lloyd Webber 50 th Birthday; Royal Albert Hall; 1998; Click here .
This is a most iconic song of musical Sunset Boulevard. It hide many emotion. But to translate to emotional message and perform it need not just to sing, need to sing and act at a same time.
This song performed by many great singer at high artistic level. Therefore hard to decide which one is a best. This is may the award winner one late performance of GC at the boss´s birthday concert. There the environment, the orchestra, the audio and video crew was a top one. Moreover, without doubt GC´s acting throw this performance to a highest artistic level, and make it to worth SoPeRe award.
Remarkable, the video recording (crew) was very good for this performance (concert).
Oh, What a Circus – part two
SongWriters: music Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics Tim Rice, for musical Evita
Award winner is: Antonio Banderas and Elaine Paige, from concert Andrew Lloyd Webber 50 th Birthday, Royal Albert Hall, 1998, Click here .
This song is written for musical Evita. It is explain a moment when evil character sarcastic over Evita.
Without doubt this song is belong to AB. But looks like award winner performance is better than studio performance recorded for a film. AB is push many acting to the song performance. The birthday concert is an exceptional moment where all performers do its best.
Because the birthday concert the video and audio recording quality is good.
Quiet please, there´s a lady on stage
SongWriters: Peter W. Allen; Carole Bayer Sager
Award winner is: Dusty Springfield, Live from Royal Albert Hall, 1979, Click here .
This song is written for a legendary Judy Garland. It well explain by many emotion lonely of a (female) performer on a stage.
Originally this song is belong to JG. But when I run over all performer of this song I must say DS and just DS can free all emotion hide in song. DS as pop diva can freely use performance technique like no other singer.
For me this song is a „top of Dusty". The award winner performance is recorded live in RAH. This was one of a few moment when Dusty put real felling (I can say its heart) to a song. But its absolute highpoint and legendary moment was when DS (at end of a song) stop the all audience within seconds "quiet please".
The video and audio recording is little bit ad-hoc, but tis quality is acceptable.
High Flying Adored
SongWriters: music Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics Tim Rice, for musical Evita
Award winner is: Antonio Banderas, from concert Andrew Lloyd Webber 50 th Birthday, Royal Albert Hall, 1998, Click here .
This song is written for musical Evita. It is explain some kind of respect to Evita using many emotion.
Without doubt this song is belong to AB. Lonely performance of AB is very professional. AB is push many acting to the song performance. The birthday concert is an exceptional moment where all performers do its best.
Because the birthday concert the video and audio recording quality is good.
Lose Again
SongWriters: Karla Bonoff
Award winner is: Dusty Springfield, Live from Royal Albert Hall, 1979, Click here .
Reference: Karla Bonoff, Click here
This song is written for album Hasten Down the Wind of Linda Ronstadt. This song can explain feeling of "lose again" with many emotions.
Looks like DS (again) can free and explain all emotion hide in this song. The award winner performance is recorded in RAH concert live. Maybe the diva DS artistic freedom maybe the environment result this high level of performance.
The video and audio recording is little bit ad-hoc, but tis quality is acceptable.
Whistle Down The Wind
SongWriters: music Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics Jim Steinman, from musical Whistle Down the Wind 1996, based on a film Whistle Down the Wind 1961.
Award winner is: Lottie Mayor and Andrew Lloyd Webber on piano; from concert Andrew Lloyd Webber 50 th Birthday; Royal Albert Hall, 1998, Click here .
The song itself perfectly explain a moment when a "wind" destroy world of a young girl, but she´s faith help to over and help to become optimist and happy again.
This song is over 30 years performed by many singer. But the exceptional one is the award winner one. I agree with ALW, LM´s performance is provide additional sparkle and make this "old" song spectacular just only for this specific performance. Other words the absolute best of its performance is the boss´s birthday concert. There the environment, the orchestra, the audio and video crew was a top one. But the nonstandard performance of LM is make this performance unique. The recording´s real value is: the orchestra follow well the leading vocal and the piano.
Almost over you
SongWriters: Jennifer Kimball and Cindy Richardson
Award winner is: Sheena Easton, official music video, 1980, Click here .
The song itself is become classic in a past 40 year, and try to explain many real emotion. In this way find a way to many people.
During 40 years this song performed by many great and unknown singer. But without doubt this song is belong to SE. She´s professional performance is the best what we can find. Its arrangement and orchestration is very good. But the leading vocal is far not perfect. Form some viewpoint cover by Mai and mainly Tippy dos Santos provide a better performance. So there is many gap to perform this song better. But again, overall performance of SE are the best what we can find.
Audio and video recording of is near 40 year old, but instead its quality is good. As remark this is some kind of early video clip. In this way its content not well pas to emotional message of a song.
Beautiful
SongWriter: Linda Perry
Award winner is: Christina Aguilera vocal, Stripped live tour, London Wembley Arena, 2003, Click here .
This song is originally written by LP. There is many emotion and message in, but it is hard to unlock them at performance.
Performance of LP from SoPeRe viewpoint is a little bit melancholic. Other word it is hide many message of a song.
CA´s popular performance is winner of Grammy Awards at Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. We maybe think this is the top of the world, but it is not.
At this live performance CA add some more emotion and artistic way to. First of perform it as encore in a simple outdoor cloth (at WA!). Moreover CA as young lady find an own way to perform in a professional and deep artistic way for audience of a WA. During this performance (at WA!) lock the audience to its performance in a most professional way. This is why this much more than she´s GA performance. What more can I say? It is simply Beautiful.
Because we are in a Wembley Arena, the audio and video quality of this recording is very good.
Crazy World
SongWriter: Music by Henry Mancini, Lirycs by Leslie Bricusse
Award winner is: Julie Andrews vocal, from film Victor and Victoria, 1982, Click here .
This song is written for film Victor and Victoria 1982. Music writer HM itself is a legendary person of a music world. Together with LB lyrics perfectly match to position “main song” of this film. But not simply match, just simply radiate most of emotional message of a film.
But the song is nothing without a performance. Looks like up to this time JA is a best performer for this song. JA´s performer and acting style perfectly transmit emotional message of a song to audience. But in this special way the video recording of a performance extremely match to song performance and boost emotional message of a song. A way where camera is lowly run around the performer is incredible artistic. During the performance audience can show in detail the stage, the orchestra and the audience on a film. HM´s orchestra is the best choice for this task. And finally the audio recording well find the balance on leading vocal and all music instrument of orchestra. I can say this song and its performance and its recording is a best ever song written and performed in/for a film.
As remark, there is many performance and recording version of this song are published. I have a mono probably the oldest version of. It is a little bit artistic than this, but its recording quality are less good.
I´ve never been to me
SongWriters: Ron Miller and Kenneth Hirsch
Award winner is: Charlene D´ Angelo, studio AV recording, emotional "bridge" version, 1982 on 77´ version, Click here .
The song itself is well composed. Have extreme and sensitive emotional message. As far as we known in some country the emotional "bridge" part of lyrics are removed by censors. But without this part the song are not the same.
This song sang by many great singer, but without doubt it is belong to C. Then the hard question is which performance? Exceptionally for this song the original performance is a far best (that contain emotional "bridge"). Up today no better performance of are available. Soft flow and emotional radiation of a song is simple magical, and make it to award winner.
Its remarkable, many fun tried to compose photo-sequence as background for this song. Maybe the best one is by joycepatrice23 using emotional "bridge" with lyrics version performance Click here .
Song Funny Girl
SongWriters: Jule Styne, Bob Merrill
Award winner is: Idina Menzel (Shelby), from FOX musical comedy-drama series Glee, 2010, Click here .
Reference for comparison: from film Funny Girl, Barbra Streisand, 1968, Click here .
This song is originally written for musical Funny Girl. It is for a closing scene. Using many emotion it explain moments when “Funny Girl” feel endless sad. If someone known the novel or the film, just then understand this song at what high artistic level close the story. It maybe concentrate all emotional pain of all story.
This award maybe trigger some discussion and conflict, but why not? This song is basically belong to BS as performer. But I never agree with all performance I can fund until I heard IM´s interpretation. Looks like IM at award winner performance can free and transmit more emotion than any other performance. Other words, for this song is the wicked witch of west is a best. Remarkable, to rate this performance is need to Ignoring Glee series environment and/or replace with legend of Funny Girl. Remarkable, acting of this song for video recording is far not good like performance of a song, But this is SoPeRe award.
Audio and video quality of the recording is good.
My Love
SongWriters: Linda Perry (songwriter and producer)
Award winner is: Céline Dion vocal, Live in Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden, 12 Aug 2008, Click here .
Looks like this pop ballad written exclusively for CD. It contain and hide many emotion at high artistic level.
This song is performed by CD countless time for many occasion. But looks like year 2008 at Boston had some kind of artistic aura. From SoPeRe viewpoint this performance is the best and worth an award. The song itself looks like wake up some strong emotion on CD. Not just wake up, but flow through to the performance. This and the arena and the audience and maybe more other reason result and deep artistic performance that near impossible to surpass. If award winner performance of All By Myself is heated art, then this performance is some kind of melancholic art.
The audio and video recording was very good but not perfect.
Without You
SongWriters: Pete Ham and Tom Evans of British rock group Badfinger
Award winner is: Mariah Carey, official video of, 2005, Click here (live video version) .
The song is written in year 1970. Looks like this song originally hide many emotion need to be free.
This song is preformed originally by British rock group Badfinger. But this performance was a little bit flat and has not enough power to free all emotional message of a song. During decades this song are many performer, but not found the well one. Looks like this song is waited over 30 years for the right performer. The crazy idea to perform this song in a gospel style by a gospel singer is delver a big success. MC are done a magnificent performance. This performance are transmit more emotion of a song like any before and (up to this time) after. The gospel choir well mount a leading vocal for a song. Audio and video recording quality of are good.
Last update:
Sep 24, 2023