Posted on 03/15/2014 8:10:20 PM PDT by lee martell
I'm a night person, and I like music inspired by the night. The biggest void that we know of is the darkness of the night. The darkness surrounds our part of the earth, like a soft heavy comforter filled with down. The night is without shape, and cannot be measured. This unknowable nature of the dark night allows us to easily imagine what is or what should be there. We imagine what is desired or what is dreaded. The night has long served as a catalyst or a muse for creativity. Look to the french composer Claude Debussy, who wrote his signature piece; Clair de Lune in 1890, publishing the final version in 1905. The piano is spare and elegant. The measures allude to the slow drift of cumulus clouds floating at night, translucent with moonlight. This is the third movement from Debussy's Suite Bergamasque, which was based on poems of Paul Verlaine.
Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller was released in 1939 on Bluebird Records. The recording used a clarinet led saxophone section, which is widely considered classic Glenn Miller style. The song evolved from a 1935 version of another Miller song; "Now I Lay Me Down To Weep". Jazz critic Gary Giddins wrote about the song's impact and legacy. "Miller exudes little warmth on or off the bandstand, but once the band struck up this theme, audiences were done for; throats clutched, eyes softened. No other record of it's time could match 'Moonlight Serenade' for it's ability to induce a Pavlovian slobber in so many for so long".
A lot of songs by Phil Collins were technically very good, but somewhat formulaic. There is one exception, although this was recorded when he was still with Genesis. The song Tonight Tonight Tonight was released in 1986 on the album Invisible Touch. The music video has an atmosphere reminiscent of the film Blade Runner, which was a source of inspiration for the video. Supposedly, Collins wrote this song after divorcing his first wife Andrea in 1979. He was upset enough to have left Genesis for a couple of months. There is something about this song that is both invigorating, because of the incessant percussion which varies in force and in tempo, and there is also a soothing effect that is imposed on the listener because of the cello like chords that become a dirge, that dirge is your only path away from the chaos. This is not a night song, but listen to the first three minutes of Shaft, by Issac Hayes, those are the kind of 'cello like chords' I'm speaking of, where you are prodded onto your journey, like it or not. **Nights in White Satin is a beautiful, lyrical piece of work, by the Moody Blues. Night Moves, by Seeger worth a mention. **Are You Lonesome Tonight?, by Elvis captures an intimate moment, listen you his voice, which seems to resonate or softly echo. That feels like a though within the head. What other night music is there?
IN THE AIR TONIGHT (miami vice)
YOU BELONG TO THE CITY (miami vice)
Strangers In The Night? Exchanging Glances....
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 America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi! |
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Claire deLune, one of the most beautiful piano pieces. As soon as my daughter was capable, I taught her and had her memorize it.... I love it when she plays it, makes me very mellow.. Of course, the Grand Marnier helps some.
“Under A Violet Moon” by Blackmore’s Night.
(Actually, they have several night-themed songs.)
“Whispers In The Dark” by Skillet.
This is an interesting topic, thank you, though I’m not sure if every pop song with “night” in the title was as you say “inspired by night”. “Let’s spend the night together”? You must remember the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, which somehow or another acquired English lyrics under a strange title “Tonight We Love”. (Recordings all over Youtube.)
I’ll think of something else, more appropriate later.
“Starry, Starry, Night” by Don McLean about Vince Van Gogh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dipFMJckZOM
I think “Vincent” is the proper title.
you can pretty much put anything by ella and louis into any list and have a winner...
For the “advanced training” night classes, how about, Johnny Cash’s cover of “I’m so lonesome I could cry”....
“Earth Shine” by RUSH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yia7lqME0o
“Black Moon” by ELP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh1B2sVFwDI
“Watching Over You” by ELP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LjhSmLeqHI
Funny - “Black Moon” was the song my baby son used to love to fall asleep to!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ9aT-Wa_tE
I’m still waiting for a movie about those two performers Ferrante & Teicher. Performing became their whole lives, which often happens if you love your work anyway. I never heard anything negative or questionable about them.
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2, third movement. The main theme inspired the popular tune “Full Moon, Empty Arms.”
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