Into August and the countdown to the 2018 Blackpool Illumination Switch On is under way – anyone going to see Alfie switch on?
In the meantime, let’s take a look at Janice Stark’s song selection. Janice first saw Alfie on the Royal Variety Show 2010), bought the 25th Anniversary DVD has bought all his CD’s and DVD’s ever since. Janice says “I think I really prefer his opera renditions but the more modern songs have grown on me so tried to get a mix in my choice of six!”
Danny Boy, from Trust.
Dimming of the Day, Trust.
The Floral Dance at Children In Need Rocks for Sir Terry.
If I Can Dream, Storyteller.
Patiently Smiling, Love Was A Dream.
The Pearl Fishers Duet, with Bryn Terfel – Janice chose this or Nessun Dorma as her sixth song, so I chose this as it hasn’t been chosen before.
Another three new tracks have been added to our list – at this rate, we’ll eventually have every single song from Alfie!
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It’s been a very busy time for Alfie fans until recently and we haven’t had time to feature many fan stories, so this post sees more from our occasional series, Six Sensational Songs.
Today’s choices come from Chris Coats, who first saw him singing Stranger in Paradise on TV and thought “wow, what a voice.” These are Chris’s songs:
You Are My Heart’s Delight, chosen by Chris as it reminds her of her grandparents, who loved Richard Tauber. The same reason goes for Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss, from the same Lehar album, Love Was A Dream. Sadly I can’t find a video of this but Soundcloud is the next best thing:
Core ‘ngrato, from Alfie’s first album, Classic FM Presents, was Chris’s mum’s favourite song and “had to be on the list”.
As I mentioned in the introduction, Chris first saw Alfie on this very TV appearance and it makes the list because it was the first time she heard THAT voice.
Mattinata, from La Passione, because “it’s such a lovely tune.”
The last of Chris’s six songs is from Serenata, Non Ti Scordar Ti Me and once again, I can’t find a video!
Yet again, I’m astounded that four new tracks have been added to our choice of six sensational songs, this time, very much in Alfie’s classical repertoire.
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Finally, if you haven’t yet seen the news, Alfie will be switching on the Blackpool Illuminations on 31 August!
Summer is here and it’s another chance to look at Alfie Boe’s fabulous repertoire, with Joan Mould’s Six Sensational Songs. Joan first became aware of Alfie at the Royal Variety Show and until Kenwood recently, had yet to see Alfie live. Hope you enjoyed it Joan! Here are Joan’s choices.
Bridge Over Troubled Water, from Storyteller. Joan heard this on iTunes and thinks it’s “the best version I’ve ever heard”. I’m with you there, Joan!
Run, from the VE Day celebrations, is the fans favourite live song by a long way, winning the annual best live Alfie Boe song every year since 2015.
Bring Him Home.
In My Daughter’s Eyes, for Joan’s two grown up daughters.
Keep Me In Your Heart – my favourite!
Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, with Nick Jonas, Marius from the Les Mis 25th Anniversary concert.
Thanks Joan for letting us hear your six sensational songs.
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Another edition in our occasional series of Six Sensational Songs and this time it’s the turn of Audrey Buchan, Yet again, the strength of Alfie’s repertoire is shown as Audrey has chosen three songs that have not been chosen before. I have to say that Audrey was a little naughty with her choices – she actually chose seven but one is not available as a video so it was easy to miss out!
If I can Dream, from Storyteller – love this video, as it shows Alfie in his element with such talented musicians.
Shine a Light, also from Storyteller.
Forever Young, from Trust. A magical evening and the one and only time we have heard Alfie sing practically the whole Trust album. Alfie was “knackered” at this point as he had previously been dancing, and had half the audience up there with him!
A Living Prayer, Onward – one of our most popular choices in this series. Beautiful.
Santa Lucia, La Pasione. To be added to the very long list of songs I would love to hear live.
Addio Sogni Di Gloria,Serenata – another glorious evening at the Royal Albert Hall.
Thank you Audrey for sharing your Six Sensational Songs with us – I really enjoy researching this series!
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Only a few days until March begins which means we’re moving closer to seeing Alfie Boe perform live, either in the US in May or back in the UK over the summer. In the meantime, let’s take a look at Tricia Howard’s Six Sensational Songs. Tricia, like all of us who have done it, says she found it “so hard to narrow it down to even six songs as I get chills just about every single time I hear his voice. I had to pull out all of my Alfie track lists to decide.”
Bring Him Home. Tricia says “I am pretty sure this is going to be on just about everyone’s list (and for great reason – it is “his song” after all). My first Alfie experience was him in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Mis playing Valjean It was also my introduction to Les Mis in general and when he came out and sang that song…. my entire emotional psyche was shaken. His connection with the piece is so genuine – it’s one of the most unbelievable musical experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. I’m an actress and opera singer as well, and his vocal control in this song is impeccable which just adds to it all.”
Again from Les Mis, Who Am I, chosen because the first time Tricia saw Alfie live was at the Imperial Theatre reprising the role of Valjean and she got front row centre orchestra seats. Tricia says “when he sang this song onstage he was making eye contact with me the whole time and I was there mouthing every word with him. He truly is a gifted actor – it’s not all just about his voice, it’s everything.”
Brindisi from La Traviata, with Natasha Marsh. Tricia chose this because “this makes my opera heart SOAR. When I am on the subway listening to this song I am so empowered to get through the day. I always pretend I’m Natasha Marsh getting to sing alongside him.” I’m with you on that one, Tricia. This was on BBC’s Children in Need but the song is actually from Natasha’s album, although it later appeared on Alfie’s You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Dr Jimmy from Classic Quad. Tricia chose this because “I grew up listening to The Who and this was always a favourite of mine. What I really love about this entire album is this is the type of music that Alfie LOVES to perform. He talks about it in his autobiography (he actually mentions both Billy Idol and Michael Ball in the book which makes my heart happy that he got to perform with them both) and I think it’s so amazing that he is living out his dream. He has such a wide range of talent.”
Tell Me It’s Not True, Blood Brothers, chosen because this was the first song Tricia ever heard of Alfie’s outside of Les Mis and it really sunk in that he was my all time favourite artist.
Rosie, from Trust (to my knowledge, still the only time Alfie has sung this live) at the Royal Festival Hall. Tricia speak for all of us I think when she says “it just astounds me how wide his ability is. Not many people can go from Puccini to Elvis to Lloyd Webber to Sinatra and absolutely KILL ALL OF THEM”.
Thank you so much Tricia for sharing your song choices with us – just one new addition to the list this time but the inclusion of Bring Him Home means that it is now the most popular choice, taking over from Love Reign O’er Me.
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On a wet and windy February day, what better way to cheer ourselves up with a look at six more sensational songs from Alfie Boe; this time, it’s the choices of Deanna Lintern.
The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore from Storyteller.
Volare, from Serenata.
Luna Malinconia, also from Serenata and also from Newcastle.
Tell Me It’s Not True.
Buona Sera, from Serenata.
Mambo Italiano, again from Serenata – I think Deanna loves this album!
Yet again, these six songs showcase Alfie’s repertoire, with four of the six being brand new additions to the series.
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Shawn Alexander is the latest fan to choose her six favourite Alfie Boe songs Shawn says that she “originally learned of Alfie through Michael Ball. I’m a big fan of Michael’s – then watching the Les Mis anniversary concert I was introduced to Alfie. With living in the states and in Florida I don’t have many opportunities to see shows. When Michael and Alfie were in NY I just HAD to go – I’m a single Mom, and I don’t spend foolishly but I just had to treat myself.”
These are Shawn’s choices, chosen simply because they are her favourites.
Love Reign O’er Me from Classic Quadrophenia – Shawn saw Alfie perform this in New York and it “moved me to tears”.
Along with Shawn’s first choice, Bring Him Home is the most popular song in this series, each having been chosen six times.
Someone to Watch Over Me
Maria, from West Side Story.
It Was A Very Good Year – this song provides one of the best moments on the DVD of the Bring Him Home tour, Alfie Live!
When I Fall in Love.
Yet again, I’m taken aback by the depth of Alfie’s repertoire – four of these six songs have not been chosen before! If you would like to see your six songs featured, please fill in the form:
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The first Six Sensational Songs post for 2018 is from Karen Blower. I first met Karen in a virtual sense on Twitter as we both had a love of Alfie Boe and also both blogged about music; Karen is also a huge Il Divo fan. Karen first became aware of Alfie via the Royal Variety performance that featured him as part of the Les Mis medley and of course, since then, Alfie has graced that stage twice more. Here are Karen’s choices:
Of course, Bring Him Home, from a few years ago and in Karen’s words, “enough said”. No further reasons needed!
Tell Me It’s Not True, from the Together Again tour. Karen chose this because “Blood Brothers is a favourite musical of mine and Alfie’s version of the iconic song is amazing, especially when sang with Michael Ball”.
It’s Over, from the Storyteller days. Karen says that “I grew up listening to Roy Orbison and Alfie is one of only a few singers who can do proper justice to his songs”. Yes indeed, and I still love have a chuckle that Alfie opened his set with a song called It’s Over!
Over The Hills and Far Away, at the Festival of Remembrance in 2011. This one gives Karen goosebumps – and I’m sure she’s not the only one!
Forever Young, again at the Festival of Remembrance, this time in 2013. Alfie has of course appeared twice more in recent years, being, in Huw Edwards’ words, “a great friend of the festival”. As with the previous choice, Forever Young is just beautiful and gives Karen goosebumps.
Finally, Love Reign O’er Me from Classic Quadrophenia, this time from the Together tour 2016. Karen acknowledges that this is a popular song by saying “again, yes I know but the emotion and power he puts into this, how can you not put it on the list?” Quite – it was on my list!
Thanks Karen for sharing your six songs with us – yet again, two new songs to add to the list!
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Half way through our hunt to find our favourite live Alfie Boe song and we come to another new entry into the top ten although Forever Young has featured quite heavily in the annual Alfie Boe Best Recorded Song poll. The live version from the US Memorial Day concert 2016 was nominated by Sheila Currie who also chose it amongst her six sensational songs.
The song was written by Bob Dylan, an Alfie favourite, for his son and the lyrics are just beautiful, working so well for remembrance events. In recent years Alfie has indeed performed this song twice at US and UK remembrance concerts so we have to go back to 2013 to hear the version that appears on Alfie’s album Trust:
Just love Alfie’s intro to this song – however many times you hear this anecdote, it’s still great!
Trust is available here:
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The latest in Alfie’s Six Sensational Songs features Janet Baldwin who first found Alfie on Classic FM. Janet says that “even then his wonderful voice stopped me dead in my tracks on my way out to work! I actually saw him for the first time on TV on the Classic Brits … and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Here are Janet’s choices:
When You Wish Upon A Star, chosen by Janet because “Alfie’s version of this song helped me back into the real world after a serious illness”,
Torna A Surriento, from Alfie’s appearance at the Michael Ball Prom, Michael gives him a rather long intro and the song starts at 1 min 25. Janet says that “Spent a happy holiday in Sorrento following in Alfie’s footsteps doing our own La Passione tour, visiting the Amalfi coast.”
Be Still My Soul. Janet says that this has always been a favourite hymn but “Alfie makes it special”.
In My Daughter’s Eyes – Janet chose this simply because she loves the song – the perfect reason!
Funiculi Funicula, with the Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir (one of my favourite videos, In always sing along, or attempt to anyway!) – Janet chose this as she used to enjoy singing this with her local operatic society.
A Thousand Years at Scarborough this summer. Janet says that this “brings back special memories of a rainy night in Scarborough! Looking forward to reuniting with my ‘Boe Buddies’ in December”.
Thanks Janet for sharing your songs with us – again, such a variety of songs represented, with four of Janet’s choices not having been chosen before.
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