Chris Ingham

Closest Thing To Crazy

Producer/writer Mike Batt’s previous incarnations include being the mastermind behind virtual pop group the Wombles. But as successful as they were, Batt’s success with Katie Melua is far larger; “Closest Thing To Crazy” is the song with which he chose to launch the singer after spotting her at a performance school showcase.

Stormy Weather

Some of Harold Arlen’s best songs - “Blues In The Night”, “One For My Baby”, “Ill Wind”, “Come Rain Or Shine” - were infused with a feeling for the blues. “Stormy Weather”, perhaps the most famous of his bluesy pieces, was introduced in 1933 by Ethel Waters who sang it at the Cotton Club in Harlem.


Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)

In the wake of his solo success with Face Value in 1981, Phil Collins was asked to provide a song for the movie Against All Odds. With a little rewriting, he submitted a song rejected from his debut album, written about his estranged first wife. It became a massive Collins hit in 1984 and was covered with huge success by Mariah Carey and Westlife in 2000.

(They Long To Be) Close To You

A Burt Bacharach obscurity recorded originally in 1963 by actor Richard Chamberlain before being offered to Richard and Karen Carpenter by A&M boss Herb Alpert (who passed on it as a possible follow-up to his 1968 hit “This Guy’s In Love With You”) in 1969. The Carpenters’ version was so vivid, most subsequent versions are obliged to allude to their arrangement.

Hey Jude

Conceived as Paul McCartney drove out to Kenwood to show support for Cynthia Lennon who was in the trauma of divorcing John, “Hey Jude” was initially a song of comfort for the Lennons’ son Julian (“Hey Jules”) but evolved into general encouragement not to be afraid to act on one’s feelings. A highlight of McCartney’s live show, the chanting fade achieves a full-hearted communality whenever the song is performed.

Over The Rainbow

Originally associated with Judy Garland and the movie of The Wizard Of Oz (1938), Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg’s hymn to hope was appropriated by a poignant reinvention in the hands of Eva Cassidy in the 1990s. Unfortunately, Cassidy didn’t live to see her success or the inspiration to sing she had given to countless young people.

If You’re not The One

An outstanding contemporary ballad from 2002 by Daniel Bedingfield, “If You’re Not The One” is judged by X Factor creator/judge Simon Cowell as “one of the best pop songs of all time”. When not being a master songwriter, Bedingfield is a director of his mother’s long-established philanthropic organisation Global Angels.

Moonlight Sonata

The popularity of the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor perplexed its composer. “Surely I’ve written better things,” he once remarked to pianist Carl Czerny. However, the dark beauty of the piece once described by critic Ludwig Rellstab as like moonlight shining on Lake Lucerne continues to captivate audiences generations later.

Wonderful Tonight

Eric Clapton’s sincere tribute to his wife Patti is just one of the songs Ms Boyd has inspired. When she was married to George Harrison, the Beatle wrote “Something” for her. While still married to George, the lovesick Eric penned “Layla” for the temporarily unavailable Mrs Harrison.

Air On A G String

Bach’s “Air”, part of an orchestral suite written in the 1720s, became “Air On A G String” after August Wilhelmj’s late 19th century adaptation in which he played the melody entirely on the bottom string of the violin. Jacques Loussier’s jazz trio arrangement is associated by many with a mood of serene acceptance after its use in UK TV (latterly cinema) adverts for Hamlet cigars 1966-1999.

Lady In Red

Chris De Burgh’s 1986 song was reportedly Princess Diana’s favourite song, who mistakenly thought De Burgh had written the song about her. When she thanked him for it, he explained it was inspired by seeing his future wife Diane across a crowded nightclub.

Ballade Pour Adeline

This 1976 hit for French pianist Richard Clayderman began a remarkable career. His romantic classics and orchestrated pops albums have sold in their millions and are heard in elevators and malls throughout the world, making Clayderman one of the most successful instrumental recording artists ever.

The Way It Is

Though the career of pianist Bruce Hornsby has covered jazz, bluegrass and extended periods with the Grateful Dead, his commercial peak came in 1986 with “The Way It Is”, a propulsive rock track featuring his distinctively bright keyboard sound, fluid improvisations and an unforgettable piano hook.

The Girl With the Flaxen Hair

The eighth piece in Préludes, Claude Debussy’s first book of impressionistic solo piano pieces composed in 1910, is this sumptuous portrait, “La fille aux cheveux du lin”. The elegant rise and fall of the folk-song motif allied to the shifting-sands harmonies make it among the most enchanting of all Debussy’s work.

You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

In 1978 Kentucky DJ Gary Guthrie noticed that Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond had recorded Diamond’s “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” on their respective albums in the same key and played his own homemade virtual duet on his radio show. The public response was such that the superstars were obliged to musically conjoin officially. The resultant record made number 1 in America and won a Grammy nomination.

Waterfalls

An anti-drugs and HIV piece, “Waterfalls” is the signature song of pop/r&b/hip-hop girl group TLC. A US number 1 for seven weeks in 1995, the song was performed at a 2008 awards ceremony by the group’s surviving members (rapper Lisa Lopes died in 2002) with guest Alicia Keys.

Misty

One of the few standards composed by a practising jazz musician, the melody of “Misty” was written by pianist Erroll Garner in 1954. When words were added by Johnny Burke, it became the theme song of Johnny Mathis and received dozens of covers. It was the favourite request of the psychopathic female stalking a jazz disc jockey in Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut Play Misty For Me (1971).

Someone To Watch Over Me

Perhaps the most enduring of all the Gershwin brothers’ songs, “Someone To Watch Over Me” shares with their “The Man I Love” a yearning quality, expressing desire to encounter a protective significant other. Originally conceived as a sprightly jazz-style piece, by the time Gertrude Lawrence performed it in Oh, Kay! in 1926 (to a rag doll), it had evolved into the winsome ballad it remains today.


You’re Beautiful

Initially inspired by the sight of a former girlfriend on an underground train, James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” became one of the most successful songs of the last ten years selling over 2 million copies in America alone. The music itself is notable for having a melody comprising no more than three notes sung against four chords.


Let It Be

“Let It Be” came to Paul McCartney after he had a dream about his deceased mother in late 1968. In the midst of business and personal difficulties, McCartney found great comfort in his mother’s imagined words of wisdom. Over the years, the quasi-spiritual song has been elevated to secular hymn status, a favourite with believers and non-believers alike.


What a Difference A Day Makes

Dinah Washington won a Grammy for her 1959 version, though the song had been around for over 20 years. Written by Mexican composer Maria Grever in 1934, “Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado” was turned into “What A Difference A Day Makes” by American lyricist Stanley Adams, who was also responsible for the English lyric to “La Cucaracha”.


Without You

Harry Nilsson recorded Badfinger’s “Without You” (which he had originally thought was a Beatles song) because he was short of material for his 1971 album, Nilsson Schmilsson. By giving the plaintive song a backbeat, Nilsson and producer Richard Perry virtually invented the power ballad. No surprise that it has since been covered by Mariah Carey.

Imagine

The single most famous and popular John Lennon song was described by the composer thus: “an anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalist song, but because it’s sugar-coated, it’s accepted.” The mass acceptance of “Imagine” has recently been expressed by the piece being regularly voted number 1 in various greatest-song-of-all-time polls.

When You Tell Me That You Love Me

This Diana Ross single was a UK number 2 in 1991. The song was soon appropriated by Julio Iglesias and Dolly Parton as a duet before being covered by Westlife in 2005, a recording which featured Miss Ross as a guest, again making number 2 in the UK.

Are You Lonesome Tonight

“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” was 36 years old when Elvis Presley recorded it in 1960. Famous for its spoken monologue which alludes to Shakespeare’s As You Like It (itself based on AL Jolson’s 1950 version), subsequent Elvis renditions of the song would often have him giggling uncontrollably through the speech.


Don’t Know Why

This bewitching composition had originally appeared on writer Jesse Harris’s 1999 album Jesse Harris and the Fernandos before becoming the opening track of Norah Jones’s 2002 debut album Come Away With Me and winning the 2003 Grammy for Best Song.


My Heart Will Go On

James Horner had written a musical motif for the movie Titanic and developed it into a song for the closing credits. Despite Celine Dion originally not wanting to sing it or director James Cameron not wanting it in his movie, the song eventually won them over and went on to be number 1 throughout the world and win Oscar for Best Song in 1998.


Clair De Lune

Debussy’s piece from 1904’s Suite Bergamasque has been used in a wide range of movies (recently Casino Royale and Atonement), adverts (for Chanel No. 5) and TV (The Simpsons, Nip/Tuck) in a variety of instrumental settings, including arrangements for string orchestra and synthesiser. However, it is perhaps in its original setting for solo piano that the French composer’s music is at its most luminous.


As Time Goes By

Famously appearing as the favourite song of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) as played by bar pianist and singer Sam (Dooley Wilson) in the movie Casablanca, the tune is often requested to be played by musicians with an enthusiastic misquote from the movie’s dialogue; “Play it again Sam”.



The Girl From Ipanema

Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz’s 1963 hit with “The Girl From Ipanema” is the most famous bossa nova record of them all. The song was appropriated, along with many of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s songs, by the world of muzak. However, over-exposure in the world’s elevators, malls and hotel lobbies cannot eclipse the music’s simple, sensual beauty.

Come Away With Me

Written and performed by Norah Jones on her 20 million-selling debut album of the same name in 2002, this tranquil country waltz could have been written 100 years ago. The timeless, down-home quality of the music is evident even without Norah’s murmuring vocals.

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Famous as being the theme to the Kevin Costner movie Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves and staying at number 1 on the UK charts for 16 weeks in 1991, Bryan Adams’ power ballad is still guaranteed to raise the roof of the stadiums at which he appears in concert.

You’ve Got A Friend

A perennially popular song, which almost defines the singer-songwriter genre. The song’s message of support connects right across the generations and since first appearing on writer Carole King’s Tapestry, “You’ve Got A Friend” has been lovingly covered by superstars (Barbra Streisand, Cliff Richard, Johnny Mathis, Roberta Flack, Ella Fitzgerald et al) and wine-bar duos alike.


Theme From Love Story (Where Do I Begin)

Despite the action largely taking place in New York, French composer Francis Lai’s theme from the 1970 movie Love Story has a distinctively Gallic flavour with its insistent motif and cyclical modulations. Lai’s pretty music was lyricised by Carl Sigman as “Where Do I Begin” and was a big hit for Andy Williams.

As Long As He Needs Me

This heartbreaking song from Oliver expresses brilliantly the righteous loyalty that the tragic Nancy has for her abusive lover Bill Sykes. The song was recently featured as part of the feverish climax to the search-for-a-star TV show I’d Do Anything.

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

This versatile song was a hit originally for girl group the Shirelles, but has been covered in many genres by a dazzling array of artists, including many songwriters (the Bee Gees, Neil Diamond, Bryan Ferry and Laura Nyro) paying tribute to the quality and timelessness of Goffin and King’s work.

Crazy

Written by Willie Nelson in 1961 for Billy Walker, the song was turned down by Walker and popularised by Patsy Cline who made it a big hit in 1962. Voted to number 85 in Rolling Stone magazine’s Greatest Songs Of All Time poll, it recently made an insidious appearance on the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Inspired by Bach and the Swan Silvertons’ record “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep For Me”, Paul Simon wrote “Bridge Over Troubled Water” in 1969 and won a Grammy for it in 1971. The memorable, gospel-influenced piano part on the Simon and Garfunkel original was created by session player Larry Knetchel.

Yesterday

After Paul McCartney sang “Yesterday” on the Beatles 1965 album Help, everyone from Elvis to Sinatra queued up to sing it while musicologists fell over themselves discussing its perfection. “Yesterday” holds the record as the most recorded song in history with over 2500 versions and has been broadcast on American radio over 7 million times.

The Way We Were

The title song to the 1973 movie in which love fails to survive the profound differences in outlook between a Jewish activist (Barbra Streisand) and a lackadaisical WASP (Robert Redford). Barbra Streisand got to number 1 in the US with the song, though Gladys Knight’s 1975 version did better in the UK.


The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Written in 1957 by folk singer Ewan MacColl for his wife Peggy Seeger, the song was reworked by Roberta Flack as a soft-rock track in 1971. Its use by director Clint Eastwood in a romantic scene in Play Misty For Me helped make it a hit and Roberta Flack a star. It has recently been covered by X-Factor winner Leona Lewis.

Moon River

When a film executive first viewed Blake Edwards’s romantic comedy movie Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961), he wanted to drop the Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer song heard when Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) strums a guitar and sings on a New York fire escape. Hepburn herself was adamant it stayed and “Moon River” went on to win an Oscar for Best Song.

Chi Mai

One of the many haunting themes written by Italian composer Ennio Morricone, “Chi Mai” appeared in both the Jean Paul Belmondo film Le Professionel and the UK TV series The Life and Times of Lloyd George in 1981. The same year, Morricone took it to number 2 in the UK charts.

Michelle

A French-style party piece of Paul McCartney’s that John Lennon remembered from their student days in Liverpool and suggested developing for the Beatles’ Rubber Soul in 1965. The sheer musicality of “Michelle” made it a favourite with middle-of-the-road artists which caused it to be regarded with suspicion by the burgeoning counter culture.

Unchained Melody

This passionate Pop Idol and X Factor favourite was written by film composer Alex North and introduced in 1955 in a prison movie called Unchained. Several hundred cover versions later (all featuring the accompanying up-and-down arpeggio), the song is one of most covered of the last 60 years. 

Love Is All Around

A top ten hit in the UK and US for the Troggs in 1967, the song was resurrected for the 1994 movie Four Weddings and a Funeral by Wet Wet Wet who spent 15 weeks at the top of the UK charts with it. Composer Reg Presley spent much of his mid ‘90s publishing windfall on crop circle research.


Night And Day

One of Cole Porter’s most celebrated songs, this elegant musical depiction of intense romantic obsession has fascinated singers for decades. Frank Sinatra recorded it no less than five times (including a disco version in 1977) and it continues to attract the likes of U2, Rod Stewart and Bebel Gilberto.

Begin The Beguine

Named for a ballroom dance in the 1935 musical Jubilee, Cole Porter’s song is without precedent in popular music. In an era when most popular songs were based on 32 bars, to be repeated with variation as required, Porter’s sprawling 108 bars is rarely played through more than once, as in the swing-era hit for Artie Shaw in 1938 and the European disco hit for Julio Iglesias in 1981.

The Piano

Composer Michael Nyman utilised Scottish and 19th century influences and his customary minimalist techniques to create the score for The Piano, Jane Campion’s 1993 movie about a mute woman who communicates through sign-language and song. The film received many awards and the soundtrack album sold over three million copies.


Three Times A Lady

Inspired to write the song by hearing his father make an anniversary speech thanking his wife of 38 years, Lionel Richie has also suggested that in “Three Times A Lady” he is thanking his mother, wife and daughter (hence “once, twice, three times…”) in the same song. Appropriately set in ¾ time, Richie’s band the Commodores took it to number 1 in America in 1978.


My Funny Valentine

This playful love song whose compliments are couched as insults first appeared in the 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes In Arms and has gone on to receive over 1000 interpretations since. Once of the most recent was by American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle in 2008.


Gymnopedie No. 1

Satie’s soothing yet idiosyncratic piano vignette of the late 19th century has been much appropriated by TV advertising, though most uses concentrate on the floating consonance of the opening phrases, fading out before the questioning darker harmonies of the latter part of the piece.

With You I’m Born Again

This tender, uplifting waltz of renewal through romance had an unlikely beginning on the soundtrack to the basketball comedy Fast Break (1979). The duet recording with Billy Preston and Syreeta was a top 5 hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1980 and it has recently been reinterpreted by Mariah Carey and John Legend.


The Long And Winding Road

A Paul McCartney ballad written in 1969, “The Long And Winding Road” was subject to a Phil Spector production and arrangement (featuring choirs and strings) on the Beatles’ post-split release Let It Be which angered the song’s composer. McCartney performed it his way at the 2005 Live 8 concert.


Send In The Clowns

From Stephen Sondheim’s 1973 musical A Little Night Music, this touching piece was sung in the show by a faded femme fatale to a once-spurned lover she realises she loves just as she loses him to a younger woman. Every cabaret chanteuse, jazz singer and adult pop artist introduced it into their set as if to be seen grappling with the arty Broadway ballad with the oblique lyrics somehow conferred upon them instant ‘class’.

(Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving

The commercial peak for Andy Davis and James Warren aka The Korgis in 1980, “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” has found recent favour with covers by Beck, Erasure and Zucherro. Davis and Warren had been in the first band (Stackridge) ever to play Glastonbury in 1970 and returned there in 2008.

Angels

The Robbie Williams/Guy Chambers song which catapulted ex-Take That tearaway Robbie into the heart of Middle England, “Angels” has been variously voted the best British pop song of the last 25 years and the song most people would like played at their funerals.

I Just Called To Say I Love You

Sometimes cited as distressing evidence of Stevie Wonder’s post-‘70s artistic collapse, “I Just Called To Say I Love You” is in fact his most popular song and one of the most popular of all time. It first appeared as part of the 1984 movie The Woman In Red though Wonder’s earlier writing partner Lee Garret (who co-wrote “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”) claims to have written it himself years earlier.

When I Fall In Love

Originally a hit for Doris Day in 1952, it has been covered by Rick Astley in 1987 (who tried to give it a festive flavour, snowfall video and all) and Celine Dion (for the 1993 movie Sleepless In Seattle). However, the most famous version of “When I Fall In Love” remains Nat ‘King’ Cole’s from 1957, which was a hit again in 1987.

Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet

The main melodic theme of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 movie of the Shakespeare play was written by Nino Rota and has been variously lyricised as “What Is A Youth” (used in the film), “A Time For Us” and “Ai Giochi Addio”, though it best known as a Henry Mancini-arranged instrumental. UK listeners of a certain age will know it as the background music to BBC Radio 1 DJ Simon Bates’ “Our Tune” segment.



Chris Ingham