Eric Carmen Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Back in the early 90's when I was living in California, I was invited to a 4th of July party at my friend Diane Warren's beach house in Malibu. It was a fairly small gathering (and house) of perhaps 25 people. Everyone there was somehow involved in the entertainment industry, producer, engineer, agent, songwriter, etc. At some point late in the afternoon Joni Mitchell wandered in and we were all just sitting around Diane's piano singing songs and someone asked me what I thought the best pop song of all time was. I thought about it for a minute or so and then told them my pick would be "Some Enchanted Evening" from the musical "South Pacific" by Rodgers and Hammerstein. There are a few things that happen in that song that are just so incredible melodically that it makes the hair on my arms stand up every time I hear it. Anyway, Diane thought about if for a minute and she agreed. I just checked the link and, as fate would have it, that song just happened to be number one on August 11th, 1949. That just blew me away! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Mississippi Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 How cool! Fate can be an incredible thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill C Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 It is a great song. I keep going back to "I should've known better" by the Beatles. Something about that song and the light haerted attitude of whole thing and that scence on the train. It's just a great little tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Wow! That's amazing!Bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMMY TUNES Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Eric,Being the classic that it is "Some Enchanted Evening" has been recorded by many artists.I am curious which is your favorite version. Mine is by Jay and the Americans.TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bahoodore Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 That is just simply freaky....cool, but freaky...bahoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamacote Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 .........it's the universal flow at work....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Funny thing, that song......the first ever rock concert I went to was the Beach Boys at Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, and there was this group called Honk, which did OK but the crowd didn't really get into. Last song Honk did was an a-capella version of "Some Enchanted Evening" before leaving the stage.Then the BBs put on a killer show.....mixing their then-recent stuff with classics, and not be a "going through the motions/oldies jukebox" that they are now.So, I associate that song with setting the stage for something really good that comes afterwards.Incidentally, I think I might have a copy of the sheet music(old, and maybe original)in my archives someplace. Eric, it is yours,if you want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally G Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Eric,You just brought back lovely memories for me that I haven't thought about in years.When I was a little girl, my mom and I would watch "South Pacific" every time it was on tv. My dad would pass through and watch sometimes and he and my mom would comment on what an amazing voice Rossano Brazzi had. (My dad had been in the Navy, so that's probably another reason why he enjoyed seeing it.) They saw the film when it was playing in the theatres, before I arrived on the scene! Some years later, my high school put on a production of "South Pacific" and I wasn't expecting much. To my surprise, I was amazed and so proud. My classmates did a terrific job on the singing and rather complex choreographed dance numbers as well!Thanks for bringing this up. I'm not surprised that you chose "Some Enchanted Evening." What a song, what emotion!All The Best,Joyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally G Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 I apologize for the "double post," but I'm in work... I intended to also comment that Eric, you can now add "Some Enchanted Evening" achieving #1 status on the day you were born to the list of great occurrences on your birthday!I seem to remember you remarking to Bernie and Bernie posting here for you, on your birthday last year, that some pretty darn good Beatles events occurred on your birthday.To quote you from that post, "Coincidence? I think not!" All The BestJoyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 I've never listened to that song all the way through, but I must now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 There *are* no accidents...Great song for a great day. --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Which version is the best to listen to? Any recomendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally G Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Tony,The one on the movie soundtrack album is great! My mom had the album and played it a lot. Maybe somebody's got it on eBay?? Hope this is helpful.All The Best,Joyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 I even love the symphonic arrangements I play, especially that of Robert Russell Bennett, whose arrangements are so true to score. My Senior Prom theme was "Younger Than Springtime," another of my faves. "Some Enchanted Evening," however, is the masterpiece of that show. --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmichel Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 I've just spent the past few minutes listening to snippets of "SOME ENCHANTED EVENING" by a diverse group of artists...Frank Sinatra, The Temptations, Perry Como, Barbra Streisand, Al Jolson, Willie Nelson, Ezio Pinza, and Jay and The Americans...The versions I liked most played up the haunting string arrangement...A great song no matter how many decades may pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlene Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 That *IS* pretty "WOW" ! (and, indeed, a beautiful song) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimvriezen Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Some Enchanted Evening by Jay & the Americans is a song I really love ,and I played it over and over again through the years but believe me Eric, Don't Wanna Say Goodbye is THE NUMBER ONE SONG of all time.I was 14 years old in 1972 when I first heard it on Dutch Radio Veronica 192, it was one of the DJ's hitpick of the week and I was blown away, the first time I heard it, and that feeling just never went away and it will never leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Carmen's Karma is off the meter! Eric, be prepared for a pop song to descend on you from the music God's I don't think I've heard the entire song "Some Enchanted Evening" for years. I remember it as being hauntingly beautiful. "Try To Remember" does that hair on the arm thing for me, also. Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 i'm sorry to chime in but my vote goes for "god only knows" from brian wilson...that melody always makes me envious!!!!!...beautiful arrangement and playing too!!!lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 The song that does the hair on the arm thing for me has to be Unchained Melody. Ann. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannoman Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 I never fully appreciated that song until I heard Jane Olivor (anyone remember her) sing it live. Her phrasing offered a different perspective of the song. A rather unique treatment that made me wan't to hear it over and over.What ever happened to her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trindy Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 What a great story! And that truly is a great song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 I just bought the Jane Olivor cd that has the Alan and Marilyn Bergman song, "The Last Time I Felt Like This" from the movie, Same Time Next Year. I love Jane's voice. Her version of Unchained Melody, which is one of my all-time favorites, must be beautiful. --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlene Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Ann....me too. I LOVE "Unchained Melody" !!JUST LOVE IT !! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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