So two of my very dear friend's in theatre's father just passed away of a heart attack... he was 44... the boys are 16, and 15... and they have five other siblings, and the mother is expecting another... we're doing a benefit concert for the family in a few weeks, and we've got a pretty good list of potential songs... but any suggestions would be fantastic. The family is a fantastic crew of people... very upbeat, VERY Christian, VERY very loving, and we're trying to have the concert be more of a celebration of this man, who was one of the nicest men in the world... really he was, and we're trying to reflect that while still maintaining a poingiant rememberance vibe... it's three tenors.. myself... and two other guys performing in this concert... and we may have some backups... both male and female... but we're not sure yet.... SO.
with all that said...
anything y'all can think of that fits the criteria?
I know that it is not a happy occasion, but if you do For Good you are going to really bring everyone down in the audience. Try to find something touching without making the widow burst out into tears at the benefit because you are singing a song about two people who love each other, but have to part.
Some songs you should look into that might or might not work: "No One Is Alone" "You'll Never Walk Alone" "Not A Day Goes By" "Move On" "If He Walked Into My Life"
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
No One Is Alone (Into the Woods) and You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel) are both beautiful songs.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
I'll Miss You, Old Friend (Dreamgirls) What Makes Me Love Him (The Apple Tree) Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (Phantom) Without You (RENT) Sorry, I know these are all really sad...
How about "Bring On tomorrow" from the stage version of Fame. It is a great song, very optimistic. Not too depressing. I also have an a capella version of "Can You feel the Love tonight" for MEn's chorus (TTBB) or for Mixed chorus (SATB) "Circle of Life"? "Morning Glow" from Pippin? I don't know if any of these will work, just trying to come up with a list of songs.
If the family is VERY Christian, I'd throw in a couple of religious songs. Maybe the hymn "Blessed Assurance" and Sandi Patti's "We Shall See Him As He Is"
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
There is a song called "If I sing" from Closer than Ever, talks about a father/son relationship, and what that son learned from his father, not only about music, but about love. Maybe too depressing, but it would work in this situation.
i think a lot of these songs are a bit too much for a sad occasion. you could get away with one or two - but only if surrounded by more upbeat ones. just be careful that you aren't going for sad songs because you think you will sing them beautiful - its not the purpose to make people cry the whole way through the show.
first of all, try to find some songs that have some personal relevance to the family - favourites, in jokes, about a hobby, etc. these will have a lot of meaning to them without hammering in the fact that a loved one has died.
also, if they are religious, you can look at some fabulous gospel and classical songs.
john bucchino has some really lovely stuff. it's all very interpretive so it can be sung with sadness or optimism, however the singer feels. really, really beautiful music.