No.７　Wheels Of A Dream

Lyrics  Lynn Ahrens

Composer  Stephen Flaherty

 “Ragtime ” 1998

Feelings for the song

The original is a novel of the same name by E. L. Doctorow (1975)

From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century

WASP, black, Jewish 3 families’s story of life.

The Lion King won the Tony Awards on the competition.

The stage performance does not last long,

because there are many performers.

So I want to see at least once someday.

 

And this song is sung by Black family

Coalhouse and Sarah

singing while holding a baby.

I sang this only in the singing part of Coalhouse.

 

The original cast Brian Stokes Mitchell

Has an unique, low and thick singing voice,

Which we can understand immediately after hearing.

When I think about it now, t

he song selection may have been reckless.

 

Guessing the lyrics,

We can feel Coalhouse’s love for America, Sarah, and his son.

This one song gives us the theme of the musical.

 

I got a sheet music at bookstores around Broadway.

I’m glad to sing this song, which is not so popular in Japan.

 

Lyrics

I see his face.

I hear his heartbeat.

I look in those eyes.

How wise they seem.

Well, when he is old enough

I will show him America

And he will ride

on the wheels of a dream.

We’ll go down South

And see your people

Won’t they take to him

Like cats to cream!

Then we’ll travel on from there.

And we will ride

On the wheels of a dream.

Yes, the wheels are turning for us, girl.

And the times are starting to roll.

Any man can get where he wants to

If he’s got some fire in his soul.

We’ll see justice, Sarah,

And plenty of men

Who will stand up

And give us our due.

Oh, Sarah, it’s more that promises.

Sarah, it must be true.

A country that let’s a man like me

Own a car, raise a child, build a life with you…

With you…

Beyond that road,

Beyond this lifetime

That car full of hope

Will always gleam!

With the promise of happiness

And the freedom he’ll live to know.

He’ll travle with head held high,

Just as far as his heart can go

And he will ride-

Our son will ride-

On the wheels of a dream.

No.６　I Am What I Am

Lyrics / Composer: Jerry Herman

“La Cage aux Folles” 1983

Feelings for the song

The original is Jean Poiret’s stage play “Mr. Lady Mr. Madam”,

which received the Tony Award in 1984.

Like my favorite Gay’s movie “Torch Song Trilogy”

It ’s painful, but it ’s heartwarming.

 

On the other hand, this “La Cage au Fall” is

a play style that makes you laugh all the time.

Probably this is the reason for receiving it in Japan

As proof of that, as the role of Zaza

Known as Masachika Ichimura in Japan,

Before him it was Masaomi Kondo

Who is famous actor, not singer.

So it looks like a comedy, not a musical.

 

Beside that,

I got to know this song in

“Best Musical -4 Knights”

Kojiro Oka sings in a sexy way.

This poem is better than the musical version.

For those who are listening

The possibilities of being pleased expand.

 

In order to express feelings,

Subtle changes in tempo.

The piano teacher always plays together perfectly.

Thanks her again

 

Lyrics

I am what I am

I don’t want praise I don’t want pity

I bang my own drum

Some think it’s noise I think it’s pretty

And so what if I love each sparkle and each bangle

Why not see things from a different angle

Your life is a shame

Till you can shout out loud

‘I am what I am’

 

I am what I am

And what I am needs no excuses

I deal my own deck

Sometimes the aces sometimes the deuces

It’s one life and there’s no return and no deposit

One life so it’s time to open up your closet

Life’s not worth a dam till you can say

‘Hey, world, I am what I am’

No.5 “Le temps des cathédrales “

Lyrics: Luc Pramondon

Composition: Riccardo Cochante

 “Notre-Dame de Paris” 1997

Feelings for the song

This is the French musical based on　Victor Hugo’s novel “Notre-Dame de Paris”.

Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is the same as the original.

The French musical has a much more original love triangle,

drawn with a muddy touch.

While remembering the movement of Quasimodo’s body by the composition of the song

Eventually, I was dragged into a dark and deep pool and couldn’t escape.

 

This song is a prologue of the story sung by the bard Grangoire at the beginning.

The impact of the original cast Bruno Pelletier is strong.

 

The reason I got to know this song was

Kiyotaka Imai’s album GLORIOUS VOICE.

Mr. Imai’s voice is far from the typical Japanese voice, so admirable.

In the album it’s in English,

I used the lyrics.

Lyrics

C’est une histoire qui a pour lieu

Paris la belle en l’an de Dieu

Mille-quatre-cent-quatre-vingt-deux

Histoire d’amour et de désir

Nous, les artistes anonymes

De la sculpture ou de la rime

Tenterons de vous la transcrire

Pour les siècles à venir

 

Il est venu le temps des cathédrales

Le monde est entré

Dans un nouveau millénaire

L’homme a voulu monter vers les étoiles

Ecrire son histoire

Dans le verre ou dans la pierre

 

Pierre après pierre, jour après jour

De siècle en siècle avec amour

Il a vu s’élever les tours

Qu’il avait bâties de ses mains

Les poètes et les troubadours

Ont chanté des chansons d’amour

Qui promettaient au genre humain

De meilleurs lendemains

 

Il est venu le temps des cathédrales

Le monde est entré

Dans un nouveau millénaire

L’homme a voulu monter vers les étoiles

Ecrire son histoire

Dans le verre ou dans la pierre

 

Il est venu le temps des cathédrales

Le monde est entré

Dans un nouveau millénaire

L’homme a voulu monter vers les étoiles

Ecrire son histoire

Dans le verre ou dans la pierre

 

Il est foutu le temps des cathédrales

La foule des barbares

Est aux portes de la ville

Laissez entrer ces païens, ces vandales

La fin de ce monde

Est prévue pour l’an deux mille

Est prévue pour l’an deux mille

No.4 Les Parapluies De Cherbourg

Lyrics: Jacques Demy

Composer: Michel Legrand

“Les Parapluies De Cherbourg” 1964

 

Feelings for the song

I saw this movie on DVD many times,

Which received Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix.

 

Michel Legrand’s beautiful melody is my favorite.

Since Jazz sounds are woven from time to time in this movie,

It ’s a miracle that Danielle Licari could dub Catherine Deneuve’s song.

It is not necessary to look at the image.

I can be satisfied by just hearing the sound in the room,

especially in Rainy days.

 

Regrettably he passed away in January 26^th 2019.

However his passionate art will live in my soul eternally.

 

The theme of director and screenwriter Jacques Demy is also poetic.

The points of theme are

the torn love

the cruelty of war

the desire of parents

the immaturity of two young man and woman

 

In the first scene

A cold rain hitting the bricks road in Cherbourg town,

In the last scene

the hard snow falls on the gas station.

These are like a destiny to swallow everything.

My own bittersweet memories cone back every time to see this movie.

You will feel warm by scenes and music.

 

The English translation “I WILL WAIT FOR YOU” is popular song,

But I can only think of the original,

Farewell duet at coffee shops and train stations

I sing as a dual role.

 

Part up to “De notre amour ecoute la chanson”

Try to kill singing by talking about original feelings and appealings

In the original language

 

And in the main melody line

Focus on putting the feelings and appearing on.

Every time I sing, my chest is tightened.

 

Lyrics   

Depuis quelques jours je vis dans le silence

Des quatres murs de mon amour

Depuis ton de part l’ombre de ton absence

Me poursuit chaque nuit et me fuit chaque jour

 

Je ne vois plus personne j’ai fait le vide autour de moi

Je ne comprends plus rien parce que je ne suis rien sans toi

J’ai renonce а tout parce que je n’ai plus d’illusions

De notre amour ecoute la chanson

 

Non je ne pourrai jamais vivre sans toi

Je ne pourrai pas, ne pars pas, j’en mourrai

Un instant sans toi et je n’existe pas

Mais mon amour ne me quitte pas

 

Mon amour je t’attendrai toute ma vie

Reste pres de moi reviens je t’en supplie

J’ai besoin de toi je veux vivre pour toi

Oh mon amour ne me quitte pas

 

Ils se sont separes sur le quai d’un gare

Ils se sont eloignes dans un dernier regard

Oh je t’aime ne me quitte pas.

No.3 　マリア　Maria

Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Composer: Leonard Bernstein

“West Side Story” 1957

Feelings for the song

I watched the musical stage in February 1996

However that didn’t really impress me

Maybe because the impression of the movie is too strong.

The reason why I wanted to sing this song was

Maria I heard in the West Side Story medley by

Michael Crawford

On the album Stage and Screen

A unique singing beginning that begins to moan

Call Maria’s name to scream on the way

Somewhere like a phantom

His voice fits this song

To catch up with him,

 I tried to shout Maria’s name.

A song that makes you feel like Michael Crawford

Lyrics

The most beautiful sound I ever heard
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word
Maria
I just met a girl named Maria
And suddenly that name
Will never be the same to me
Maria
I just kissed a girl named Maria
And suddenly I found
How wonderful a sound can be
Maria
Say it loud and there’s music playing
Say it soft and it’s almost like praying
Maria
I’ll never stop saying
Maria
Maria, Maria…
Maria
Say it loud and there’s music playing
Say it soft and it’s almost like praying
Maria
I’ll never stop saying
Maria
The most beautiful sound I ever heard
Maria

Introduction

Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse

Composer: Frank Wildhorn

“Jekyll & Hyde” 1990

Feelings for the song

Needless to mention that

This Broadway musical is based on

Robert Louis Stevenson “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

 

I never get tired of watching the stage

The degree of perfection is outstanding.

 

The cast can be Takeshi Kaga or Kanji Ishimaru in Japan,

When playing Hyde

You need to be ferocious enough to tear your white shirt

 

I try get the realism of this role

By all means the original Robert Cuccioli,

A robust type like David Hasselhoff on DVD

It suits this musical.

 

This song is also a song as Jigil,

Considerable toughness is required

Just screaming to follow the score is not enough

With a sticky, sticky throat ring,

Power is the decisive factor

I work with such an image,

Every time I sing, I am overwhelmed by the gap with reality

I think I’m ringing in my own way

I’m lacking in power

 

Anyway, I have no choice but to sing as if I were Jigil

I’m always attacked by such impatience.

 

Lyrics

 

This is the moment

This is the day,

When I send all my doubts and demons

On their way

 

Every endeavor,

I have made – ever

Is coming into play,

Is here and now – today

 

This is the moment,

This is the time,

When the momentum and the moment

Are in rhyme

 

Give me this moment

This precious chance

I’ll gather up my past

And make some sense at last

 

This is the moment,

When all I’ve done

All the dreaming,

Scheming and screaming,

Become one

 

This is the day

See it sparkle and shine,

When all I’ve lived for

Becomes mine

 

For all these years,

I’ve faced the world alone,

And now the time has come

To prove to them

I’ve made it on my own

 

This is the moment

My final test

Destiny beckoned,

I never reckoned,

Second Best

 

I won’t look down,

I must not fall

This is the moment,

The sweetest moment of them all

 

This is the moment

Damn all the odds

 This day, or never,

I’ll sit forever

With the gods

 

When I look back,

I will always recall,

Moment for moment,

This was the moment,

The greatest moment

Of them all

Introduction

I continue to sing musical songs as a hobby.

With various events in my life

That always gives me peace and vitality in my heart.

 

I will introduce those songs,

Which were performed in regular mini concerts,

And sometimes concerts at live house.

Thanks to a cheerful teacher,

a reliable accompaniment pianist,

and energetic classmates

 

No.1 “All the Things You Are “

Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein

Composition: Jerome Kern

“VERY WARM FOR MAY” 1939

Feelings for the song

This is the first musical song I worked on,

I still love this standard number,

Also

One of the most difficult assignment songs

I’ve ever worked on.

 

The musical performance itself was considered a blunder,

The reason is said to be difficult.

Probably in the middle of World War II

The tastes were not natural on Broadway

 

The lyrics are energetic and esoteric,

In the season of spring

These words remind me

the crush I held when I was young.

 

And the melody

Require sweet expression.

However, my expression is

Far from the image

Somewhere stiff

 

Unlike the Italian songs I’ve learned so far,

This song teach me the difficulty to express

the heart of the musical songs in the lyrics

It was a bitter departure.

 

I could get to know this song by

Album of baritone singer Thomas Hampson.

His shiny singing voice always calms the mind.

I’m said to be a high baritone vocal range.

Baritone’s true vocal range like Thomas Hampson

I’m always longing for it.

 

Lyrics

 

Time and again I’ve longed for adventure

Something to make my heart beats the faster

What did I long for?

I never really knew.

 

Finding your love I’ve found my adventure

Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster

All that I want in

All of this world is you.

 

You are the promised kiss of springtime

That makes the lonely winter seem long

You are the breathless hush of evening

That trembles on the brink of a lovely song

 

You are the angel glow that lights a star

The dearest things I know are what you are

 

Some day my happy arms will hold you

And some day I’ll know that moment divine

When all the things you are, are mine

 

You are the angel glow that lights a star

The dearest things I know are what you are

 

Some day my happy arms will hold you

And some day I’ll know that moment divine

When all the things you are, are mine