Summer concert 2010 – playlist

On Saturday 26 June 2010, the chorus perfomed the following songs during our World Tour. We hope you enjoyed each and every one of our songs. If you have a favourite, drop us a line  and share your views.

Advance Australia Fair (1878) – Peter McCormick
Written by Scots-born Peter McCormick, this has been the Australian national anthem since 1984, defeating “Waltzing Matilda” and “God Save the Queen” in competition.

Africa (1981) – Jeff Porcaro & David Paich 
A hit in USA & UK for rock band, “Toto”. The white writers had never been to Africa – this is their impression gleaned from TV and films.

Amarillo (1971) – Howard Greenfield & Neil Sedaka
The tale of a guy travelling to Amarillo, Texas, to find his girlfriend. After chart success all over Europe in the 70’s, the song was re-released in 2005 for Comic Relief and is still a favourite for dancing the slosh at weddings, etc.

Bali Ha’I (1949) – Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
A song from one of the greatest American musicals, “South Pacific”, which explores racial prejudice and culture clash as well as being a wonderful romance. Bali Ha’I  represents our unattainable island paradise, free from worldly cares. It was based on the island of Ambae, Vanuatu (formerly the New Hebrides Islands).

Blame Canada (1999) – Marc Shaiman & Trey Parker
From the sublime to the ridiculous, this was written for the film “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut”, satirising the US/Canadian relationship. American parents blame Canada for the corrupting influence of thinly-disguised camp gay guys appearing in the fictional film “Terrance & Philip:Asses of Fire”. Nominated for an Academy Award!

Down Under (1981) – Colin Hay & Ron Strykert
A satire on Ozzy life, this pop number from “Men at Work” was a hit in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden & UK. One theory is that it’s based on a Welsh folk song!
Note:”chunder” is Oz slang for “throw up”.

Finland (1989) – Michael Palin
From the album “Monty Python Sings”, this is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Finland, which is probably no more boring than any other country with 6-month long winters, lakes, forests & peat bogs (Scotland?)
Note: There are no “mountains so lofty” in Finland!

Flying the Flag (2007) – Andrew Hill, Morten Schjolin, Russ Spencer & Paul Tarry
Staying in Helsinki, Finland for a UK Eurovision entry (we came 22nd with 19 points), this bubble-gum pop number by Scooch is full of camp trolley-dolly innuendo. Can’t think why our choir would choose this one.

[Flower Duet from Lakme (1883) - Leo Delibes
On the flying theme, but by way of contrast, we have interspersed pop with the classic British Airways' anthem. Who says we don't appreciate serious music.]

From Russia with Love (1963) – Lionel Bart
Crooned by Matt Monro in the film starring Sean Connery as MI6 agent, James Bond, facing Cold War Russian agents. Strands of Monty Norman’s Bond theme are woven through this arrangement, together with the Russian song, “Kalinka”, sung at times like a lullaby, at others like a wild Cossack folk dance.

Go West (1978) – Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo & Victor Willis
Surprisingly, based on a chord progression in Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, this disco hit was originally recorded by Village People, but became a bigger hit in 1993 arranged by the Pet Shop Boys, who took some inspiration from the Russian national anthem. “Go west” was a 19th century exhortation to adventurous east coast people to push America’s boundaries as far as the Pacific. However Village People probably intended the song as encouragement to provincial gay men to head for the sexually-liberated west coast hotspots of San Francisco and Los Angeles in pre-Aids days.                                                       

The High Life (1994) – Forbes Masson & Alan Cumming 
The theme song of the outrageously camp Scots sitcom based around a flight crew – need I say more?

Istanbul (1953) – Jimmy Kennedy & Nat Simon
Another piece of divine silliness – an American idea of a Middle Eastern dance rhythm, originally recorded by Canadian group, The Four Lads, but also deemed worthy of repetition by Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Middler, & Reggie’s Red Hot Feetwarmers!
Note: Prior to Constantinople, Istanbul was named Byzantium.

I Still Call Australia Home (1980) – Peter Allen
Probably beloved of expat Ozzies the world over as they weep into their Fosters lager. Also adopted by Qantas, the Australian national airline.

La Mer (1946) – Charles Trenet
A quintessentially French ballad, though not written about a woman, but rather a person’s love of the sea and unspoilt coast. “The ocean you may see dancing along the shimmering bays …has cradled my heart for life.” The English version has lyrics by Jack Lawrence.

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (1897) – Enoch Sontonga
Written by a Methodist teacher and originally sung as a hymn, it became the political anthem of the African National Congress in 1925. Since 1994 this Xhosa (tribal language) song has become joint South African national anthem with the old Afrikaans “Die Stem van Suid-Afrika”. It is also the national anthem of Zambia and Tanzania, and previously Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Russian National Anthem (1938) – Alexander Alexandrov
Originally the Bolsheviks’ anthem, it was adopted in 1944 to replace The Internationale, with the lyrics being re-written several times to reflect Russia’s changing political face.

San Francisco (1967) – John Phillips
A Summer of Love psychedelic-pop hit of the Flower Power generation, with references to the cultural and political changes in 60’s America. An anti- (esp. Vietnam) war anthem.

Sous les Ponts de Paris (1914) – Vincent Scotto & Jean Rodor
A ballad describing the walkways which run under Paris’s bridges, on either side of the Seine, and where even the poorest can wander in the perfumed evening air and perhaps fall in love. Ah, those seductive French!

Solos/Quartet

California (1965) – John Phillips & Michelle Phillips
A hit for The Mamas & The Papas, probably written during a freezing New York winter, while thinking of escaping to the warmth of sunny California.

Don’t Stop Believin’ (1981) – Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry & Neal Schon
Originally recorded by rock group, Journey, this is an upbeat take on starting adult life – some advice for the journey.

Going to a Town (2007) – Rufus Wainwright
A ballad about leaving the country of one’s birth and moving on to the next phase of life.

This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore (2001) – Bernie Taupin & Elton John
From the album “Songs from the West Coast”, a wistful backward glance towards the end of life’s journey.      

When in Rome I Do as the Romans Do (1964) – Carolyn Leigh & Cy Coleman
A cheeky little ditty about those sexually-charged holidays in sunny climes, where the advice (and excuse!) is to follow the local crowd. An early favourite of La Streisand.               

N.B. Songs are in alphabetical order, not the order in which they were sung. This writeup is the work of one of our chorus members and we cannot accept responsibility for any errors or incorrect details.