Letter of the Day: D
My older sister, Nancy, challenged me to use a name for each letter of the alphabet during this A-Z blog challenge. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do it. Today, I’ll mention two friends, Don and Dawn. They are both songwriters in my area and are helping me by writing original music for Coffee Shop Confessions.
D is for duet. When two performers sing or play together it is called a duet. However, when I accompany a singer, she is called a soloist. Often, the accompanist is overlooked, and occassionally not even mentioned. Yes, I’ve felt slighted by this. On the other hand, a good accompanist is support for the soloist and allows her to shine.
Here, Joy and I are playing the duet part for Heart and Soul. You all know it. The bumpa, bumpa, song that sticks in your head forever. Joy also got up and sang the words to the song as a solo, at which point I faded into the rhythm, bumpa, bumpa…
These photos are from a show we did together. We opened by singing a duet of Sisters. We were fighting over my scarf while singing the final stanza, “Lord, help the mister who comes between me and my sister, and Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man!”
Duets are a fun part of any production. Some of my favorite duets are Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better, Hey Baby it’s Cold Outside, Sunrise, Sunset, You’re the One that I Want, and The Music of the Night.
One more for my mom since it’s her birthday today. She likes Do You Love Me? from Fiddler on the Roof. Happy Birthday, Mom, I love you. (My mom probably won’t see this considering she doesn’t even own a computer. Ah, they still live the simple life, down on the farm.)
Journaling Prompt: What are your favorite duets? With whom would you like to sing a duet? (hoping Missed Periods will stop by and see my proper use of whom and sentence structure, here.)
Loved this, As I can’t sing very well I would however love to sing a duet with my favourite singer Daniel O Donnell. To dream but purchance
Yvonne.
Ahhh…lovely post!! Happy birthday to your mom. You are so talented–and brave at being on stage!
I can’t sing a thing…grr but if I could, I’d love to sing a duet with my favorite singer Sarah Brightman… what an angelical voice!
Doris
Happy Birthday to your mom!
I loved this post.. I also like the duet, Baby It’s Cold outside…really good one. I agree with Doris–it takes some courage to go up on stage and you do great.
🙂
If I sang, the audience would demand an encore from Charlie Sheen, LOL! Mary, I totally adore your duet selections. Sunrise, Sunset is beyond gorgeous, OMG! Fiddler on the Roof was on tv last week, clicked on in time to hear Do You Love Me – oh, but my eyes misted.
My mom used to say Fred Astaire was the best dancer even though Ginger Rogers got all the attention. The one who accompanies makes the other look really good. Ever notice how on some of these PBS musical era shows, when they bring back old singers to sing their hits, that there’s a major musical section to back them up?
Heart and Soul made me chuckle. I remember banging it out in the living room, over and over, pleased as punch. Years later I learned I drove my family nuts (in a good way!) Ahhh, but it was fun!
Great D and great trip down Memory Lane! Thanks!
Mary, I’ve ALWAYS fancied myself a singer. Trouble is, everyone races out of the room when I start so I’ve never been able to show them my lovely voice. Can’t figure. Maybe a fire? Or they all got sick at once??
Mon loved Fred and Ginger. She gave me a love for them too. Ivy (our girl) plays the violin, guitar, and mandolin. Our youngest son is a musician. Me?? I watch. Love seeing a part of your life. Awesome. 🙂
My favorite is Sandi Patti’s duet version of “The Prayer”. So, so, so beautiful!! 🙂
I love all these songs!! You pick good ones (and your Mom too). I would only add, One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story. It was in my wedding. 🙂
My Blog
Another delightful post!
Happy Birthday to your mom!
The only person I could ever sing a duet with would be a person wearing ear plugs…yes, it’s that bad. Hope your day is a good one!
Although I do sing on occasion, all my duets have come on the violin. My favorite was the one I did with my sister which we incorporated into an Abbot & Costello-style comedy act.
Oh, and happy birthday to your mom! In her honor, my brain is now singing “If I Were a Rich Man” over and over and over.
i could hear you singing in this post… and it was beautiful.
Happy Birthday to your mom!!!
I am a complete sucker for Andrea Boccelli and Sarah Brightman’s Time to Say Goodbye duet and Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis I told You So.
You’ve taken a challenge within a challenge? That’s hard-core. I thought I was pushing the envelope entering two blogs. o.0
Best of luck!
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