Modern, Broadway, Spiritual & Classical
Linda Ronstadt
“All My Life” is a duet with Aaron Neville. I chose to feature Linda Ronstadt after watching an HBO documentary about her, and being blown away by Ms.Ronstadt’s ability to sing any style of music.
Lady Gaga
“Joanne” the piano version, was released as a single, and is so pretty, and quite emotional. Lady Gaga wrote this song about her aunt, who died of Lupus, at the age of 19.
Alisa Keys
“A Beautiful Noise” was chosen because I was impressed with Alisa Keys as a creative, happy mother of three boys. I have also added “Authors of Forever” and “Underdog” to my happy playlist.
Mumford & Sons
“Woman” is a fantastic song with soul. It’s not too loud or fast, yet I can’t resist getting up and dancing when it comes on.
Finding Neverland
“What you mean to me” is the best song to run around in your kitchen- leaping like a ballerina, and twirling with romantic passion.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded in 2020, this enjoyable album features songs from all the modern Disney cartoons. Most of the songs are purely instrumental, though “When she loved me” is particularly well done because it is delightfully sung by a few superb men in Operatic fashion.
Josh Groban
““Both sides Now” is a duet sung with Sara Bareilles, and was originally written by Joni Mitchell in 1968. This is a beautiful updated version.
Rita Wilson
“Sometimes People are Good” sung by Rita Wilson is sweet and kinda funny. Mister Rogers wrote very innocent songs for the children watching his TV show, and this song helps to explain the complexity of life.
Bob Marley & the Chineke! Orchestra
“One Love/People get Ready” is the original recording of Bob Marley, enhanced with beautiful string instruments. Bob Marley was very religious and tried his best to share his beliefs through modern music.
Ty Herndon & Kristin Chenoweth
”Orphans of God” is a gospel song with Country roots. I find its message very heart warming.
Louis Armstrong
“Rock my Soul” is one of the many fun spirituals that Louis Armstrong sang. My favorite line is “I would not be a backbiter, I’ll tell you the reason why. I’m afraid the Lord might call me, and I wouldn’t be ready to die.”
Beethoven
“Fur Elise” is the first classical piece of music I remember being exposed to as a child. Other Beethoven recommendations by Happy Mail readers include “Funeral March” and “Fantasia”.
Music of Spheres, Coldplay
I can listen to this entire album over and over because each song blends into the next. Chris Martin sings happy melodies with sentimental lyrics, “I am so happy I’m alive, happy I’m alive at the same time as you..”
The Vitamin String Quartet plays beautiful, romantic covers of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”, Beyonce’s “Halo” and Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t got You”
Eddie Vedder sings “The Haves” in a single release and “More than. you Know” found in the Earthing Expansion album from 2022. Give Eddie’s deep voice a try.
Nils Landgren, Swedish trombone player has arranged beautifully creative concerts for the last eight years. The concerts feature Classical and Jazz Christmas vocalists and instrumental musicians, and is called Christmas with my Friends.
The soundtrack to the movie Wonka is well written and my favorite song is “Sweet Tooth” because it is funny and ends with me joining in with a kick line with four other men.
“Oh Savior Thou Who Wearest a Crown” This song is sung by taking the traditional lyrics and mixing them with the melody of “If you could Hie to Kolob”.
Bob Dylan wrote “The Girl From the North Country” in 1962 when he was visiting England. This is his spin on the traditional song “Scarborough Fair” and in 1969 Johnnie Cash recorded a duet version. BUT! You must listen to the Royal Phil Harmonic and hear the emotional introduction they added with their string instruments to this duo’s recording.
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