Photo bytheknot.com

Something in music: the origin

One night at a trendy L.A. nightclub on a rare solo outing, yours truly found himself standing alone at the bar preparing to review the upcoming act. Before he had scribbled down more than a few notes, however, he was bookended by a pair of vivacious vixens who insisted on engaging your rockin’ writer in cozy conversation. Strangely, the subject of “marriage” arose.

One of the young ladies noted that when a gal’s about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those same terms could be applied to music: “Something old” or classic, “something new” or recently released, “something borrowed”, a cover, and “something blue”, a blues song or a song with “blue” in the title. And the rest is history…

‘Something’ in Music 433

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “And Your Bird Can Sing” originally recorded by the Brit band the Beatles and written mainly by John Lennon. The song first appeared on the group’s 1966 platter “Revolver”, except in Canada and the US, where it instead was featured on “Yesterday and Today.”

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new track titled “Copenhagen.” It is the new single off the new, upcoming album “Sent Through The Ceiling” by Fayetteville, Arkansas -based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ashtyn Barbaree. Barbaree co-wrote the tune with Mike Mains.

In a recent e-communique, the Americana-folk song was described as a track that “captures the essence of cherished memories and enduring bonds amidst the city's wintry landscapes.” Barbaree is backed here by Matt Nelson (piano), Garrett Jones (upright bass), Jacob Campbell (electric guitar), Derek Weiand (drums), and Lacy Hampton and Phillip Cannon (harmony vocals). The album drops on October 25th, 2024.

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the 18th-century song named “Barbara Song.” It’s from Bertolt Brecht’s German “play with music” known as “The Threepenny Opera” and includes music by Kurt Weill. This dedicated cover is by soprano vocalist Angelina Réaux.

She is backed by pianist and conductor Robert Kapilow and others. The adaptation is from Reaux’s 1992 album titled “Stranger Here Myself: Songs of Kurt Weill.” If you’re in Southern California and you want to see her perform live, you’re in luck!

Réaux will be performing as part of the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s presentation “3 Faces of Steve: Sondheim in Concert” which will open on Friday, September 6th, and close on Sunday, September 29th, 2024 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Photo byOdyssey Theatre

According to a recent email, it will be “a song compendium that spans the breadth of Stephen Sondheim’s oeuvre.” Réaux “personally knew and worked with Sondheim” and will be both performing and co-directing the show with William Ah Sing. Baritone Michael Sokol and bari-tenor Bernardo Bermudez will also be joining in as well in a performance of 14 of Sondheim’s stage numbers from such shows as “‘Follies’, ‘Company’, ‘Sweeney Todd’, ‘Into the Woods’, ‘A Little Night Music’ and ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ alongside Réaux’s personal and professional remembrances of the master.”

There will be a preview performance on Thursday, September 5th, at 8:00 p.m. Can’t make the preview? Check out these additional performance dates:

• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 12, Sept. 19. Sept. 26

• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 6, Sept. 13, Sept. 20*, Sept. 27

• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Sept. 28

• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Sept. 8, Sept. 15, Sept. 22

• Sunday at 5 p.m.: Sept. 29

*Wine Night Fridays: Enjoy complimentary wine and snacks after the show on the third Friday of every month.

Ticket prices range from $25.00 to $45.00. For specific details and additional information, visit the official website.

Something Blue

Last but certainly not least, our “something blue” this time is the song “Doggone Blues” by American singer, songwriter, and musician Denise La Grassa. It’s off her 2015 disc “The Blues Ain't a Color.” If you’re interested in seeing her perform live, her summer tour is still going!

Photo byDoug Deutsch Publicity Services

Want to hear La Grassa’s most recent studio release? She has a new album out titled “Sundown Rising.” (Read your rockin’ writer’s review right here!)

Photo byTetiana KobzevaonUnsplash

Did we mention your favorite “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”? If not, let us know. Don’t forget to send us your bride photos too!