Friday, May 15, 2009

All By Myself

The composer Sergei Rachmaninoff was born on April 1st 1873 in Novgorod, Russia. In 1901 he penned what was to become his best known work, his Second Piano Concerto.


Fast forward to 1975 and the ex lead singer of the Raspberries, Eric Carmen used the most melodic piece of this majestic work in his well known power ballad All By Myself.


Despite initial legal wranglings between Carmen and the Rachmaninoff estate, this simple song eventually became one of the best known and most covered pop songs of all time.


The first cover was by Frank Sinatra in 1976, and other versions have come thick and fast, the last rendition being featured in last year’s movie Super Hero. In total 27 covers have been made by artists as diverse as Hank Williams, Tom Jones and Cheryl Crow.


There is little doubt however that the rendition to top them all was the 1996 recording by Celine Dion. It was first released on October 7, 1996 in the UK, then on March 11 1997 in North America.


I am a single person. I live all by myself and that suits me, so I can’t relate to the sentiment of the lyrics . However I  find it impossible to listen to this amazing piece of music without being moved.


May I invite you to stop whatever you are doing and listen to All By Myself whilst following the words on the screen And when it's finished listen again with your eyes closed and a clear mind. Enjoy.


5 comments:

  1. no matter how much we enjoy our solitude - in the end - it's always nice to have someone!

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  2. Your really very old ain't ya?

    beautiful mate beautiful.........!

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  3. all by myself has always been one of my favorite songs and i have used ti several times on my blog as well,,, but i have never heard this rendition.. thanks for sharing keith!!!

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  4. you are never alone as long as you do not feel sorry for your self.
    Go down to the pub and have one for me. Thanks for Celine and the song. Started my on a high note.
    Old Grizz

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  5. I well know what it is to be all by my self. Beautiful words.


    Melanie

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