to tell the story of how great a love can be? Although this wasn’t the first film I remember crying through it is certainly the one that had the greatest impact on me. I’m talking of course about ‘Love Story’ starring Ryan O’Neil and Ali McGraw. I, probably like most of the audience, was lulled into a false sense of security at the beginning of the film and then bawled my eyes out from the minute she became sick. Having not watched Love Story for over 30 years I still cry when I hear the theme tune. So why do I listen to the tune? And more particularly, why did I listen to it today?
Well, therein lies a tale. An Egyptian friend had sent me a link to a YouTube video of ‘Speak Softly Love‘ the Andy Williams version of the theme tune for The Godfather. It was her Valentine’s ‘gift’ to all your friends. That then led me to thinking about Love Story and I found his version of that too.
Isn’t music unbelievably powerful! And it isn’t just the music – as a wordsmith I have always loved lyrics. I don’t even have to understand the words, being a huge fan of Rachid Taha and Fadl Shakr long before I could speak any Arabic. It’s about the tone of the singing voice, intonation, expression etc. So if, like me you love a good song, with feeling and the power to move you why not listen to these two and tell me what you think? The first is a Rai track called Ya Rayah by the Algerian singer Rachid Taha and the second is by the Lebanese singer Fadl Shaker singing Masar Fieh.
Enjoy and Happy Valentine’s to you all.
alkitaba 