Lara Fabian - You're not from here

There are many songs and singers I could blog about, but this song and especially this singer, gets me going, in a good way. I get those amazing tingles going down my spine and real surges of deep emotion as I can relate to the lyrics and the way Lara Fabian sings them as if it had really happened, which it may have. Lara Fabian sings with complete conviction, there is no fear of what she is doing and it takes me a while to compose myself again after listening to this song and many others she has recorded.

As Lara Fabian gets to the words "and I'll fly" second time around, oh boy, are the hairs on the back of my neck standing up? Yes they are! I strongly recommend a purchase of any of her work but especially tracks recorded for the PBS live show of which You're not from here is one.

Play this to someone you really care about, it may be one of the best things you could do for that person.

The Portal of Healing.

I don't know what is going on
You turn around and touch my heart
A silent moment speaks the truth
Something has happened all at once
It should have scared me in advance
But I was falling in those eyes of yours
And so
Fear was gone
I knew there was nothing else
I'd ever want

[Chorus:]
I know you
You're not from here
I've waited for you to appear
To take my breath away
And make me weep
You're not from here
Not from this here and now
Just a touch of yours
And I fly... and I fly... and I fly

I can't get used to missing you
If this is how it's gotta be
I need an angel to watch over me
No one can hold the hands of time
But I can hold you in my mind
Over and over like a melody
For now
I'll stand still
For now
I'll be filled by the memory of your skin

I know you
You're not from here
You don't belong to lies and tears
The greatness of your soul
Makes me weep
You're not from here
Not from this here and now
Just a touch of yours
And I fly... and I fly... and I fly
[Chorus]

YouTube - The Spooky Men's Chorale - Tooled Up

This group is absolutely fabulous! I first came across them after hearing about their performance at the Towersey Folk Festival near Thame, Oxfordshire. I have both the CD and the DVD and they are well worth the purchase. There is something about their sound which is haunting and their 'spooky' demeanour just adds to the fun.

The Portal of Healing.

Susan Boyle - A Modern day Phenomenon

Whatever has been said about Susan Boyle, there is no escaping the fact that in her efforts to be as she put it "as famous as Elaine Paige", she has clearly achieved that and then some. I sit here having seen artists come and go, many of those artists fade as time passes, some still remain popular and good at what they do but there are not many of those artists around now sadly.

No one knows if Susan Boyle will remain popular and good at what she does but there is one quality that she has in abundance - the quite natural ability to touch us where it matters, deep down through her singing and the fact that she is an ordinary person from an ordinary background who has at last been given that once in a lifetime opportunity to do something with her talent.

Most people including Simon Cowell mocked her in her first audition. She then began to sing and everything changed - in that moment, in an instant she was special. That first audition video has been viewed nearly 85 million times on youtube alone! Now, she is not just a household name in the UK, but globally her name is known by people far and wide. On a visit to the US, there was a banner held aloft at the airport which read:

"Texas loves Susan Boyle"

Such is the power of the Internet but it is not just the Internet that made Susan Boyle famous, it is Susan Boyle herself.

Through all of the hype and hysteria that has surrounded this slightly shy and pleasant person, she stayed fairly composed but even the best of us would wilt under such intense scrutiny coming from a quite area of Scotland to global mega stardom in the space of about seven minutes which is how long her first audition lasted.

Now, Susan Boyle is breaking all kinds of records and for all the right reasons. It is the reason why I, along with many others I suspect, have returned to watch her on youtube and elsewhere many times. She reminds us all that we can dare to dream.

Happy New Year.

The Portal of Healing.

Music therapy: Teachers strike an emotional chord with disabled students -- chicagotribune.com

Music therapy: Teachers strike an emotional chord with disabled students -- chicagotribune.com

"music teachers understood long before being validated by research that playing an instrument offers much more than simple pleasures and emotional release. For children and adults with disabilities, music can unleash especially powerful gifts, helping them communicate or process information in new ways"

From the Portal:

At this time of celebration for many around the world, let us remind ourselves that there are people who are struggling in life especially those with special needs. Having worked with and derived great joy from these people, I am reminded by the article above of how music can help them cope in life and how it can help us all.

I can only encourage you all, over the holiday season, to go out and see some music being performed especially in your local area. It does not have to be anything grandiose like a symphony concert although that would be nice but even just a simple local get together of people singing carols or folk songs or whatever they fancy.

Singing especially in groups is a powerful and positive experience for all people and has been for thousands of years. Don't be put off by saying "I can't sing" or "I am tone deaf", just the taking part and listening will have an effect on you and others and I am sure you will come away feeling better and more positive than before.

I aim to practice what I preach, I have been practising my violin, I have put some new strings on and intend to go out and make music this week. Enjoy music, that is why people make music, to be enjoyed, to move and to inspire.

The Portal of Healing.



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YouTube - The X Factor 2009 - Joe McElderry: Sorry Seems To Be - Live Show 10 (itv.com/xfactor)

YouTube - The X Factor 2009 - Joe McElderry: Sorry Seems To Be - Live Show 10 (itv.com/xfactor)

There is nothing I need to say except it's brilliant!

YouTube - The X Factor 2009 - Joe sings his winning single! - Live Final (itv.com/xfactor)

YouTube - The X Factor 2009 - Joe sings his winning single! - Live Final (itv.com/xfactor)






I take no credit but I did say some weeks ago to my friends and family that Joe McElderry would win the XFactor 2009 and it is truly well deserved. Joe has had a fantastic series of songs, week after week he has delivered high quality performances and his debut single performance of climb was by far his best.

Congratulations Joe and good luck for the future.

The Portal of Healing.

The X Factor 2009 Joe McElderry

Perhaps one of the better performances of this great song by Elton John, this fine young singer definitely stole the show and could be on his way to a significant career.

Every performance he has given has been good and consistent but this performance I think was a big step forward. Whatever happens, it was a pleasure to watch.

The Portal of Healing.

Stand By Me The Choir

It's nice to see people coming together in music, having a shared experience and they are smiling and happy!

Caruso by Lara Fabian

Quite simply, this singer and the way she sings this song, always gives me a chill down my spine! I was completely amazed when I heard this the first time and I still am.

The Portal of Healing

Pavarotti E lucevan le stelle

There are many examples of this great singer I could choose but something brings me back to this clip of E Lucevan le stelle and the stars were shining.

The singing is great, the acting great, the lyrics are brilliant and the passion is spine tingling. It does not get better than this.

Translation:

And the stars were shining
and the earth smelled sweet
the orchard gate would creak
a footstep lightly brushed the sand
She came in fragrant as a flower
and she fell into my arms

Ah sweet kisses ah languid caresses!
Trembling, I slowly uncovered her dazzling beauty
Now my dream of love has vanished forever
My last hour has flown and I die hopeless!
I have never loved life so much!

Lara Fabian - Je suis malade

JE SUIS MALADE - Original by Serge Lama

Je ne rêve plus je ne fume plus
Je n'ai même plus d'histoire
Je suis sale sans toi je suis laid sans toi
Je suis comme un orphelin dans un dortoir

Je n'ai plus envie de vivre ma vie
Ma vie cesse quand tu pars
Je n'ai plus de vie et même mon lit
Se transforme en quai de gare
Quand tu t'en vas

Je suis malade complètement malade
Comme quand ma mère sortait le soir
Et qu'elle me laissait seul avec mon désespoir

Je suis malade parfaitement malade
T'arrives on ne sait jamais quand
Tu repars on ne sait jamais où
Et ça va faire bientôt deux ans
Que tu t'en fous

Comme à un rocher comme à un péché
Je suis accroché à toi
Je suis fatigué je suis épuisé
De faire semblant d'être heureux quand ils sont là

Je bois toutes les nuits mais tous les whiskies
Pour moi ont le même goût
Et tous les bateaux portent ton drapeau
Je ne sais plus où aller tu es partout

Je suis malade complètement malade
Je verse mon sang dans ton corps
Et je suis comme un oiseau mort quand toi tu dors

Je suis malade parfaitement malade
Tu m'as privé de tous mes chants
Tu m'as vidé de tous mes mots
Pourtant moi j'avais du talent avant ta peau

Cet amour me tue et si ça continue
Je crèverai seul avec moi
Près de ma radio comme un gosse idiot
Écoutant ma propre voix qui chantera

Je suis malade complètement malade
Comme quand ma mère sortait le soir
Et qu'elle me laissait seul avec mon désespoir

Je suis malade c'est ça je suis malade
Tu m'as privé de tous mes chants
Tu m'as vidé de tous mes mots
Et j'ai le cour complètement malade
Cerné de barricades t'entends je suis malade

Sing for water

600 people gathered at Bristol's harbour side and sang for water. This event was to benefit WaterAid an international non-profit organisation dedicated to helping people escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.

The Portal of Healing.