Patti Lupone - Don't Cry For Me Argentina (1976)

"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is the best-known song from the 1978 musical Evita with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Sung by the title character Eva Perón, it was titled “It's Only Your Lover Returning” before Rice settled on the eventual name. It appears early in the second act as Evita addresses the crowd from the balcony of the Casa Rosada and features a sweeping melody tied to broad emotional themes of regret and defiance, characteristic of Lloyd Webber’s most popular songs. The musical Evita began as an album, before being adapted for the stage.

The song was first offered to singer Elkie Brooks who turned it down. Julie Covington sang “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” for the original 1976 studio release. The single reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1977 for a week, selling almost a million copies in the United Kingdom.

Due to concerns that the song might not have commercial appeal in its original form, Covington recorded a version with alternative lines; however, in the end the original version was released for the single. The B-side was "Rainbow High".

When Madonna covered “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, this song did not appear as a B side for the same song, but for "You Must Love Me" instead.

When Covington chose not to take the stage role, Elaine Paige was cast as Eva in the London production.  In the United States, the song is also closely linked with Patti LuPone, who performed the role of "Eva" in the original Broadway production of the show.

During the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina, the song was sometimes played sarcastically by British regimental bands as they deployed to the Falklands. At the same time the Covington recording was banned from play on the BBC.

Marni Nixon, Jim Bryant (Bernstein & Sondheim) - "Somewhere" - (1961)

I was so mesmerized by this scene (from WEST SIDE STORY, 1961) on a large screen at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL on the night of July 9, 2011. The song resonated with me and I had to share it on the Daily Throwback today.


"Somewhere" is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story which was made into a film in 1961. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and takes a phrase from the slow movement of Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, which forms the start of the melody.


The song has been recorded by many artists, and released as a single by several, including Len Barry, Barbra Streisand, The Supremes, Phil Collins, Johnny Mathis, Matt Monro, Julian Lloyd Webber, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Darin, Devo, Tom Waits, P. J. Proby, Oscar Peterson, Il Divo, Dutch Rockband Zinatra, Donald Braswell II, Pet Shop Boys, Ian McCulloch, Kylie Minogue, Jane McDonald, Charlotte Church, Josh Groban, Jennifer Hudson, La Toya London, Leona Lewis, Celine Dion, Celtic Woman, Jackie Evancho & Katharine McPhee.

In the 1961 film, the song occurs at a pivotal point, after the rumble in which former Jets leader Tony (Richard Beymer) has stabbed his girlfriend's brother, Bernardo (George Chakiris). Having nowhere else to go, Tony runs to his girlfriend, Maria (Natalie Wood). Maria has just been told of her brother's death, and who killed him. When Tony comes to her room through the balcony window, Maria, in shock, pounds against his chest.   Realizing in spite of her anger that she still loves Tony, Maria begs him to hold her. After Maria cries out, "It's not us...it's everything around us, Tony says "Then I'll take you away, where nothing can get to us." and begins singing 'Somewhere' to her. His comforting voice draws her in, and it becomes a duet of hope that their love will survive "somehow, someday, somewhere."


As in the stage show, Maria sings the first few lines of the song as Tony dies in her arms.

"Somewhere" was released as a single by the British music group Pet Shop Boys in 1997 to promote their "Somewhere" residency at the Savoy Theatre in London, which was named after the song, and to promote a repackage of Bilingual.


The single was another Top 10 hit for the group, peaking at #9. The single also peaked at #25 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, equaling #125 on the main US Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at #19 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. In the US, the song was released as a double a-side with "A Red Letter Day".


The Pet Shop Boys' version also uses elements of another West Side Story song, "I Feel Pretty", and the album version uses elements of "One Hand, One Heart" spoken by Chris Lowe.
Pet Shop Boys version:

Andrew Lloyd Weber - "All I Ask Of You" (1986)

"All I Ask of You" is a song from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical version of The Phantom of the Opera. It was released as a single on both 7 and 12 inch vinyl in 1986 by Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman.


It was certified Silver in the United Kingdom. The song occurs at the end of Act I of the musical. Christine Daaé, terrified of the Phantom after a stagehand is found murdered during an opera performance, flees to the roof of the Paris Opera House with her childhood friend, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. He promises to love her and keep her safe from the Phantom, who is listening in on the exchange without their knowledge. Heartbroken and furious at being spurned, he swears revenge against Raoul and causes the Opera's giant chandelier to crash to the floor.


The video featured above is a scene from the 2004 motion picture version of The Phantom of the Opera. The 2004 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical was based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film was also produced and co-written by Lloyd Webber. The Phantom of the Opera stars Gerard Butler in the title role, Emmy Rossum as Christine Daaé, as well as Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver and Jennifer Ellison.


The film was announced as early as 1989, but production only started in 2002 due to Webber's divorce and Schumacher's busy career. It was entirely shot at Pinewood Studios, with scenarios also being depicted with the help of miniatures and computer graphics. Most of the actors had no singing experience, and had to receive music lessons. The Phantom of the Opera grossed approximately $154 million worldwide, and received mixed to negative reviews, praising the visuals but criticizing the writing and directing.