“Moon River” is a song composed by Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Henry Mancini (music) in 1961, for whom it won that year’s Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Continue reading
“Monday, Monday” is a 1966 song written by John Phillips and recorded by The Mamas & the Papas for their 1966 album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears. It was the group’s only number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Continue reading
Mockin’ Bird Hill was written by George Vaughn Horton and published in 1951. It was popularized by Patti Page and by Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1951, and for both of them following on to their big hit of “The Tennessee Waltz” the previous year. The music of “Mockin’ Bird Hill” is based closely on a Swedish waltz called “Livet i Finnskogarna” or “Life in the Finnish Woods,” recorded by Carl Jularbo in 1915, which enjoyed some popularity in the U.S. Continue reading
“Michelle” is a love ballad by the Beatles, mainly written by Paul McCartney, with the middle eight co-written with John Lennon. It is featured on their Rubber Soul album. The song is unique among The Beatles’ other recordings in that its lyrics are partially in French. “Michelle” won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1967, and has become one of the most famous Beatles songs in France. Continue reading
“Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” (or “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore” or “Michael Row That Gospel Boat”) is an African-American spiritual. It was first noted during the American Civil War at St. Helena Island, one of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. It was sung by former slaves whose owners had abandoned the island before the Union navy would arrive to enforce a blockade. Continue reading