January 1: “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees (In honor of Lauren and her team at Scholastic). Cheer up, sleepy Jean. Read LYRICS or listen on SPOTIFY.
January 2: “Oh, Susannah” by Stephen Foster (use Karaoke Video or listen to Suzanne’s version on iTunes) LYRICS
January 3: “Saturday In The Park” by Chicago. Wish it was the 4th of July… LYRICS
January 4: “Spell” by me. For Peter in honor of his birthday.
January 5: “Shoveling” by Tom Chapin
January 6: “Hazy Shade of Winter” written by Paul Simon. Performed by many people, but my favorite is Susan Werner. LYRICS
January 7: “Dream A Little Dream of Me” circa 1931, sung by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. The music was written by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn. Here is another version by The Mamas & The Papas. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 8:“Do Re Mi” (a.k.a. “Do a Deer”) from “The Sound of Music” (which you should watch tonight). Here’s a lyric video, too. (Remember: I can’t control the ads on youtube without a lot of rigamarole, so please pay attention if you’re watching with kids.) LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 9: I do believe “We Shall Overcome“. Happy 77th Birthday, Joan Baez. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 10: “Let My Love Open The Door” by Pete Townshend in honor of the Westport YMCA ukelele meet-up LYRICS SPOTIFY UKELELE CHORDS
January 11: “Home on the Range” My students love this one. Here’s Bing Crosby singing it. Enjoy! (and here’s another sing-along version.)
January 12: “Closer To Fine” by Emily Ann Saliers and Amy Elizabeth Ray, aka The Indigo Girls. This is one of my favorite sing-along songs ever. HB, MTS. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 13: “(When I Was 17) It Was A Very Good Year” sung by Frank Sinatra and written by Ervin Drake in 1961. (“x” out of the advertisement on the bottom of the screen to see the lyrics on YouTube.) HB, USS. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 14: “A Kind of Hush” performed by Herman’s Hermits and written by Leslie David Reed and Geoff Stephens. Perfect for a Sunday. Enjoy. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 15: “Abraham, Martin & John” written by Dick Holler and sung by Dion. Happy Birthday to Martin Luther King, Jr. “…what these four guys—Lincoln, King, and the Kennedys—had in common was a dream. It was like they had the courage to believe that a state of love really can exist…‘Abraham, Martin and John’ was a way of reminding people that they could aspire to great things, even in the midst of tragedy and confusion.” – Dion from Behind The Song LYRICS SPOTIFY (Here’s a bonus sing-along song in honor of the Orphenians from 1981: Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder.)
January 16: In honor of the National Day of Racial Healing today’s Song of the Day is “Where Is The Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas. You gotta have love just to set it straight LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 17: “Am I Wrong” written by Abdoulie Jallow, Vincent Dery, Nicolay Kahouly Sereba, William Wiik Larsen and performed by Nico & Vinz. Thx, BEP. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 18: “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. Thanks for the suggestion, GR! Here’s a Karaoke version: “Piano Man” LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 19: “Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 20: I am strong. I am invincible. “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 21: “Over The Rainbow” by Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg and sung, of course, by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz”. Here’s a karaoke version, too. LYRICS SPOTIFY
And, since it’s a Sunday and you might have a little more time, here’s a karaoke version of the ukelele mash-up of “Over The Rainbow” & “What A Wonderful World” (by Bob Thiele & George David Weiss) by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole because you know you want it. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 22: “Monday, Monday” performed by The Mamas & The Papas and written by John Phillips. One of my favorite songs ever. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 23: “I’m Lucky” written & performed by Joan Armatrading. HB, Cassiopeia! I was lucky when I met you, friend. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 24: “Puff, The Magic Dragon” performed by Peter, Paul & Mary (written by Peter Yarrow & Lenny Lipton). LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 25: “Spinning Wheel” performed by Blood, Sweat & Tears (written by David Clayton-Thomas). Here’s the karaoke version, too. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 26: “Only You” by Yazoo* (written by Vince Clarke) HB, LLM and a special shout-out to the rest of the CR and, of course, the Swinging ‘Gates. Go ‘Gate! LYRICS SPOTIFY
* I learned something new today, thanks to Wikipedia: Yazoo was known as Yaz in North America for legal reasons involving Yazoo Records.
January 27: “Oh Happy Day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. HBD, SCW! Thanks for the suggestion. (Rest in Peace, Edwin Hawkins) LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 28: “Sunshine On My Shoulders” by John Denver. This song is for Lanny. Thanks for the suggestion, Linda. LYRICS SPOTIFY CHORDS
January 29: “Beautiful” by Carole King. Show the world all the love in your heart. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 30: “Ain’t No Man” by the Avett Brothers. Sing along with this Lyric Video. LYRICS SPOTIFY
January 31: “Down By The Riverside” a traditional song sung by Playing For Change. Gonna lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside and study war no more. LYRICS SPOTIFY