Think of Laura

Laura Carter was the roommate of Christopher Cross' girlfriend, Paige, at Denison University in Columbus, Ohio. She was killed in 1982 by a stray bullet, apparently coming from a gang fight among men a block away. Laura was in the backseat of a car, being driven by her parents, who were visiting her for homecoming. Cross wrote the song - "Think of Laura" - to comfort Paige.

Laura Carter

Here's a cover by Dominic and Burton, which I found lovely and inspiring as well:

I have loved this song for a long time, and I didn't know the story behind it, until just a few years ago. I am amazed at how art - song and music - can turn a tragedy into something remarkably beautiful. I hope my song poem adds to its beauty.

© Ron Villejo

The Weekend

This is a rocking, sexy song from Michael Gray. We all have that feeling of working-working all week long, and we can't wait for the weekend!

 

© Ron Villejo

Carry You Home

James Blunt sings a mournful, quite moving performance. I find these lines especially heart-wrenching:

A song for your heart, but when it is quiet, I know what it means and I'll carry you home.

© Ron Villejo

One Day I'll Fly Away

This song was written by Joe Sample and Will Jennings, and performed by Randy Crawford in 1980. But I first heard Regine Velasquez sing it a few years ago, and it was her cover that inspired my song poem. Subsequently I found out that Nicole Kidman sang this song as well, while watching the lavish film "Moulin Rouge."

Regine's stirring cover:

Randy's soulful performance:

Nicole's wistful rendition:

© Ron Villejo

We've Only Just Begun

This is a timeless love song from the Carpenters.  But it was the easy-sway voice of Joanna Wang, in particular, which inspired my song poem:

© Ron Villejo

Big, Big World

It's a sweet and simple love song, and Emilia Rydberg sings it with a fine mix of girlish lyrics and stoic anguish.  

Which was the basis of my inspiration:  

© Ron Villejo

Angels

I've held to the notion that angels live among us and that if we believe and if we have need, someone will come to help us.  He or she is our angel.  

So this Robbie Williams' song speaks to this, and I am inspired by it:

And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

But the inspiration for The Song Poems isn't just to restate what a song says, but to expand on it and to diverge it.  The poem becomes a forum, of a sort, for me to remind us that we ourselves may be angels to someone else in need.  That it isn't just about us as recipients of good graces from angels, but us as the benefactors of such graces for others who are in need.

© Ron Villejo

Imagine

It was this video, and in particular Yoko One casting open the shutters, that prompted the room imagery in my poem. The challenge I speak to is how to actually make peace happen. Nearly 33 years after his death, we still live in such a turbulent world.

His 72nd birthday was on October 9th 2012, so I dedicated my song poem in memory of him and his moving, timeless classic.

© Ron Villejo

The Long and Winding Road

If I have a personal favorite among my song poems, this one is it.  Inspired by the mournful, orchestral masterpiece by the Beatles:  "The Long And Winding Road."

Paul, John, George and Ringo were so young, and were at this point, sadly, in the waning years of their unprecedented success in rock history and culture.  

Here, a lovely instrumental:

Then, The Corrs, live.  While Andrea's Irish accent may take some getting used to, for the lead vocals, hers is a very tender, beautiful rendition.  

© Ron Villejo

Kiss the Rain

My daughter attended a school for girls in Dubai, and one classmate performed a lovely piece on piano - "River Flows in You."  It was so melodic that I had to find it on YouTube and learn more about the composer.

It was Yiruma.

Lee Ru-ma is a South Korean composer and pianist, and Yiruma is his stage name.  I found another composition that, to me, was even more melodic - "Kiss the Rain" (above).  Which inspired me to write this poem.

Which was to become among the first of The Song Poems:   

© Ron Villejo

And among the first of my video recitation: