Hsin Yeow’s thoughts: Remember When
It was a joy to perform with Juliet again! Haven’t sung with her for ages, and I was so glad she was able to make it for Larissa and Tommy’s wedding.
Larissa and Tommy had very specific choices for their march-ins. For their first entrance, they wanted a medley of Lover’s Concerto and Les Yeux Ouverts (French version of Dream A Little Dream). We’d never married (pardon the pun!) the two songs before, but the union worked out very well.
For their second march-in, I learnt a new song called Remember When. It was the song they used for the video that preceded their second entrance, and I was supposed to continue singing the same song (from where it ended) as the couple entered. I was quite surprised by this arrangement, since it meant the following:
– I had to sing the song in a higher key than the original version changed key mid-way
– My musicians and I had to make the change seamless (a tall order since the audience would have just heard the CD version)
and time stood still and love was all we knew
You were the first, so was I
We made love and then you cried
Remember when
Remember when we vowed the vows
and walked the walk
Gave our hearts, made the start, it was hard
We lived and learned, life threw curves
There was joy, there was hurt
Remember when
Remember when old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other’s hearts
Remember when
Remember when the sound of little feet
was the music
We danced to week to week
Brought back the love, we found trust
Vowed we’d never give it up
Remember when
Remember when thirty seemed so old
Now lookn’ back it’s just a steppin’ stone
To where we are,
Where we’ve been
Said we’d do it all again
Remember when
Remember when we said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won’t be sad, we’ll be glad
For all the life we’ve had
And we’ll remember when
Despite my initial reservations, the march-in went very smoothly. Juliet and I loved the effect of having the live band continue after the CD. The guests also gave us generous applause for the effort.
Juliet and I were given a freehand to select the rest of the wedding songs, and Juliet picked some of my favourites: Too Marvelous For Words, Baby It’s Cold Outside and I’m Beginning To See The Light. I chose some Mandarin songs and pop numbers, which were also well received by the audience. We also performed some upbeat numbers after the couple’s first dance, which got some sporting couples jiving on the dance floor!
Congratulations Larissa and Tommy! It was a pleasure performing at your wedding.
P.S. Special thanks to Hannah, of Heaven’s Gift, for the wonderful opportunity.
Band: Hsin Yeow, Juliet, James, Melvin
Repertoire:
Lover’s Concerto/Dream A Little Dream (French) (1st march-in), Love Me, 非你莫屬 (It Had To Be You), Wonderful Tonight, 但愿人长久 (May All Live Well And Long), 世界唯一的你 (The Only You In The World), Built To Last, Close To You, 一首简单的歌 (A Simple Song), Too Marvelous For Words, You Belong To Me, Cheek To Cheek
Remember When (2nd march-in), Baby It’s Cold Outside, Fly Me To The Moon, Something Stupid, 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart), Me And Mrs You, 夜来香 (Fragrance In The Night), Come Fly With Me, I’m Beginning To See The Light, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Sway, Save The Last Dance For Me
Songs To Recommend:
Too Marvelous For Words – Negotiating the tricky turns of phrases and key changes can be quite a challenge, but the payoff is sublime jazz
Remember When – this song is great for invoking treasured memories.
