Rainy Days And Mondays
Paul Williams: "The next Carpenters hit we had was 'Rainy Days And Mondays'. I didn't go into the studio with them; they weren't looking over my shoulder when I was writing the lyrics, so I didn't look over their shoulder when they were recording. So it was always a surprise for me - when they would play something for me, it was usually pretty well done. And I loved the record of 'We've Only Just Begun', but the record of 'Rainy Days And Mondays' I liked much much more. There was something, I don't know if it was the saxophone (played by Bob Messenger, a longtime member of the touring and studio band who backed The Carpenters), or what it was, but it sounded awfully grown up for something that I'd been involved with. And I don't know, there was something about her that was... I guess I had a crush on her, now that I think about it. When you hear that lady sing those words you've got to know there was a little bit of a connection there. I remember her playing at the rehearsal hall and soundstage at A&M, playing me the record and watching me listening to it, and it was a real pretty memory... I was very young then, of course."
About Astor
Astor is able to express herself with logical literacy but full of artistic feelings. She acts to record her valuable, interesting and unforgettable experiences during her travel and plans to share with others her instant feelings, thoughtful insights and findings via poems, free verses, prose, narration, reference, etc.
Music, Movie, Musicals and Me
Music and theatre have had a close relationship. Theatre can associate with movie or musical theatre (musicals) and I love both of them. I sing theme songs in some Asian movies, such as“When I Dream” (theme from “Dragon Squad”). It easily recalls people not only from scenes of the movie, but also from memory. I love theme music from movies as well as songs from Musicals, especially Broadway. I remember I have fallen in love with Broadway since I was 12. Musical films characteristically contain elements reminiscent of theatre; performers often sing and dance as if there is a live audience watching. Some musical films were adapted for the stage after their great success, such as “The Wizard of Oz” and“Fame”, while successful musicals also definitely received movie adaptations, i.e. stage-to-film adaptations, such as“Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita”. We can share our moments after all these years by passing through “Over the Rainbow”, “Out Here On My Own”, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, “You Must Love Me” ……
“Moon River” (theme from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) has to be selected in my new album "Theatre" although it has been covered by hundreds of artists all over the world. I sing it each time, it seems like a live performance accompanied by the pianist just in front of the audience.
“The Way We Were” (theme from “The Way We Were”) must be selected because it was the song of one of my favorite singers that influences me most, Barbra Streisand, and I won the singing contest with it!
“For All We Know” (theme from “Lovers and OtherStrangers”) was selected, of course, in tribute to my forever idol, the Carpenters.
WORDS from Astor :
I hope all of you would like the presentation of my albums.
Everlasting love dedicated to SUPERSTAR...
My dearest family,
Mom and Dad,
Uncle,
Tony,
Jan.
All the one I love,
Teachers and tutors, who have enlightened me,
All singers and writers of the original songs, especially Karen and Richard Carpenter.
All musicians,
All my fans and friends.
Thanks GOD.
Astor Fong
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Paul Williams: "The next Carpenters hit we had was 'Rainy Days And Mondays'. I didn't go into the studio with them; they weren't looking over my shoulder when I was writing the lyrics, so I didn't look over their shoulder when they were recording. So it was always a surprise for me - when they would play something for me, it was usually pretty well done. And I loved the record of 'We've Only Just Begun', but the record of 'Rainy Days And Mondays' I liked much much more. There was something, I don't know if it was the saxophone (played by Bob Messenger, a longtime member of the touring and studio band who backed The Carpenters), or what it was, but it sounded awfully grown up for something that I'd been involved with. And I don't know, there was something about her that was... I guess I had a crush on her, now that I think about it. When you hear that lady sing those words you've got to know there was a little bit of a connection there. I remember her playing at the rehearsal hall and soundstage at A&M, playing me the record and watching me listening to it, and it was a real pretty memory... I was very young then, of course."