Yesterday's Oprah closed the last Australian show with Hugh Jackman, Olivia Newton John, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, and Russell Crowe singing "I Still Call Australia Home", Peter Allen's love song for a country. Unfortunately Peter wasn't there since we lost that magnificent talent to AIDS in 1992 As always, the song made me tear up. Peter Allen was one of the few composers who could make you feel what he was feeling even if you never felt it for yourself. I am officially stating that thanks to that song, I am homesick for Australia.
A few years back Hugh Jackman brought many of Peter's songs to Broadway and won a well deserved Tony for doing it. I can play all the following songs on my IPOD and know immediately which man is singing because Peter is a higher key and a thinner voice while Hugh is a lower key and a beautifully trained theatrical voice. Still when it comes to these particular songs, I really miss the Peter I saw perform in 1981 and truly wish he had been there yesterday. You would have too if you had ever sat in an audience and watched this just a few feet in front of you.
Peter Allen in performance
I Still Call Australia Home - Peter Allen
I Still Call Australia Home - Hugh Jackman
Once Before I Go - Peter Allen
Once Before I Go - Hugh Jackman
5 comments:
Now that was enjoyable to watch.
God, Jamie, I listened to it all and am typing through tears in my eyes. That "Once Before I Go" sung by Peter Allen is just so poignant and incredible. I'll come back and listen to that one sung by Hugh J. I can't do it now... Thank you for this post so very much!
I facebook shared Olivia Newton John singing "Tenterfield Saddler" as a tribute duet with Peter on a screen behind her as part of her show. To see the emotion on her face as she faces him with her back to the audience was very special. He just did that to you as a showman. He went and the audience just followed along.
When I heard that Oprah was doing this show, I knew for sure that you would be sitting front and center by your TV set to watch it.
"Once Before I Go" is beautiful no matter who sings it but these guys do it the best - well, at least I'm sure they do as I've never heard anyone else sing it!
Mr Allen's work definitely makes you feel...joy, sadness, melancholy, fun.
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