themed week // Charles Aznavour, She

Charles Aznavour is a French singer/actor who's artistic career started in 1936 in acting.

His first record Charles Aznavour chante Charles Aznavour, n° 1 was released in 1953. Since than he released 57 studio albums in many languages - French, English and Spanish -, 19 live albums and several other EP's.

Known for songs like La Bohéme, Emmenez Moi or Mourir D'Aimer - Aznavour is one of the biggest singers of his generation.

She was written as a theme tune for a British TV series named Seven Faces of Woman - and recorded by Charles Aznavour in different languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish and German.
The French version is Tous Les Visages De L'Amour while all the other versions keep the translation for 'She'.
The song was released in 1974.

The song is an obvious and passionate tribute to Women and to all of their mystery.

Artists like Elvis Costello, Paulo Gonzo and Il Divo have covered the song.

"She may be the reason I survive, 

The why and wherefore I'm alive, 

The one I'll care for through the 

Rough and ready years"

themed week // U2, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

U2 are a very known and successful Irish band created in 1976 by Bono (vocals and guitars), The Edge (guitars, keyboards and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion).

They've released twelve studio albums, nine live albums besides many compilations, EP's and videos.

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own is a song from 2004's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and released has a third single on February 7, 2005.
Originally the song was named Tough and it's about Bono's relationship with his father, becoming a tribute to him. Bono sang the song on Mr.Hewson's funeral that died of cancer.

The song won two Grammy Awards - Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Song of the Year in the 2006's edition.

Although this song was written for Bono's father, it always reminds me of how Mothers, sometimes, have to be both parents at the time and keep the strength to be stronger.

"Listen to me now 
I need to let you know 
You don't have to go it alone"

Check this lovely live version.

themed week // Queen, Mother Love

Queen were a British rock band, created in 1971 and marked the history of music forever.

They are very known for epic songs like We Are The Champions, Friends Will Be Friends, Bohemian Rhapsody or Radio GaGa.

With 15 studio albums, 9 live albums and several compilations and singles, Queen became one of the most successful rock bands of history, reaching people all over the world and making impact on everybody's life.
Read more details about Queen here.

Mother Love belongs to 1995's Made In Heaven album. This particular song is very special not only for the content of the co-written song between Freddie Mercury and Brian May but also for being the last song ever recorded by the iconic and considered by many has the best singer and frontman that ever existed.
May sang the last verse - because Mercury wasn't able due to a serious bronchial pneumonia - that got complicated because he had AIDS.

The song also has a sample of a live sing along session recorded on Queen's 1986 concert in Wembley Stadium and a sample of One Vision's intro of the studio version and a sample of Goin' Back - that Mercury collaborated in.

Mother Love is a honest and direct song about how powerful and beautiful a Mother's love can be.

"I don't want to make no waves

But you can give me all the love that I crave

I can't take it if you see me cry

I long for peace before I die

All I want is to know that you're there

You're gonna give me all your sweet -

Mother love"

themed week // John Lennon, Mother

John Lennon was a very known and talented singer/songwriter from the 60's and 70's, not only on the Beatles but also on his solo career.

Has previously mentioned, he wrote several hits songs like Imagine, Woman or Give Peace A Chance.

On his solo career he released 8 studio albums, 2 live albums, 17 compilations and 3 experimental records.
Read more here.

The song Mother is the second single from the 1970's album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
Mother was written in "memory" of both his parents, who abandoned him during his childhood. His father left him when he was a little child and his mother didn't live with Lennon but she had a good relationship with him - but she died when he was only seventeen years old, on a car accident.
On the song he reflects those moments: "Mother, you had me/but I never had you"; "Father, you left me/but I never left you".

Also the beginning of the song starts with a sound of a church bell signifying death - probably the death of his mother.
John Lennon found inspiration to write the song on several therapy sessions with Dr. Arthur Janov.
Once, he said that Mother was the song that "seemed to catch in my head".

Artists like Christina Aguilera and Barbra Streisand have covered this song.

"Children, don't do what I have done

I couldn't walk and I tried to run

So I, I just got to tell you

Goodbye, goodbye"

themed week // Pink Floyd, Mother

Pink Floyd was a British progressive rock band, created in 1965 and composed by Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett later replaced by David Gilmour.

With fourteen studio albums released, they became one of the most successful progressive rocks bands of all times - for epic songs like Wish You Were Here, Another Brick In The Wall - Part 2 and Comfortably Numb.

Discover the story behind The Wall on previous posts here and here.

Mother is a song taken from Pink Floyd's album The Wall.
According to Waters in an interview for Mojo magazine, he said "The idea that we can be controlled by our parents' views on things like sex. The single mother of boys, particularly, can make sex harder than it needs to be."


The Wall is about Pink's story - an alienated and unfortunate rock star. On the song Mother is explained that part of Pink's alienation comes from being raised by a overprotective single mother, that lost her husband in World War II - just like Waters.
On this song is explained how protective Pink's mother is and how much she wants to help her son to "build the wall" and protect him from the outside and hurtful world.

"Hush now baby, baby, don't you cry
Momma's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you
Momma won't let anyone dirty get through
Momma's gonna wait up until you get in"

themed week // Christina Aguilera, Oh Mother

Christina Aguilera is a North-American singer who's career started in 1993, when she hosted the Disney Channel's series The Mickey Mouse Club.

This female singer is not only known for her powerful and strong voice but also for hits like Beautiful, Hurt, Ain't No Other Man and Burlesque.

With 7 studio albums - Christina Aguilera (1999), Mi Reflejo (2000), My Kind Of Christmas (2000), Stripped (2002), Back To Basics (2006) and Bionic (2010), two compilations, one EP and a soundtrack - with that Christina proved to be one of the strongest singers of her generation.

Oh Mother belongs to Back To Basics released in August 10, 2006 and has the fourth single of the album on November 23, 2007.
The song was written about Aguilera's mother abusive relationship with her husband. Oh Mother has elements of Bruno Coulais' song Vois Sur Ton Chemin.

The singer describes the album Back To Basics has "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist.".
The album sold over 5 million copies worldwide, being nominated for several awards including The Grammy Awards., that she won in 2007 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Ain't No Other Man.

"It was the day that he turned on his kids 

That she knew she just had to leave him 

So many voices up inside of her head 

saying over and over and over; 

"You deserve much more than this"

 Click here to listen to a longer version.