Now that we’ve got a grandchild, I’m dusting off my rusty fingers and getting back into lullaby mode! So far, Luna’s favorite song is Kenny Loggin’s House at Pooh Corner. In the video below, you’ll see that Kenny stopped by (via YouTube) and we jammed a bit.
Story Behind House at Pooh Corner
Kenny Loggins was a 17-year-old high-school senior, staring down his impending adulthood, when he wrote “House at Pooh Corner.” The song was inspired by A.A. Milne’s 1928 book “The House at Pooh Corner,” a collection of short stories about Winnie the Pooh and the rest of the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood.
My all-time favorite song is KD Lang’s performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame induction of Leonard Cohen in 2006. Here’s a LINK to it on YouTube. Make sure to watch it all the way to the end. Leonard Cohen is in the audience.
What is your all-time favorite song?
Tuesdays with Laurie 
“Impossible Dream”
Ana — IMPOSSIBLE DREAM. yes, Yes, YES! 🙂
That’s a difficult question, Laurie. It depends on where you catch me but there are quite a few on the list. Thanks for sharing yours. 🙂
Olga — It IS a hard question. It’s tough to pick just one 🙂
What a lucky grandchild Luna is! Love the song and your singing/guitar playing is so sweet. Impossible for me to pick a favorite song but if you forced me to do it I’d pick Eric Whitacre’s ‘Sleep.’
Molly — Ohhhhh, I just listened to that on YouTube. It’s lovely. Absolutely lovely 🙂
Isn’t it gorgeous? Did you see the virtual choir sing it?
Molly — Yes. I saw the virtual choir singing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I sang that song in an a capella group I belonged to. What an experience!
Molly — I belonged to an a capella group too. We were called THE PASTEL LOLLIPOPS!
Interesting name! What kind of music did you sing?
Molly — This was in the 70s. We sang folk music. How about you?
We sang modern choral music – pieces like Eric Whitacre’s that you checked out. The composers were all living, mostly in their 30’s. The harmonies were very tight. Sometimes we broke into 12-16 parts. Stunning music and so much fun to sing (though challenging!)
Molly — Twelve to sixteen parts. Yikes! That sounds extremely difficult!
We had to make friends with dissonance but it was gorgeous. It taught me to hold me part against all odds!
Can’t go past “How do I live” LeAnn Rimes 🙂
Inavukic — yes, Yes, YES. I agree that HOW DO I LIVE by LeAnn Rimes is excellent! 🙂
What a lovely tune and I can see why Luna loves it so, especially with grandma playing along. I have many favourite songs but Four Strong Winds by Ian and Sylvia (or anyone else) is right up there. My favourite song right now is A Million Dreams.
Darlene — I just listened to both of them on YouTube. Yes, excellent choices! 🙂
Thanks for the clip of kd lang singing Hallelieha. I loved her performance of it at the Vancouver Olympics too.
Darlene — You’re welcome. I could listen to KD Lang sing Hallelujah all day and never grow tired of it 🙂
Me too!!
We love that song too, but sung by Jeff Buckley.
I am glad Luna enjoys her music too. May it long continue.
Fatima — I just had to check that out on YouTube. His rendition of Hallelujah is excellent, too! 🙂
Beautiful voice. Sadly passed away all too soon.
Fatima — Yes. I believe he was only 30 when he passed away.
When my daughter was 3 or 4 she used to stand on top of my husband’s toes and dance to that song. I have fond memories of that.
It’s hard to pick one favourite, but I love “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Arlene — What a lovely memory of your daughter and husband! And yes, I agree that “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is an excellent song, too 🙂
Leonard Cohen….gives me goosebumps every time I hear him sing. Funny story about Kenny Loggins. I saw him at a work convention a few years back. He spoke about being at a show when a big, burly guy stood up and yelled to Kenny to ‘play that bear song.’ Kenny laughed as he said the big, burly guy wanted to hear ‘Pooh Corner.’ I do love ‘Footloose.’ I can’t dance but I sure do give a try when I hear this song!!
LoisaJay — That’s a great story! And yes, FOOTLOOSE is one of my favorite songs to clean the house to. It gets the industrious juices flowing and the work is done in no time 🙂
Yes!!
It is Carole Kings “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSJ3dOn1dFg (with James Taylor)
All the best to you
Laureen
Laureen — yes, Yes, YES. That’s an excellent choice 🙂
This is kind of an odd choice for a lullaby, I guess, but when my firstborn son had colic, I would calm him by rocking and singing Petula Clark’s Downtown.
Patricia — I love that song, too. I wouldn’t have thought of it as a lullaby, but I’ve added it to my arsenal. Just in case…
Your’re kidding right? There are so many. I do love House at Pooh Corner as well as Fire and Rain by James Taylor and Vincent by Don McClean, Pretty much anything by Carole King, Joni Mitchell or Judy Collins. Ooops! I gave away my age there. I guess my favorite right now is a song called Water by Daniel Nahmod. I love music — I’ve been known to be spotted singing on my morning walks.
Espirational — I just checked out “Water” by Daniel Nahmod on YouTube. Wow, he has a lovely voice 🙂
He is a very prolific New Thought songwriter. I have many favorites from Daniel. He also has a big voice that comes out on other of his songs.
Well Laurie, your fingers are not rusty at all!
It will keep your Grandchild, and many others to come happy. 🙂
TheBurningHeart — Thank you! I think Luna likes watching my fingers move just as much as she enjoys listening to the sound it makes 🙂
It would have to be a hymn. I do love a variety of music but for sure-fire moving my soul, “It is well with my soul” works but there are many others.
Melodie — I, too, enjoy IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. Possibly not considered a “hymn,” (but in that vein of music), I love Amy Grant’s rendition of EL SHADDAI 🙂
Enjoy seeing you strum your guitar for little Luna. House at Pooh Corner is very comforting and softly sung. I can appreciate Luna’s preference for it.
Impossible to say which is my favorite song.
For children I would say “Forever Young” I don’t recall who wrote it. A friend, Sally and her husband Joe, are often called upon to sing it at infrequent friends sing alongs. I live their version. Thanks for your pleasant guitar accompaniment this AM.
Audrey — Oh, that’s a great song! I love Rod Stewart’s rendition of FOREVER YOUNG 🙂
Here’s Joan Baez’s version … https://youtu.be/-4UoJ47SzjA …
Audrey — Thank you for the link. I adore Joan Baez! We got to see her live at the Egyptian Theater in Boise when we first moved here. Spectacular 🙂
Here’s a verse I love :
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
Audrey — Amen siSTAR! ⭐
Good job Grandmother – music so helps brain development.
The Tallis Canon done as a round and Lo How A Rose Is Blooming ( Sang this to all my dying friends)
I can not sing any more, I can not play piano anymore – I do not listen to music anymore. I soon may not be able to talk any more and I have been refused both of the surgeries that might remedy my throat problem and my tremor problem. I was angry for awhile – now I just prefer silence.
Patricia — I had to look up the Tallis Canon on YouTube. I’m already familiar with Lo How a Rose is Blooming. Both are beautiful.
I’m so very sorry about your throat and tremor problems.
Hi Laurie,
Both great songs, and many others above.
Hard to choose one from the thousands I have, and Pink Floyd’s “Shine on you crazy diamond” is probably the top https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UXircX3VdM
Though Don McLean’s Vincent is not far behind, or Climb Every Mountain from Sound of Music (Margery Mackay), or Shirley Temple’s Somewhere over the rainbow.
Ted — You’ve listed some great songs, too. Of the four you named, my favorite is Don McLean’s Vincent 🙂
Beautiful singing, Laurie. I love “Hallelujah” too but there’s a version by a British-American-Idol-equivalent winner that always brings me to tears. I think her name is Alexandra Steele (?) Heard it years ago and watched it many times.
But my all-time favorite song (out of dozens that will stay with me forever) is “Over the Rainbow” by Eva Cassidy. She recorded a studio version that is “perfect” and a live version that features just her and her guitar that isn’t quite “perfect” in that I believe her voice wasn’t 100% due to a lingering cold, but the raw emotion she shared with her audience was magical.
My conservative estimate is that I have listened to OTR well over 1000 times since I first heard it in 1999. MIght be closer to 2000 listens by now. Early on, I put the CD on repeat and listened to it over and over for hours at a time. You may remember I featured the live version in one of my 2017 newsletters. I’ll probably feature the studio version someday now that you’ve got me thinking about great music. 🙂
Chris
Chris,
I love so many of Eva Cassidy’s songs and albums. Her rendition of “Over the Rainbow” always touches my heart.
Thanks for mentioning it. Audrey D.
Chris — I found an Alexandra Burke on the British-American-Idol-Equivalent singing “Hallelujah.” She’s FANTASTIC! Here’s the link (https://youtu.be/xaWLsgxDzuw).
I do remember you sharing Eva Cassidy in one of your newsletters. I just went out to YouTube and watched her performing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I must say, her rendition has absolutely captured my heart (https://youtu.be/2rd8VktT8xY).
I always enjoy the “ear candy” you share with your readers.
Yes, Alexandra BURKE! Thanks for digging it up. I’ll play it right now.
That is one of my all-time favorite songs, too! (Until my daughter recorded a version for me :)) I think I even posted about KD’s version before. Dipped back into Note to Self this weekend :).
Luanne — How COOL that your daughter recorded her rendition of House at Pooh Corner for you! 🙂
Haha, no, not House at Pooh Corner. Hallelujah.
Luanne — Even better! 🙂
To my mind, yes!
Love House at Pooh Corner. The song is so catchy and fun. It truly evokes childhood and Winnie the Pooh. I never knew the story about Loggins writing it at 17. I’m so musically eclectic, it’s hard to pick a single song. If I have to pick one song, I’d say Let It Be by the Beatles. My two favorite pieces of music ate Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart and Arabesque No. 1 by Debussy.
Ray — LET IT BE by the Beatles is a truly wonderful song. I just listened to the two pieces of music you love on YouTube and I can definitely see why 🙂
You are the Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler) because of its association with a student comment once: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jorJh8DTMVM
I have scores of musical interests, so it’s hard to pick a favorite. Right now I’m listening to a piano trio on the Light Classical music channel as I approve changes from my copyeditor.
Marian — I love YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS (thank you for the link to re-remind me of how much I love it).
I’m so excited that your at the copyeditor phase of your book. Woohoo! 🙂
Dear Laurie, this was a beautiful post. Right now my favorite song is “Mercy and Grace” sung by our dear friend, Michael Peterson, who is a country western song writer and singer. Michael made a special recording for us to comfort our broken hearts about Joshua’s passing.
Sheila — I just listened to the song on YouTube. Michael sounds like a truly wonderful friend to make a personal recording of it for you.
Laurie, that’s impossible for me, I can’t pick one from hundreds that are my favorites. There is only one song that can bring me to my knees though, especially if it’s night time in the old arbor with lights shining from the rafters, The congregation’s singing “Just As I Am” will drop me to my knees every time.
Sandi — I know exactly what you mean. That song has been known to bring tears to my eyes on several occasions.
wonderful tale and aspiration to sing.
i had a children’s radio show many years.
enjoyed the musical memories, also 🙂
SmileCalm — I can well imagine the wonderful memories 🙂
Two beautiful songs here. There are multiple wonderful versions of Hallelujah that are so well done. My all-time favorite song – Sweet City Woman (Stampeders)
aFrankAngle — I just went out to YouTube and listened to a live version. Great song!
🙂
So many favorite songs including The Wings Beneath my Feet by Bette Midler, Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand’s duet You Don’t Send Me Flowers Anymore, many by Lennon and McCartney including Yesterday and The Two of Us, Joan Baez singing Diamonds and Rust, and of course Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. For those Hallelujah fans here is a link to a Newsweek story that lists 60 different recordings of Hallelujah from 60 to 1 https://www.newsweek.com/60-versions-leonard-cohens-hallelujah-ranked-303580
Enjoy.
Sharon — You’ve listed so many great songs. Thank you, too, for the fantatic link! 🙂
I enjoyed listening to you play the guitar, Laurie, and the conversation that followed here on your post. I love many of the songs already mentioned –especially the “secret chord” of “Hallelujah.” And the Beatles “Let it Be.”
For lullabies I have used “Summertime” and “Peace Like a River” and “Jesus Loves Me.”
Haydn’s “The Heavens Are Telling” thrilled me when I sang it in choir in high school. I remember saying I wanted that song sung at my funeral. Not sure how the full orchestra will manage to get there. 🙂
Shirley — You’ve named some beauties! And I can absolutely understand why “The Heavens Are Telling” would make a wonderful song at a funeral (the full orchestra part may be a wee bit difficult to pull off though) 🙂
I’ve loved this song from the first time I heard it, but certainly didn’t know any of the backstory. Thank you for sharing that with us! I love music from every decade of my life and across all genres, and try as I might, I really cannot think of just one. I can remember my dad singing “I Love Paris in the Springtime” to me when I was a very, very little girl. I think at the time Julie London was his musical inspiration. I play that from time to time, on vinyl, and feel very close to him. But I have hundreds of associations with wonderful songs that are important to me for one reason or another. Aren’t we rich in wonderful music and fabulous modes of playing and listening. 🙂
Debra — I think it’s really cool that you can play “I love Paris in the Springtime (on vinyl, at that!) and your dad is transported into your presence 🙂
I love Winnie the poo . My son bought me the complete works one Christmas. Shouldn’t it be the other way round ?😂 Your beautiful grandchild is a lucky little girl …love her name .
My favourite is ‘Summer Breeze ‘ by The Isley Brothers.
Cherryx
Cherry — yes, Yes, YES! SUMMER BREEZE by the Isley Brothers is an excellent favorite! 🙂
Beautiful performance. Nothing is rusty about your fingers 🙂
I am afraid I cannot answer your question. I did try, but when I think of a song, another comes to mind.Too many favorites.
Inese — Thank you! And you know what? I understand that it’s super hard to select a single favorite song out of so many excellent pieces! 🙂
🙂
Sounds really nice ❤
Yelling Rosa — Thank you 🙂
I have a brand new grandson. I took out my old videos from the cabinet. He likes old tunes. His favorite is Sillyville. I have to dig out more.
Susanne — “Sillyville.” The title alone is worth the price of admission. I have a brand new granddaughter, I’ll have to see if I can find it on YouTube 🙂
Ah I have so so many but as you ask for just one, this ravishing gem by Jerome Kern, covered so many times over the years if my choice for the most PERFECT song ever written:
Sam — I just followed your link (thank you) to YouTube and listed. Ohhhh, that’s wonderful. Thank you for sharing it!
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