Sing-along Café Thursday, March 26th, 2026

Our Spring theme continued, and it was more about change and life this time. Celestial events, and moons and stars took a small role. It was a rainy day, so we started with Blame it on the Rain, and only remembered the chorus, and the short bridge: I can't, I can't, I can't, can't stand the rain! Useful lyrics.

We talked about how the world can shrink down to 2 people sometimes, and then the rest of the world can be a nuisance. Change the World reminded us of Rewrite the Stars.When you're in them, life's changes feel so big sometimes. Then we remember that it's mostly just seasons we're going through from childhood to old age, same as it's always been. We don't really want to be forever young, do we. And, what's next is something we need to go through. And then, we're told that there could be life everlasting, there is eternal light, eternal rest.

We saw that pop songs are easier to sing than John Stainer (even for choir folk). And, we looked at some songs that have classical roots, the melodies 'stolen' from classical pieces. We see this on Sundays sometimes when a hymn is set to a famous melody.

We talked quite a bit, and it was interesting and inspiring, but we also had time to sing a lot. It was a lovely afternoon spent in lovely company.

Next week, we still have Spring as a theme, but we'll move on to something new. I think that it would be appropriate to move from a celestial theme to the Earth. Also, tomorrow evening we observe Earth Hour. And, spring is when the earth comes alive again. I have a playlist called Earth and Peace that will work.

Here's a selection of stuff we sang and listened to:

Blame It On The Rain by Milli Vanilli
Change the World by Eric Clapton
Changes by David Bowie
Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra and by Doris Day
Forever Young by Alphaville
Forever Young by Rod Stewart
God So Loved the World (The Crucifixion) by John Stainer
I VowTo Thee, My Country by Beck Goldsmith and by Katherine Jenkins
Jupiter (The Planets, Op. 32:lV) by Gustav Holst by the Berlin Philharmonic
Lux Aeterna by Elgar by VOCES8
Sanctus and Be Still My Soul by Libera

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