Hello Loreenakateers!
I was on YouTube recently looking up the song Cymbeline. I typed just it's title, not Loreena's name, and the 'auto complete' search suggestions that came up were the following...IN THIS ORDER:

-cymbeline
-cymbeline loreena mckennitt
-cymbeline william shakespeare

As far as I know, these suggestions are programed to be listed in order of most frequent searches. DO YOU GET THAT? Loreena McKennitt's version of just a small part of the play is more popular with YouTubers than the original play and its author (who just happens to be one of the best-known people in HISTORY)! YAY!

Unfortunately the same thing doesn't work when one types "cymbeline" into Google

Oh well.

Congratulations Loreena!

Question:
Which song is your favourite Shakespeare/McKennitt combo?

Choices:
Cymbeline
Prospero's Speech

 

quote:

Originally posted by Loreenya:
My suggestion, Jesse, that this post won't be just about the Shakespeare works that Ms. McKennitt had set to music, but about the ones that she never did and may like to try in future albums. For instance, I thought of the possibility of her setting Othello's last soliloquy to music or something inspired by "Taming of the Shrew."

Funny you should say that actually, Loreenya; Next year will be my second year of doing theatre at university, and one of our second year shows is actually Othello! (we are doing two shows because there are a LOT of us in our years group)

Unfortunately, I don't know enough suitable Shakespeare speeches for her to set to music. I do know the scene from Twelfth Night where Malvolio finds the letter instructing him to whear yellow stockings, but I doubt that would make a good song!

My suggestion, Jesse, that this post won't be just about the Shakespeare works that Ms. McKennitt had set to music, but about the ones that she never did and may like to try in future albums. For instance, I thought of the possibility of her setting Othello's last soliloquy to music or something inspired by "Taming of the Shrew."

I chose Prospero's Speech. I think because I like it most after all...

quote:

Originally posted by Gina:
That is great news!!! I think you should have a 3rd option Love both equally.

...But then EVERYONE would vote for that option!

quote:

I love the way Loreena sings Prospero's Speech as she doesn't sing like that on any other song. With Cymbeline I have shared that with many people when they lose a loved one.

Appropriate. I am involved with a production of Cymbeline at the moment. The speech which Loreena set to music was actually sung by a couple of characters when they thought one of their friends had died (she actually took one of those deep sleeping draughts which Shakespeare seemed to be so fond of).

Incidentally, one of the directors set that speech to his own music before I could suggest Loreena's version. I doubt he would have listened anyway, because a) the theatre company is stingy and probably wouldn't have liked to have to buy the rights to the song, b) I'm only a stage mech, which basically makes me nothing more than a minion, and c) this particular director is way too talented for his own good, and is consequently self-centred and rude (nb: I'm making this sound a lot worse than it actually is).

quote:

So, truthfully, I LOVE them equally for different reasons, I picked Prospero's for the poll. Can't go wrong either way.

quote:

May the Bard and Loreena be with you,
Gina
P.S.
"May the Bard be with you" is from The Reduced Shakespeare Company doing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged". Believe me it is extremely abridge; it only 3 guys playing all the roles and you will laugh and laugh! One of my very favorites!!!

I LOVE THAT PLAY!! I've seen it twice, but performed with a much larger cast...

That is great news!!! I think you should have a 3rd option Love both equally. I love the way Loreena sings Prospero's Speech as she doesn't sing like that on any other song. With Cymbeline I have shared that with many people when they lose a loved one. So, truthfully, I LOVE them equally for different reasons, I picked Prospero's for the poll. Can't go wrong either way.

May the Bard and Loreena be with you,
Gina
P.S.
"May the Bard be with you" is from The Reduced Shakespeare Company doing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged". Believe me it is extremely abridge; it only 3 guys playing all the roles and you will laugh and laugh! One of my very favorites!!!