Nao E Facil - Marcos Valle & Patricia Alvi

Everyone say 'happy birthday' to actor Sean Marshall who turns 43 today. Many of you might not recognize the name, but what if I told you that Marshall played the little orphan boy named Pete in Pete's Dragon? I thought that'd jog your memory!

Marshall didn't do a whole lot of acting in his career, but his biggest role as Pete earned him a Saturn Award Nomination for best actor! Not bad for a twelve year old kid!

The song I've posted today is It's Not Easy which is originally sung by Marshall and co-star Helen Reddy. This cover is from the BOSSA DISNEY NOVA album and features bossa nova stars MARCOS VALLE and PATRICIA ALVI. The duo have teamed up on many occasions to sing and record together over the years and this is one of them!

Nao E Facil Marcos Valle & Patricia Alvi 2004

Candle on the Water - Anneliese van der Pol

Happy birthday HELEN REDDY! The star of Pete's Dragon turns 66 today and I am celebrating by posting a cover of her hit song Candle on the Water covered by ANNELIESE VAN DER POL.

Helen Reddy was one of the most successful female recording artists of the seventies and when she joined the cast of Pete's Dragon it was obvious that there would be a song written with her in mind. Candle on the Water was a smash hit and was nominated for a "Best Song" Oscar in 1977. It was competing with another Disney song, the Rescuers song Someone's Waiting For You, but both lost to You Light Up My Life. Reddy recorded her own version of Candle on the Water and released it as a single. It reached #27 on the Adult Contemporary charts.

The cover, by Anneliese van der Pol, is nothing really special. It pretty much sounds like how it would sound if the song was written today. A cheesy, adult contemporary piece of pop fluff. Anneliese does have a nice voice and, along with her theatre experience, it proves to me that she was a good choice to play Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. In fact, she was the last girl to play Belle before the show ended its thirteen year run in July.

Candle on the Water Anneliese van der Pol 2006