Feed the Birds - Emile Pandolfi

Right smack in the middle of Mary Poppins Week is the 44th anniversary of the classic film which was shown on this day to an audience in Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

The movie was an instant success and would go on to be nominated for 13 Academy Awards, five of which they would take home for the win. Here's a list of Oscar nominations:

Best Actress, Julie Andrews (winner)

Best Film Editing (winner)

Original Music Score (winner)

Best Song, Chim Chim Cher-ee (winner)

Special Visual Effects (winner)

Best Art Direction (Color) (My Fair Lady won)

Best Cinematography (Color) (My Fair Lady won)

Best Costume Design (Color) (My Fair Lady won)

Best Director, Robert Stevenson (My Fair Lady won)

Music (Scoring of Music - adaptation or treatment) (My Fair Lady won)

Best Picture (My Fair Lady won)

Best Sound (My Fair Lady won)

Best Adapted Screenplay (Becket won)

The bag lady pictured above is one of Walt's favourite actresses, Jane Darwell, whom Walt had to plead with to make the cameo. She was reluctant to do the part due to her rapidly deteriorating health. But she did it, making Mary Poppins her last film appearance. She died three years later.

Today's Mary Poppins cover song is a piano instrumental version of Feed the Birds, Walt's favourite song in the movie, by pop pianist EMILE PANDOLFI.

I suggest that everyone watch Mary Poppins sometime this week to celebrate the anniversary!

Feed the Birds Emile Pandolfi 1993

Can You Feel the Love Tongiht - Jim Brickman

I don't have time for a full post today so I am just posting another track from JIM BRICKMAN'S THE DISNEY SONGBOOK.

This one is Can You Feel the Love Tonight played beautifully on the piano. For more information about Brickman, click here.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight Jim Brickman 2005

Someone's Waiting For You - Emile Pandolfi

To end your week and take you into the weekend, I'm posting a beautiful cover of a beautiful song. Someone's Waiting For You was written in 1977 for The Rescuers and ended up earning an Oscar nomination for Best Song in 1978.

This instrumental version is beautifully arranged and performed by EMILE PANDOLFI on his 1993 album ONCE UPON A ROMANCE.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Someone's Waiting For You Emile Pandolfi 1993

When You Wish Upon a Star - Emile Pandolfi

EMILE PANDOLFI is one of my favourite pop performers but he is virually unknown! Pandolfi grew up in South Carolina and studied to be a piano performer and set out to be a concert pianist. But he soon found that his strength was arranging beautiful versions of pop songs and showtunes. He has over two dozen albums that feature Pandolfi playing classical music, showtunes, pop songs and Christmas music.

In 1993 he released ONCE UPON A ROMANCE... which features songs from Disney movies. I have only heard some snippets of this album online but I will be picking it up soon because it sounds wonderful! Just listen to this verison of When You Wish Upon a Star and you will see for yourself.

When You Wish Upon a Star Emile Pandolfi 1993