Stay Awake - Harry Connick, Jr.

In 2001, HARRY CONNICK, JR. released SONGS I HEARD. It was an album of childrens' movie classics arranged in the big band style. Connick chose songs from Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Annie, and Wizard of Oz. Connick arranged, orchestrated and conducted the music himself as well as his usual duties on piano and vocals.

There are some really great arrangements on this album. His versions of Do-Re-Mi and Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead! are fantastic. It's too bad that you'll never hear them on this webpage. Go and buy this album! It's worth it.

Connick chose three songs from Mary Poppins; Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Spoonful of Sugar, and Stay Awake. I have chosen to post his cover of Stay Awake today because I like the original and Harry's version is pretty good too. It is soft, simple and touching. If Harry Connick, Jr. were cast as Mary Poppins I can hear him singing this version of the song in the movie and it would totally fit (although it would be creepy if he were Poppins).

Connick has a good ear for making his arrangements interesting while keeping the original focus of the song. The other two Mary Poppins songs on this disc are better than this one, but we'll get to them another day.

Stay Awake Harry Connick, Jr. 2001