Empty Chairs │ Gilberto Martinez

My personal anthem is "Empty Chairs", composed by Don McLean.  I first heard this song in 1972 at a Harry Belafonte concert, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki.  Belafonte sang it with only Sivuca, the late, great Brazilian guitarist backing him.  It was Sivuca's accompaniment that touched me so much.  I just had to learn it.  After the concert I went backstage to talk to Sivuca.  I asked him if he had the guitar arrangement for "Empty Chairs" written down.  Sivuca said no, and that he had created it completely by ear.  Well, over the next several days I became Sivuca's tour guide in Honolulu.  On his last day in Hawaii, Sivuca taught me the accompaniment for "Empty Chairs".  Mind you, it was only the accompaniment, and I had to figure out a way to insert the melody over it.  Well, I did manage to do just that, and it is the the best arrangement that I ever did for the classical guitar. The first opening measures of "Empty Chairs" are so poignant, so beautiful, that it still touches me deeply, forty-six years later. This performance was recorded live at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, Hau Tree Lanai, located on Waikiki Beach, in the summer of 1987.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Klaatu Barada Nikto, wherever you may be.

L'Envie d'aimer │ Valentin, Rémi, Madeleine, Enzo, and Oliana

Valentin

 Rémi

Madeleine

Enzo

Oliana

In this edition of Klaatu Barada Nikto, I am featuring one of the most beautiful songs in the whole world.  It's called "L'Envie d'aimer (The Desire To Love), and it is from the incredible French musical, "Les Dix Commandements (The Ten Commandments)".  This song was composed by Pascal Obispo, and Lionel Florence who have had several number one hits in France, and Patrice Guirao.  "L'Envie d'aimer" is one of the biggest selling singles of all time in France, and was also a hit in other Western European countries.  Valentin, Rémi, Madeleine, Enzo, and Oliana who were the finalist from the first season of Ecole des Stars, were invited back to the program to perform this magnificent encore during the finale of the show.  I can listen to this song over and over again and it still brings tears to my eyes.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Klaatu Barada Nikto, wherever you may be.

A Moment Of Peace

A moment of peace from Klaatu Barada Nikto.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Klaatu Barada Nikto, wherever you may be.

Si Seulement Je Pouvais Lui Manquer │ Vox Angeli

In this edition of Klaatu Barada Nikto, I am featuring a fantastic group from France called Vox Angeli.  In the video below they sing the beautiful "Si Seulement Je Pouvais Lui Manquer (If Only I Could Miss Him)", that was popularized by Calogero.  It was actually co-composed by Calogero, his brother Gioacchino, Michel Jourdan, and Julie D'Aimé.  "Si Seulement Je Pouvais Lui Manquer" tells the story of a man who wishes that he had a good relationship with his father, who was absent in his life.  In 2005, this song was awarded "Original song of the year" at the Victoires de la Musique.  The members of Vox Angeli are, Lola Beris, Iris Lambert, Claire Conruyt, Étienne Girardin, Louis-Alexander Désiré, and Mathis De Ruyver.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Klaatu Barada Nikto, wherever you may be.