My Song Blog on "Candle on the Water"
Once a week at my MySpace profile I blog about a famous song. A few months ago I posted an entry about "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio on here. In this week's Song Blog I focus on "Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon, and I'd thought I'd share this with you. Enjoy!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Song Blog for August 17-23: "Candle on the Water"
Category: Music
Disney is reissuing its 1977 musical fantasy Pete's Dragon to DVD this week (Aug. 18). The story of a runaway orphan and his dragon friend includes the ballad "Candle on the Water," sung by Helen Reddy (b. 1942), who plays Nora in the film. The song received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, and it is considered one of the film's major numbers.
The "Candle on the Water" segment departs from the main storyline, as Nora sings about her lover Paul, who is missing at sea. She performs the entire song from the lantern roof balcony from the lighthouse owned by her father Lampie (played by Mickey Rooney). She goes out to sing after her father tells her that he isn't likely to return after disappearing for more than a year. Unfazed by his remarks, she holds on to her faith in the hope that Paul will one day return.
Al Kasha (b. 1937) and Joel Hirshhorn (1937-2005) composed "Candle on the Water" and all the other songs in Pete's Dragon. They had previously won Oscars for "The Morning After" (from The Poseidon Adventure, 1972) and "We May Never Love Like This Again" (from The Towering Inferno, 1974). "Candle on the Water" comes from that big ballad tradition. It is also the most contemporary-sounding tune in a story set in Maine during the 1890s. Kasha and Hirshhorn were also nominated for "Someone's Waiting for You" from The Rescuers that year, but lost to "You Light Up My Life," from the film of the same name.
Reddy, often associated with "I Am Woman," began pursuing acting roles in the latter half of the '70s. The Australian singer made Pete's Dragon her second film. A slightly-faster rendition of "Candle on the Water" by Reddy made the US Adult Contemporary chart at no. 27.
Anneliese van der Pol covered "Candle on the Water" for a Disney compilation in 2006. The Dutch-American actress from the Disney Channel series That's So Raven covered this and other Disney songs during the decade. Kristin Chenoweth also covered it on an episode of Pushing Daisies that pays homage to Pete's Dragon.
Walt Disney acquired the rights to Pete's Dragon during the 1950s. He had a 13-page synopsis prepared prior to his death in 1966. A few years later, the idea to film Pete's Dragon was discussed again, this time as a theatrical feature. Pete's Dragon was released theatrically in November 1977, and it has sold well in subsequent video and DVD releases.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Song Blog for August 17-23: "Candle on the Water"
Category: Music
Disney is reissuing its 1977 musical fantasy Pete's Dragon to DVD this week (Aug. 18). The story of a runaway orphan and his dragon friend includes the ballad "Candle on the Water," sung by Helen Reddy (b. 1942), who plays Nora in the film. The song received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, and it is considered one of the film's major numbers.
The "Candle on the Water" segment departs from the main storyline, as Nora sings about her lover Paul, who is missing at sea. She performs the entire song from the lantern roof balcony from the lighthouse owned by her father Lampie (played by Mickey Rooney). She goes out to sing after her father tells her that he isn't likely to return after disappearing for more than a year. Unfazed by his remarks, she holds on to her faith in the hope that Paul will one day return.
Al Kasha (b. 1937) and Joel Hirshhorn (1937-2005) composed "Candle on the Water" and all the other songs in Pete's Dragon. They had previously won Oscars for "The Morning After" (from The Poseidon Adventure, 1972) and "We May Never Love Like This Again" (from The Towering Inferno, 1974). "Candle on the Water" comes from that big ballad tradition. It is also the most contemporary-sounding tune in a story set in Maine during the 1890s. Kasha and Hirshhorn were also nominated for "Someone's Waiting for You" from The Rescuers that year, but lost to "You Light Up My Life," from the film of the same name.
Reddy, often associated with "I Am Woman," began pursuing acting roles in the latter half of the '70s. The Australian singer made Pete's Dragon her second film. A slightly-faster rendition of "Candle on the Water" by Reddy made the US Adult Contemporary chart at no. 27.
Anneliese van der Pol covered "Candle on the Water" for a Disney compilation in 2006. The Dutch-American actress from the Disney Channel series That's So Raven covered this and other Disney songs during the decade. Kristin Chenoweth also covered it on an episode of Pushing Daisies that pays homage to Pete's Dragon.
Walt Disney acquired the rights to Pete's Dragon during the 1950s. He had a 13-page synopsis prepared prior to his death in 1966. A few years later, the idea to film Pete's Dragon was discussed again, this time as a theatrical feature. Pete's Dragon was released theatrically in November 1977, and it has sold well in subsequent video and DVD releases.
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