Tag Archives: James Horner

♫ Where Are You Christmas? ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Global Issues, History, music

I don’t think I am alone … no, I know I am not alone … in feeling a certain sadness, a lack of joy this holiday season, as I watch what is happening not only in the U.S., but in countries around the globe.  Listening to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy tonight, I have to wonder how any of us can turn our heads from the plight of the Ukrainian people and the women in Iran while we go on with our celebrations, delight in gifts both given and received, fill our bellies with traditional treats while knowing that for some, a treat would be heat for their home, a slice of bread for their belly.  I simply have no holiday spirit, no Joie de vivre, this year.  I am trying my best to don a happy face, to smile at the right times, but inside … my heart is breaking for the people of the world.

Anyway, this song was in my mind today, and so …

Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You? is a song co-written by James Horner and Will Jennings for the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 2000. In the film, it is first sung by Taylor Momsen, who played Cindy Lou Who.

Mariah Carey co-wrote a full-length version of the song with additional lyrics, renamed Where Are You Christmas?, for the film’s soundtrack. The song was originally recorded by Carey, but because of a legal case with her ex-husband Tommy Mottola, it could not be released, so it was re-recorded and released by Faith Hill. A CD single of Hill’s rendition was released December 11, 2000. A video was released featuring Hill singing from the Grinch’s mountaintop home, interspersed with clips from the film and a cameo appearance by Momsen as Cindy Lou Who.

Where Are You Christmas
Faith Hill

Oh, hmm
Where are you Christmas
Why can’t I find you
Why have you gone away
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can’t I hear music play

My world is changing
I’m rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too

Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know
I’m not the same one
See what the time’s done
Is that why you have let me go

Christmas is here
Everywhere, oh
Christmas is here
If you care, oh

If there is love in your heart and your mind
You will feel like Christmas all the time

Oh, I feel you Christmas
I know I’ve found you
You never fade away, oh
The joy of Christmas
Stays here inside us
Fills each and every heart with love

Where are you Christmas
Fill your heart with love

Songwriters: James Horner / Mariah Carey / Wilbur Jennings
Where Are You Christmas lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management

♫ Where Are You Christmas? ♫

Posted on by under music

It started with rawgod telling me of a couple of his friend Gail’s favourite songs, the first on the list being Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, which I played a few nights ago, as it also has special meaning for me!  And then I thought, what the heck, why not ask for a few fun, non-religious, Christmas-themed song requests, and I now have a list!  I promise that I will be playing each and every one of them over the next week, even if I need to double up on the music posts!  But tonight, I am playing my own request.

I don’t think I am alone … no, I know I am not alone … in feeling a certain sadness, a lack of joy this holiday season, as I watch what is happening not only in the U.S., but in countries around the globe.  I simply have no holiday spirit, no Joie de vivre, this year.  I had to be practically dragged out to shop, to get a tree, and while I’m usually a joyous holiday baker, I have made only a few things, most of which didn’t turn out right this year.  Thank you, Donald Trump and cronies.

Anyway, this song was in my mind today, and so …

Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You? is a song co-written by James Horner and Will Jennings for the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 2000. In the film, it is first sung by Taylor Momsen, who played Cindy Lou Who.

Mariah Carey co-wrote a full-length version of the song with additional lyrics, renamed Where Are You Christmas?, for the film’s soundtrack. The song was originally recorded by Carey, but because of a legal case with her ex-husband Tommy Mottola, it could not be released, so it was re-recorded and released by Faith Hill. A CD single of Hill’s rendition was released December 11, 2000. A video was released featuring Hill singing from the Grinch’s mountaintop home, interspersed with clips from the film and a cameo appearance by Momsen as Cindy Lou Who.

Where Are You Christmas
Faith Hill

Oh, hmm
Where are you Christmas
Why can’t I find you
Why have you gone away
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can’t I hear music play

My world is changing
I’m rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too

Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know
I’m not the same one
See what the time’s done
Is that why you have let me go

Christmas is here
Everywhere, oh
Christmas is here
If you care, oh

If there is love in your heart and your mind
You will feel like Christmas all the time

Oh, I feel you Christmas
I know I’ve found you
You never fade away, oh
The joy of Christmas
Stays here inside us
Fills each and every heart with love

Where are you Christmas
Fill your heart with love

Songwriters: James Horner / Mariah Carey / Wilbur Jennings
Where Are You Christmas lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management

♫ Somewhere Out There ♫

Posted on by under music

The first time I heard this song was when I saw An American Tail … probably some years after its 1986 release.  It’s a cute film and I fell in love with the song.  The only other song I can remember right offhand from that film is There Are No Cats In America, the title of which, of course, is a blatant lie!

The song was written by James Horner, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and produced by Peter Asher and Steve Tyrell.  It is sung by James Ingram and Linda Ronstadt.  The story goes that Stephen Spielberg, who produced An American Tail, invited songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil to collaborate with James Horner on four songs for its soundtrack, to be completed in a four-week timeframe. The composers “felt no pressure to come up with a radio-friendly hit” and were surprised when Spielberg felt the song had Top 40 hit potential and recruited world-renowned recording artists, Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram, to record a pop version of it for the film’s closing credits.

At the 30th Grammy Awards, the song won two awards, one for Song of the Year and the other for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. It also garnered Ronstadt and Ingram a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Somewhere Out There
James Ingram, Linda Ronstadt

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone’s thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone’s saying a prayer
That we’ll find one another in that dream somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishin’ on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there, if love can see us through
Then we’ll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishin’ on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there, if love can see us through
Then we’ll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

Songwriters: James Horner / Cynthia Weil / Barry Mann
Somewhere Out There lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group