Reviews
Envelope, please!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
After five sold out appearances, vocalists Bobbi Carrey and Will McMillan return to Scullers Wednesday, February 20, at 8 p.m. with “The Envelope Please,” featuring Academy Award winners and nominees for best song in a motion picture.
The Academy Awards are not only a part of America’s history, they are also a mirror of the times. Beginning in 1934, a new category was added – Best Song From a Motion Picture – and for the next seven decades, Oscar winners and nominees for best song have reflected the pulse of America.
“This is one of our favorite shows,” says McMillan. “Many of these songs are so well-crafted and so much a part of our musical heritage that they almost sing themselves.”
The roster of winners includes some of the most timeless love songs ever written, such as “Cheek to Cheek,” “The Days of Wine and Roses” and “True Love.” Some reflect a universal quest for happiness and contentment as in “Accentuate the Positive,” and “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.” Others capture the yearning for a simpler, more innocent time: “In the Cool, Cool, Cool, of the Evening” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.”
“And some are just songs to be danced to, such as ‘I’ve Had The Time of My Life,’ from the film Dirty Dancing, says Carrey.
The list of best song winners and nominees includes most of the leading songwriters of the 20th century-Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael and Randy Newman to name a few.
“But they didn’t always win,” says Carrey. “Berlin was nominated seven times, but won only once for his 1942 hit ’White Christmas;’ Newman had the dubious distinction of receiving the most Oscar nominations (15) without a single win. His losing streak was broken when he received the Oscar for Best Song in 2001, for the Monsters Inc. song ’If I Didn’t Have You,’ beating the likes of Enya and Paul McCartney.”
This critically acclaimed duo performs throughout New England and released their CD, “If I Loved You” to a sold-out crowd at Scullers Jazz Club. They have been featured live on Ron Della Chiesa’s “The Jazz Songbook” on WGBH radio and were nominated for a 2005 IRNE for Best Cabaret Group Performance from the Independent Reviewers of New England.
Scullers Jazz Club is in the Double Tree Guest Suites Hotel at 400 Soldiers Field Road in Boston. Tickets are $20 for the show only, and $65 for a dinner/show package. For reservations, call 617-562-4111 or visit www.ticketweb.com. For information, call 617-783-0090 or visit scullersjazz.com.