Need music suggestions for 75th birthday slideshow.....

I was hoping I could get a few suggestions for background music for a slideshow I'm putting together for my Mom's 75th birthday party. The slide show starts off with her baby picture in 1929 (below) and than gradually (25+ slides) moves up to the year 2004 with lots of pictures of her, her family and her friends.

I picked these two songs: Enya's "only time" from her "A day without rain" CD or/and Perry Como's "Try to Remember". My brother thinks the first one is too dull and he doesn't like the second. I like both. I actually have it set up to Enya's song. But now I'm not so sure--leave it to an older brother to confuse things.

Can anyone think of maybe one or two other song's that might be fit what I'm trying to do for Mom. She likes all sorts of music from WWII to today's. It's about 10 minutes long--so I can loop one song over and over or put 2 songs in. Help!!

I like the concept... and although I don't recall that Enya song by the name (terrible at that) I think almost any Enya song should work fine.

Well the only thing I have seen and heard was one for my grandsons baseball team and it was great with the song "Put Me In Coach" and I loved that. Don't think that would fit. I do like the Como song however.

A lilttle GLean MIller woulnt hurt IM 62 and my sister is 75 and she passed her records down to me. so i like all the 30and 40 music

Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" and
Frank Sinatra "The Way you Look Tonight" would be my top picsk for classy and classic songs ;o)

Here's a site for old songs that I had in my favorites and had forgetten about. Hope this helps. I might be giving my age away.
http://www.rienzihills.com/SING/

I just heard "Going to take a Sentimental Journey" on the radio and I thought of your request. That would be a neat song to use.
D

Oh, I Love that Louis Armstrong one; how about Perry Como's" Catch a Falling Star"; "Unchained Melody", and there are beautiful themes from "West Side Story", Sound of Music etc. Also, can you get recordings by the Andrew's Sisters?

My most favorite song was and probably is Artie Shaw's 'Begin the Beguine"
And, Dianne, will I ever forget 'Sentimental Journey'!
Also 'Stardust Melody' would be appropriate.
Maria

we are getting to know by our song we are not 20 are we?

Wow, this is terrific. I'm going to have a lot more material to use now. I think we are going to use some of Artie Shaw, Frank Sinatra, Glen Miller, Perry Como, Louis Armstrong music for the evenings background music. I've looked on Amazon to listen to a little of each and think they all would fit in. We'll download a few songs of each, if we don't already have it and put it onto my DH's Ipod. I also have a CD called The best of Great Girl Singers which has a few songs of the Andrew Sisters. KidneyGuy, who sings/plays "Going to take a Sentimental Journey" I can't find that one on Amazon.
Keep the suggestions coming, this is great!!!

This is another photo from the slide show--1936ish-my mom's seated in the middle, her brother front left end. All of her 1st cousins are around her. Her brother and several of these cousins will be there too! This is getting to be really fun!!

I think it's called "Sentimental Journey" - not sure who first sang it, but Doris Day did a pretty good rendition.

Another great song would be the 'Over the Rainbow'/'Wonderful World' remix song that came out a few years ago - you can catch a bit of it at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JFG3/002-0905105-5437616?v=glance

I had always wondered who did the over the rainbow/wonderful world remix. That song was on the Finding Forrester movie. Great song. Your link to Amazon pointed out, the late Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole did that song --I never would have know who he was. Now I'll be buying the CD.

You know,, I was thinking of doing a second slide show with just photos of the grandkids and great grandkids--no words--to let run on its own. I thought the grandkids would get a kick out of seeing photos of them roll by. This would be a great song to use for that one. Thanks again!

I love that version, too - although every time I hear it, I can't help but think about the ER episode where Mark dies (sorry, ER junkie here ;o)

But it's a beautiful song, and I didn't know who sang it either until I found the Amazon link. Good luck with the b'day arrangement - make sure your Mom has plenty of tissues handy! (Our oldest son graduated from HS this year, and our church did a slide show with dozens of snapshots of all our graduating seniors at a banquet to honor them. Oh, boy - was I ever glad they dimmed the lights for the photo homage. Seeing my "baby" from the first picture (taken just minutes after he was born) through all those snapshots that captured his growth and maturation over 18 years....whew! I was really glad I wore the waterproof mascara, and that some thoughtful coordinators had strategically placed those little packages of tissues on the tables, too!

Your mom is going to have a terrific time! We did one for my mom's 80th nearly 2 yrs. ago. Wish I'd have thought of a musical slide show! We played Perry Como (her favorite is Catch a Falling Star), Andrew Sisters and some CD's that had a variety of big bands. I put enlarged pics on a poster and the same (4 x 6 prints) in a memory book for her to go through after it was over--added pics from the party and some notes to make her smile with warm memories of that wonderful day.

Most guests had a ball with the, "How well do you know my mom," quiz? I had 10 questions with multiple choices for answers. Things like:
Before marrying Jess, Thelma was:
A. A singer
B. A nanny/babysitter
C. A beauty contestant
D. A goat herder
(most answered C and it just made Mom's day)!
I placed the answers upside down at the corner of the large picture-poster and everyone gathered around waiting to check answers, looking at pics and visiting while waiting;)

We decorated in the Purple Hat Society colors and featured the poem on each table (with the book near the poster and picture album). Mom felt like Queen for a Day! We've been so glad that we did it (80 people attended)--her health has taken a bad turn since then.

Blessings on you an yours--especially your mother on her special day!!!
Diane

The day that I heard Sentinemntial Journey and thought of your request it was done by Roger Whittaker but I have also heard it covered by Doris Day, Glenn Miller, The Les Brown Trio and I even remember ole Blue Eyes doing it.
What a fabulous idea you have! Sure wish I had thought of it when dad turned 90 but mom does this year and I won't forget this idea.
Hope you all have a 'blast' at the party.
Dianne

How about "Always"? Check this URL, and it's the background music there:
http://www.perilloux.org/mother.htm

Mtnmama, that is a really sweet picture of your Mom & Dad. I love the idea of the "how well do you know my Mom", Any chance of getting a few more examples of the other questions--I'm about frazzeled with fixing old photos and putting together the slideshow.

Jperilloux, I do like the "always" music to your website. That was such a nice story too. Sad at times, but very nice. Do you or anyone, know who plays/sings "always".
Thanks again, everyone.

"Always" was one of Irving Berlin's great tunes, but I can't tell you who recorded it. It's very old (1923).

"It Was a Very Good Year"
Vocals: Frank Sinatra
Lyrics: Robbie Williams

ROBBIE WILLIAMS LYRICS

"It Was A Very Good Year"

When I was seventeen, it was a very good year.
It was a very good year for small town girls and soft summer nights.
We'd hide from the light on the village green when I was seventeen.
When I was twenty-one, it was a very good year.
It was a very good year for city
girls who lived up the stairs
With perfume hair that came undone
when I was twenty-one.

When I was thirty-five, it was a very good year.
It was a very good year for blue-blooded
girls of independent means.
We'd ride in limousines. Their chauffeurs
would drive when I was thirty-five.

But now the days are short, I'm in the
autumn of the year
and now I think of my life as vintage
wine from fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs. It poured
sweet and clear. It was a very good year

Many of the Bing Crosby songs should bring back memories for your Mom.
Jen

Hi NM in MD,
The questions were easy when I started writing down a quick summary of her life--where she was born and lived, jobs she'd taken, people she knew.

Here are some examples:
Where was Thelma born? (choices: Omaha, Rapid City, Chadron, Don't you know that babies come from the stork!)
Thelma had three siblings, circle the name that is NOT one of her siblings': (Avis, Vance, Rumplestiltskin, Garnet R'Lou)
What was the mode of transportation Thelma used to attend school? (foot, car, horse, bus)
Where did she graduate high school? (choices: Central, South, Tech, Martin S.D.)
What was her maiden name? (put easy choices like Smith and Jones with maiden)
Where did Jess meet Thelma? (At the movies, in school, at the meat packing plant, in the library)
Thelma lived in every one of these cities at sometime in her life EXCEPT (Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Denver)
In what order were Thelma & Jess' children born? (Put # by the listed names)

You get the idea from these. Just a note--you might want to make all of the correct answers on the same letter choice. It makes it faster to correct and some of the people will catch on quickly--so they might get high scores;) I tried to make some funny answers to get folks chuckling. The neat thing that the test did was to get folks talking to others that they did not know--in hopes of finding someone from a time in Mom's life different from the one they'd met her during. (This helped them to better their scores;) It also got them to ask questions of Mom and she could share her life's story in her own words. It worked great!

My daughter helped me to paint pencils the colors we'd chosen for the decor (we couldn't find any of the right color in the stores). We used wrapping paper to make "flowers" and pipe cleaners to connect the flowers to the pencils. Then, we went to WalMart and bought several of their $1.00 vases and put pencil/flowers into them and used for table decorations. (To save time, I just made a few "flower" pencils to put among the plain pencils in each vase). We asked guests to take a pencil home and to think of the party (and Mom) every time they wrote with it.

Here is a pic after most people had left. Mom is at the head of the table and some of her family is finally getting a minute to take the test ;) No matter what you do, people will have fun--your mom will be given that special feeling she deserves:) She's lucky you are willing to work so hard for her great day:)
Best to you,
me

RikerBear, I think I have a Sinatra CD that has that song! I like that one as well--except for the ending part--I don't want mom to think we are giving her a "send off". Maybe I could fade that in the first verse as the "early years" photos go by... It's an idea. Thanks.
Mtnmama--I love the colors and the ideas. My mom won't join the purple hat society but her friends are in it. I wish she would join up and enjoy some of the social activities they do. I would hurt her..
As far as the answers to the question sheet--they will pretty much be answered by watching the slide show! Maybe I'll collect them before the show starts so they don't fill in the answers as they go. I'll have to get a nice soap/candle basket or something as a prize for the winner.
Thanks once again for great music ideas and party ideas.

I'd wondered how you could do that--with the slide show? My mom won't join the purple hat society either, but she loves the poem and the colors.

When is the big shindig?
Diane

The big event happens on December 18. We have a community hall rented at my Aunt's retirement development. It should be a great time--as long as it doesn't snow.
My sister-in-law and I are also doing all the food, drinks, decorating, etc....
We are doing an Italian food theme. Sister-in-law is doing a lasagna. I'll be looking for easy recipes--baked ziti or rigatoni, chicken piccata.....we'll see. Bread sticks, (store bought), salad and dessert. Dinner for 50+. Should be interesting!!
Thanks for your help.

I wanna come! We just did buffet-style sandwiches, salads, fruits, veggies and punch/coffee/tea...plus cake, of course. You and your sister are real go-getters! It's going to be a GREAT party!
Diane

I have a recipe for killer chicken tetrazzini (no cream-of-something soup in it ;o) Elegant, scrumptious AND it can be assembled ahead of time, refrigerated and baked for 30-40 minutes before serving. If you want it, let me know ;o)

Come on Terry, share, I'd like the recipe (with out cream of something soup in it)

Me too, me too, Terry. My MIL is coming soon and I could use something new to impress her at the table!

NM, I just found some of the CD's we used for Mom's shindig--would be glad to mail them to you if you haven't already invested. Just email me if you'd like a list!
Diane

Can you make a medley that has clips from tunes of the different time frames the slide show covers? Big band in the 40s, pop or early rock in the 50s, hard rock in the 60s (Time is on my Side by the Stones comes to mind) and so on.

There are also a couple of great "mother" songs that my daughter put on a CD and sent to me for my birthday last year. One is called In My Daughter's Eyes and the other is called A Song for Mama

oh...another one that I just thought of that would be great for a mother is Celene Dion's Because You Loved Me

btw...that cover of Over the Rainbow/Wonderful by IZ was released posthumously about 2 years after he died

Terry, Yes, I would love to have that recipe and any others that might come to mind. I initially thought of baked rigatoni or ziti, a lasagna or two, a chicken dish with some side vegetables (for those low carb diets). So if you have a recipe for chicken tetrazzini--please share it here or on the recipes forum! I've actually haven't visited that site yet.

Pvilleplanter, I had that same sort of idea, I like the idea of doing music to go along with the era being shown. I will probably use that theme for the kids and grandkids slide show. We would have to start with the 50' to the 2000's (her last great grandchild). I figured that might satisfy my youngest brother's need to have updated music some part of the night. I know the daughter's eyes song, but not the "A song for Moma". Any idea of who sings/plays it?

Thanks for the suggestions!

I posted the recipe in the recipes forum (I didn't want to take this thread off-track): http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/465376/

And for the record, I have nothing against cream-of-something soup. My kids LOVE hamburger "stroganoff" which is made with cream-of-mushroom soup and sour cream. I just like this tetrazzini recipe because it's closer to an authentic old world recipe, and tastes scrumptious. (If you throw enough butter, cheese and garlic into anything it *should* taste good, right?)

"A Song for Mama is done by Boyz II Men. You can read the lyrics at http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/boyz-ii-men/23288.html

Thanks for all the help guys!
The party was a big success. The powerpoint presentation was 77slides long---lasting about 20 minutes. I used 2 songs for the presentation. The first part of the presentation looped Enya's "only time" three times. Once the slides switched over to the Grandchildren and great grandchildren the presentation kicked off with IZ's "Over the rainbow/What a wonderful world. The presentation ended with the fading out of this song. The second to the last slide of the entire presentation is pictured below. It is a picture of my mother's dad in an old photo saying "cheers" at a Christmas party. I labeled the slide--
"Here's to you, Carol. Happy 75th Birthday." My mom's cousin in the photo was there and had never seen this photo--so it was an extra surprise.
For the background music we used a CD called "great girl singers", a double CD called the "Crooners" and several Christmas CD's. I'm still getting hugs for the party.
Thanks again for all the suggestions!!

Wonderful job! So glad it was a great day for your mom!
Diane

Have you thought of 'As Time Goes By' it was used as a theme song for the BBC series of that name and is very appropriate It is originally from the movie Casablanca.
You can find the full chorus and hear it at

http://www.reelclassics.com/Movies/Casablanca/astimegoesby-lyrics.htm

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date.
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.

Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.