Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer

Subject: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Folkie101
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 08:58 PM

this thread is part 2 of my thread on Storytelling for Children under 5. in my new job, i'll also be a Greetings singer. i'll need songs to sing when showing up at an office with flowers, etc. when someone is having a birthday (along with Happy Birthday To You.)

song suggestions are also needed when taking cards, flowers and/or ballons to those receiving "Cheer Up" greetings in the hospital , Sweetheart (and Just Because) greetings and Farewell/Retirement greetings. i'm really going to enjoy this job! thanks for any suggestions you may have. i now have a lot of work to do.

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 10:27 AM

"Happy Birthday" is sooooooo boring (not to mention copyrighted).

Why not "Happy Birthday" to the tune of the "Halleluyah Chorus"?

Linn

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Folkie101
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 11:09 AM

hi Linn,

please refresh my memory. what is the Halleluyah Chorus from?

thanks,
Folkie

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: GUEST,highlandman
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 11:16 AM

"The Messiah," an hours-long oratorio about the prophecies concerning Jesus and of his life, by G.F. Handel.

Folkie - look for "Happy Birthday" songs from other language groups, like Spanish or Icelandic? Nothing comes to mind off hand tho.

-Glenn

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Folkie101
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 11:32 AM

thanks Glenn,

i thought it was from The Messiah. i'll take a listen to my recording of it this weekend.

thanks,
Folkie

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: GUEST,highlandman
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 11:43 AM

Folkie, you'll probably want to cut it a bit :-)

I can imagine people's eyes beginning to glaze over after 2-1/2 minutes of "HAAAA ppy birthday! HAAAA ppy birthday! happy birthday! happy birthday! Ha -AA -ppy birthday!"

Now that I think about it, I can almost see Tom Smothers going on and on with it completely oblivious to Dick glaring at him deadpan from behind the bass....

-Glenn

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From:
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 01:26 PM

May I suggest for a song to greet people, Let The Circle Be Wide written by Tommy Sands.

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: pattyClink
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 10:36 PM

it does sound like fun!

hmmmmm...any particular style box you want to stay in?

I defy anyone to not smile when someone bursts into 'Hello My Honey Hello My Baby'....

'Let me call your sweetheart' and 'It had to be you' are used a lot for singing valentines....

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Folkie101
Date: 18 Jun 07 - 11:26 AM

thanks for all the great suggestions!

p.s. pattyClink: i'm open to different styles of music. i just want to bring joy to the customers.

Folkie

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 12:44 AM

If you want to bring joy to the customers then pursue the Rugby Song threads (my previous suggestion was deleated)you will find phrases that will titilate their fancy as they browse the wares.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: pattyClink
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 07:47 PM

I can't believe we couldn't come up with more songs for you, folkie, sorry about that. All I can say is, browse the Digital Tradition for ideas. And really READ the lyrics first before you decide to do them. For example "My Funny Valentine" is actually kind of insulting to the recipient "Your looks are laughable" etc. You don't want to realize that while in mid-rendition.

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 08:00 PM

Well OK - Plinky Clack - if you want to..... -

Who Wants To Buy My Wares?

From the musical based upon Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

Perfect ware-mongering-whore-song for any commercial establishment.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Start now and I bet you have a gig through the Next Year holidays.

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: growler
Date: 20 Jun 07 - 05:19 PM

How about depressing them forever by singing Happy Birthday to the tune of 'Tom Hall'

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Artful Codger
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 12:24 PM

"The (Happy) Sunny Side of Life", not to be confused with "Keep on the Sunny Side".

For early morning appointments, try "Bright, Shining Morning":

The bright, shining morning smiles over the fields
With blushes adorning the meadows and rills, (2x)
And the merry, merry, merry horn cries "Come, come away!"...

It's a fox-hunting song, but what the hell. It's a great song for the shower, too.

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Genie
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 05:21 PM

Well, in Girl Scouts we used to sing (to the tune of The Volga Boatmen):

Happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
Songs of sorrow fill the air,
People dying everywhere.
Happy Birthday.

Of course, you have to choose your audience carefully if you're going to use that one.

More on the sweet, sentimental side, here's one my sister would sing to me on my birthday.   It's to the tune of The Merry Widow Waltz.

Happy birthday, happy birthday, we love you.
Happy birthday, and may all your dreams come true.
As you blow out the candles, one light stays aglow.
Keep that light within your heart wheree'er you go.

(I think that's how it went.)

Now, when I do birthday parties for retirement homes, I often do these:

1.   Medley:   Oh, You Beautiful Doll! / Baby Face / Pretty Baby / You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby

That last one is a good birthday song, I think. It goes:

Oh you must have been a beautiful baby,
You must have been a beautiful child.
When you were only startin'
To go to kindergarten
I bet you drove the little boys (girls) wild.
And when it came to winning blue ribbons,
I bet you showed those other kids how.
I can see the judges' eyes
As they handed you the prize.
I bet you made the cutest bow!
Oh you must have been a beautiful baby,
'Cause, baby, look at you now!

2.   Hey, Good Lookin;!

3. Modified version of Oh, Lord, It's Hard To Be Humble (Mac Davis)

Oh, Lord, It's Hard To Be Humble
When you're perfect in every way.
S/he (They) can't wait to look in the mirror,
'Cause s/he gets (they get) better lookin' each day.
To know her (him, them) is to love her (him, them).
I think s/he (they) deserve(s) a big hand. (Everyone gives the birthday person a round of applause)
Oh, Lord, It's Hard To Be Humble,
But s/he's (they're) doing the best that s/he (they can).
(Repeat last line)

Now, if the occasion is "Get well" or some sort of consolation, you might try
You've Got A Friend
Lean On Me
Keep On The Sunny Side
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
or something like that.

(Just tossing ideas out off top of my head)

Genie

Subject: RE: Song suggestions for a Greetings Singer
From: Folkie101
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 06:46 PM

Great suggestions....thanks!

Folkie