My post titled "ALL BY MYSELF - A PLAGIARISM" was commented by somebody from www.ericcarmen.com
The person wrote as follow: "'When I was writing that album, I was listening to my favorite music which was Rachmaninoff. "All By Myself" incorporated a melody from his 2nd piano concerto as the verse.
I thought that it's a crime that there are some spectacular melodies in classical music that the general public doesn't get exposed to. I thought this was a way for me to bring some of the classical music that I love, incorporate it into a pop song for a new decade of kids, and introduce them to those beautiful melodies that they might not otherwise hear.'
I think he's also said he thought they were in the public domain when he used them, but ended up paying the Rachmaninoff estate. "
I really like the song. The lyrics just blended into it! Watch below - Celine Dion's version!
Sergei Rachmaninoff is one of my favorite composer. His work sounds very romantic for me. Vocalise, his piano concertos and preludes, I like it so much.
That day on an art community activity held in my friend's place, a senior artist from Netherland brought his CD of Carmen McRae. He played the record while we were doing our sketchs. Ooh......., I like Carmen's voice, very deep and powerful. When "All by My Self" tune was on its turn, I was freeze for a moment, thinking of the melody, and hardly remembered if I have heard that song before.
Seeing my expression, the old Dutch man explained, the song "All by Myself" written by Eric Carmen (http://www.ericcarmen.com/eric/biography.htm) is similar to Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 - 2nd Movement (adagio sostenuto).
Is it a plagiarism? Nobody knows except Eric Carmen who is able to answer.
Despite of the issue, the lyric of All by Myself is touchy! It describes very true the reality of many people's life. A true contrast of glamorous and 'up to me' kind of life style during teens and 20 to 30's, compared to elderly period.
I attached a link to Celine Dion's version of All By Myself below. If you are interested to know the Rachmaninoff Concerto's click on the play button of the video attached here too.
When I was young I never needed anyone And making love was just for fun Those days are gone
Living alone I think of all the friends I’ve known But when I dial the telephone Nobody’s home
All by myself Don't wanna be All by myself anymore
All by myself Don't wanna live All by myself anymore
Hard to be sure Some times I feel so insecure And love so distant and obscure Remains the cure
All by myself Don't wanna be All by myself anymore All by myself Don't wanna live All by myself anymore
When I was young I never needed anyone And making love was just for fun Those days are gone
All by myself Don't wanna be All by myself anymore All by myself Don't wanna live All by myself anymore
All by myself Don't wanna be All by myself anymore All by myself Don't wanna live All by myself anymore
I was sitting at one corner of a small Café near Canggu village that afternoon.
Killing time waiting for my late lunch - a crusty vegetarian pizza; I made a sketch of a stem of an orange bird of paradise with its two big leaves placed in a small natural ceramic vase.
A kind of chilled Indian music played at the background, nobody else except me, a waiter and a waitress at the café. Softly, late afternoon sunshine shining through wooden lattice giving a nice orange shadow on the floor terrazzo tile.
Finishing half of my sketch the waiter came serving my pizza, a big smile expanded on his cheerful face. Cordially he invited me to taste the pizza. I was about taking my first bite when I noticed there was a simple zinc placate of wisdom word stood on each table of the café.
The one at my table, painted with maroon paint on a bluish background was: “See God in Every Face”. I was astonished to that wisdom word of Swami Sivananda.
I started thinking deeply about the words while chewing my pizza. That wisdom word sounds very simple but has a very deep understanding. I would interpret “FACE” on that wisdom word as CREATIONS made by God in this world. It is very true…………, God can be seen and felt through His works. I can ‘see’ there is God on the sunshine that shone that afternoon. The warm feeling I felt in my heart when seeing it passing thru the wooden lattice is the sign that He is there. A truly big smile given by the waiter with no ulterior motive but just a truly big smile, gave a nice feeling inside. That is also proven that He exists.
Finally, before my pizza finished, I have got a deeper understanding of the wisdom word. If I am able seeing things with a clean thought and thankfulness, we can see God through it. A big smile given by the waiter, if interpreted as a smile of expecting tip, would not be able extending the feeling that God is there.
So, no matter what and how outside of my-self alike, as long as I keep the clean thought and thankfulness inside; we can “See God in Every Face”.
