Rome - Michelangelo and other landmarks

Copy of David at Palazzo Vecchio













Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475 – 1564), commonly known as Michelangelo, was a painter, sculptor, architect and a man of many talents. He is also known as the Renaissance Man along with his rival Leonardo da Vinci.

Michelangelo's most famous works were the Pieta and the David which he sculptured before he was 30. I could only view his Pieta at St. Peter because Michelangelo's David was at Academia Gallery in Florence which I did not have a chance to visit. I only saw the best copy of the David standing in the original location of the David, at the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence.
Michelangelo was not a painter, yet he created two of the most influential works in fresco in the history of Western art: the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling and The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Unfortunately, they don't allow us to take pictures inside the Chapel. Michelangelo also designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and made himself a well-known architect as well.

Moses - Michelangelo















Cappella Sistina - Michelangelo













San Pietro - St. Peter

La Pieta - Michelangelo

I will be off to Rome, Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Monaco... in the next 3 weeks

Arriverderci... see you in 3 weeks!

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Quoted from Wikipedia:

"There were 105 episodes (from 1964 -1968) created by MGM that made up this series. The first season was broadcast in black-and-white. The series centered on a two-man troubleshooting team for a covert espionage organization: American Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn), and Russian Illya Kuryakin (David McCullum). Leo G. Carroll played Alexander Waverly, the British head of the organization. Lisa Rogers (Barbara Moore) joined the cast as a female regular in the fourth season."

My favourite, of course, is the blonde hair Ilyia Kuryakin played by Scottish actor David McCullum.

From Honeycomb to Bimbombay - Jimmie Rodgers

Jimmie Rodgers was born in 1933, a typical folk rock singer with many hits such as Bimbombay, Secretly, Are You Really Mine, Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, Honeycomb and many more.

琵琶血染漢宮花 (will move to another site later)

A CO Song - Will Move To My CO Page Later

A song by Lee Po Ying - link to video below:

http://www.kanxi8.com/video.php/vid_12398.htm

I will move this link to my page on CO stars and songs later...

Richard Chamberlain - The King of Television as Dr. Kildare, as Anjin-san in Shogun, as Father Ralph and as Jason Bourne...

A most successful TV actor in the '60s as Dr. Kildare, Richard Chamberlain - the King of Television, went on to play more serious roles as Anjin-san (John Blackthorne) in Shogun (1980); as Father Ralph in The Thorn Birds (1983); and as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity (1988).

Dick can sing as well! Besides singing the theme song (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight) for Dr. Kildare, he also recorded songs like "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo"; "True Love" and "All I Have To Do Is Dream". He turned to theatre work in his latter years. I saw him playing Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady when he toured Toronto some years ago; he was superb!

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Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra Did It His Way!!!

This man doesn't need any introduction for he has a brand of his own. Just mention his name and everyone who listens to oldies will know who he is or was!

Below are some of my favourite songs sung by him although I'd rather listen to his songs recorded in the '50s when his voice was so crisp and clear! What a voice!
Fly Me To The Moon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAsoLm1Ges&feature=related

New York, New York - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NfnQnnbK1U&feature=related

Strangers In The Night - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAEQzVv_Itc&feature=related

Softly As I Leave You - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZMQ07NBWp0&feature=related

You Make Me Feel So Young - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpPF5yG0IHo&feature=related

Three Coins In The Fountain - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJQuZOg2Dfo

Send In The Clowns - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAAAspIKxJk&feature=related

My Way - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl95eDA_uR4&feature=related

Come Fly With Me!

The Enchanting Sound Of Martin Denny And His Orchestra

The following excerpt is taken from Wikipedia:

"Martin Denny (April, 1911 – March 2005) was an American piano-player and composer best known as the "father of exotica”. In a long career that saw him performing well into his 80s, he toured the world popularizing his brand of lounge music which included exotic percussion, imaginative rearrangements of popular songs, and original songs that celebrated Tiki culture... His music was a combination of ethnic styles: South Pacific, the Orient and Latin rhythms."

My note: - The use of the word "exotica" here means Denny had built a collection of strange and exotic instruments that made the music sound like they are sounds of the south seas - bird calls, palm trees, waves, etc. His first big hit was "Quiet Village" and I just love this song very much. Later on, he also recorded "Pagan Love Song", "Stranger In Paradise", and many more Hawaiian songs. These songs were so beautifully arranged by Denny that upon hearing them, you feel as you were already in paradise!

Below is "Quiet Village" -

ELVIS - THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL!!!

My Way

Heartbreak Hotel

Jailhouse Rock