The Book Review, Sunday, June 24, 2012: Educating Esme (Songs)

Madame L just has to mention some more great things about "Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year," by Esme Raji Codell: the songs!

Since Madame L had never heard of "New York Charanga," from the list below, before reading this book, she checked it out on YouTube, and shares it with you here. Madame L loves it!

Here's a list of most of the songs mentioned in the book---songs the author (who insists that her students call her "Madame Esme" instead of Ms. Codell, another reason to admire her!) remembers from her childhood, songs that keep her from going insane as she deals with insane administrators and parents and an insane education system:

• Mu-Cha-Cha, from Bells Are Ringing
• Getting to Know You, from The King and I
• Funkier than a Mosquita's Tweeter, by Tina Turner
• Nothing from Nothing, by Billy Preston
• Jealousy, by Jacob Gade from Tango Argentino
• Perpetuum Mobile, by Novacek (performed by Itzhad Perlman)
• Prelude and Allegro, by Kreisler (performed by Itzhad Perlman)
• Tenderly, by Bill Evans
• The Beautiful Land, by Anthony Newley (from The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd)
• Sing a Simple Song, by Sly and the Family Stone
• New York Charanga, by David Amram
• On How to be Lovely, in Funny Face (performed by Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson)
• Control Yourself, performed by Jackie and Roy Kral
• Every Day I Write the Book, by Elvis Costello 
  
• Stoney End, by Laura Nyro
  
• Cabaret, performed by Jill Haworth
  
• Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, by B.J. Thomas
  
• La Vie en Rose
  
• Softly, William, Softly, by Dave Brubeck
  
• Cinderella's Departure for the Ball, by Prokofiev
  
• The Moldau, by Smetana
  

Dear Readers, do any of these songs move you or keep you from going insane? What do you sing or hum to yourself or what beat do you walk to when you're stressed out, happy, angry, sad, and so on? Please share them with the rest of us! 

Madame L will be looking for other songs from this list on YouTube, to share with you and will share some of her own favorites.