OMG is it true?

[KrisLovesDamien]

WOW TO THE MAX!!!!!!!!!. i know Damien will do a fantastic job on them, a big challenge but he can do it. *excited AHH*

[irishangel]

Crazyblonde, you haven't heard "Unchained Melody" I thought everyone knew that song. I am not a big fan of the song myself, but that's just me 99% of people i know love it and one friend in particular cries everytime she hears it. It was in the movie Ghost, you know Patrick Swayze & Demi Moore and the infamous pottery scene.

[KrisLovesDamien]

can u tell me who sings the song lol...im another one who hasnt herd it be4
*dont hurt me* .

[Neski]

lol - yea i was just about to mention ghost when i read that lol! I think its also been covered by Gareth Gates or something - and Dan England sung it last year on Idol - totally think D could do better but Dan was great too....

[KrisLovesDamien]

aww thanks neski *hug* lol ;D.
oh n this is random but i have 2 say it , im listening 2 when damien sang message 2 my girl. and 4 some reason it made me cry and also when he did if tomorrow never comes
yes im crazy

[irishangel]

The Righteous brothers are probably best known for singing it.

And the following people have covered it {found this on wikipedia.org}
Les Baxter recorded it for the film's soundtrack (it was also released as a single, Capitol Records catalog number 3055, and reached #1 on the Billboard charts), and it was very soon after recorded by Al Hibbler (Decca Records catalog number 29441) that topped out at #3. Roy Hamilton's version (Epic Records catalog number 9102) reached #6, while June Valli took it to #29. The first hit version was by Harry Belafonte, who also sang it at the 1956 Academy Awards. There is also an uptempo doo-wop version by Vito & the Salutations. The song was also recorded by The Lettermen as a track on their 1962 album Jim, Tony, and Bob.

Perhaps the best-known version is from 1965, credited to the Righteous Brothers but performed as a solo by Bobby Hatfield, who later recorded versions credited solely to himself. It climbed to #4.

"Unchained Melody" reappeared on the Billboard charts in 1990, reaching #19, after The Righteous Brothers' recording was used in the film Ghost. In 2002, Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates released it as a single. In 2006, singer Barry Manilow covered the song on his album Greatest Songs of the Fifties, and it reached #20.

The song has uniquely been a UK number-one hit for four different acts: Jimmy Young (1955); the Righteous Brothers (1990) [although it was recorded in 1965]; Robson & Jerome (1995); Gareth Gates (2002).

On June 21, 1977, just six weeks prior to Elvis Presley's death he performed "Unchained Melody" for what would be his last Television appearance "Elvis In Concert".

It was also sung on Australian Idol by Dan England on the 1960's night, and on American Idol by Clay Aiken during the Season 2 Top 3 finals, after which he advanced to the Top 2 (finals), as well as Kellie Pickler on Season 5 Top 6 Love Songs Week, for which she was eliminated.

It was sung by Irish rock group U2 after a performance of One at 2005's Live 8, and is often performed in the same manner during ordinary live U2 performances. It appears on the Zoo TV: Live From Sydney video as well as on the B-sides of The Best of 1980-1990.

Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, was #7 on the hits, 50 Greatest Love Songs, in 2006.

In 2006, Il Divo made a cover song named "Unchained Melody (Senza Catene)" on its Album "Ancora"

[hyperrune]

It's also been done by Leann Rimes, I think.

[shimmery]

lol, one very good thing about loving Damien for our younger members is that they're getting to hear some great music for the first time! Excellent

Those who may not know Nessun Dorma by name will probably know it as soon as they hear it. Perhaps that will be the case with Unchained Melody as many know the song but it's got an unusual name.

I actually really enjoy hearing opera sung by untrained voices, in fact I often prefer it that way, so I think if Damien does Nessun Dorma he will bring a beautiful natural texture to it.

And as for Unchained Melody - it's in my list of all time fav songs and is a special song for my memories too - lol *intrigue* . I love the Righteous Bros version but oh wow there are so many good versions... and after this I think my fav will be by our Damo

[belinda]

Thanks so much for letting us know what he will be singing. He's going to totally blow us away *fans herself* I can't wait!!! I bet he is practicing like never before having to sing Italian.

Hugs, Belinda

[murfinator]

Yeah I reckon that when they hear it they'll know unchained melody

[Mi chiamano Kami]

Yes... the more I think about this the more I think those are fantastic choices... a real challenge while still being songs that even younger people will know when they hear them, if not before. They've been trying for two years on Idol to come up with something bigger than Anthony Callea doing 'The Prayer', and I think this could be it!

Shimmery, I'm with you on untrained voices and opera. I actually can't stand most opera singers - except for the very best, of course. It all seems too much about the technical aspects to me and fails to hit me where it counts. I think Damien will be able to strike the right balance between technical wow and accessible performance. I think that ability is part of why he's still in the competition - aside from being the best there of course. ;D

[Margo]

Listen here
www.myspace.com/righteousbrothersone

[shimmery]

I like your point about accessibility Kamitsuki - because if we're talking about an "Idol" that is a very important quality, the idea is that everyone on the whole will really love to hear this person and I think with Damien we have someone who people across the board will love, great voice, great charm.

But yes, regarding accessibility of the voice when it comes to operatic voices, have you noticed that trained singers often sound too tight or controlled when singing non-operatic songs? They have the technical brilliance but the ones who don't have the heart to translate emotion well really suffer when out of their natural mode. Really good regular singers, however, can often make the crossover beautifully (well, to my ears, this is my preference )

[KrisLovesDamien]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...IVE HERD OF UNCHAINED MELODY!!!!!!!. lol sorry, i just did'nt reconise the name of the song. THATS PERFECT FOR DAMO

[crazyblonde]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH krislovesdamien, me too. I just listened to it- of course i know that song, its always on the ads for that car or whatever! It used to always play on the car ad, when Desperate Housewives was on. lol Damien will do an awesome job, its right in his style!!!!!!