Song of the Day: 'Losing My Mind' by Eleri Ward

My "bad gay" moniker was never more prominently on display than when Stephen Sondheim died last week. As my friends were all in mourning, I was hard-pressed to think of a single song he'd written, having recently learned that "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" wasn't from "West Side Story," a play I've never seen any incarnation of. But with a little prodding from my friend Christopher -- who pointed me to the YouTube channel of Eleri Ward, through whom he said was "doing my Sondheim grieving through this girl's covers. She's got quite a yodel" -- I was reminded that several of my favorite artists had covered the Broadway legend's songs, many of which I do indeed adore. Eleri's take on my favorite, "Not a Day Goes By," was a bit shrill for me. But I'm a fan of her folksy "Losing My Mind," today's Song of the Day.

Hear 'em all HERE.

Happy 86th Birthday, Stephen Sondheim!

I've never seen "West Side Story," "Gypsy," "Sweeney Todd" or "Into the Woods," but I've learned many of Stephen Sondheim's songs by way of cover versions by my favorite singers. "Not a Day Goes By" was the epic moment of Carly Simon's "Torch" album, which like the play from which it was taken was not appreciated when it came out in 1981. Still, it remains my favorite Sondheim song -- and probably every other person who has ever been a fool for love's too. 

Happy Birthday, Stephen Sondheim!

Sooner or later I am going to get around to seeing one thing by the award-winning writer -- although I'm even less interested now that I know he doesn't even have a sex dungeon in his basement :-)