Welcome to another presentation from our Serenade Radio series of Steyn's Song of the Week. On the eve of Valentine's Day we tell the story of one of the classic love songs, one that over the decades has itself become one of those fundamental things that apply as time goes by.
To listen to the show, simply click above.
~Thank you for your enthusiastic and insightful comments about this series. Allen and Dina Randall, First Day Founding Members of The Mark Steyn Club, write of last week's Serenade show:
Hi Mark,
We loved your Serenade Radio Song of the Week, 'Begin the Beguine.' Two questions:
What year did you interview Artie Shaw about the song?
And, have you ever met or interviewed Adelaide Hall?
Thank you for keeping us sane with your music shows.
Well, I interviewed Artie Shaw thrice (although once not on tape). The "Beguine" stuff came, I believe, from thirty years ago - 1992 - when I was called in at the last moment to cover for a sick colleague. Artie enjoyed it and kept in touch, and we recorded a whole other interview a few years later.
I never interviewed Adelaide Hall, but I knew her socially in her last decade or so through mutual friends. She lived about three hundred yards down the street from me in Chelsea. So a couple of times we'd share cabs back from dinner parties or whatever and I'd get to enjoy a nightcap with her. I loved her voice and she made dozens of really first-rate records - which are worth a show in themselves.
We do enjoy your comments on the show. You're welcome to leave them below - or over at Serenade Radio, where they love hearing from listeners.
~Steyn's Song of the Week airs thrice weekly on Serenade Radio in the UK, one or other of which broadcasts is certain to be convenient for whichever part of the world you're in:
5.30pm Sunday GMT (12.30pm New York)
5.30am Monday GMT (4.30pm Sydney)
9pm Thursday GMT (1pm Vancouver)
Whichever you prefer, we hope you'll tune in. You can listen from anywhere on the planet right here.
~This airing of our Serenade Song of the Week is a special presentation of The Mark Steyn Club. We launched the Steyn Club over four-and-a-half years ago, and in this our fifth year I'm immensely heartened by all the longtime SteynOnline regulars - from Fargo to Fiji, Madrid to Malaysia, West Virginia to Witless Bay - who've signed up to be a part of it. Membership in The Mark Steyn Club also comes with non-musical benefits, including:
~Our latest audio adventure in Tales for Our Time, and its more than fifty thrilling predecessors;
~Other audio series on pertinent topics, such as our 2019 serialization of Climate Change: The Facts and this year's adaptation of Mark Steyn's Passing Parade;
~My exclusive anthology of video poetry - because, as I always say, that's where the big bucks are;
~Exclusive Steyn Store member pricing on over 40 books, mugs, T-shirts, and other products;
~The opportunity to engage in live Clubland Q&A sessions with yours truly (such as this coming Friday's);
~Transcript and audio versions of The Mark Steyn Show, and other video content;
~Advance booking for my live appearances around the world, including exclusive members-only events such as The Mark Steyn Christmas Show, assuming such events are ever again lawfully permitted;
~Customized email alerts for new content in your areas of interest;
~and the chance to support our print, audio and video ventures as they wing their way around the planet.
To become a member of The Mark Steyn Club, please click here. And for our special Gift Membership see here.
One other benefit to Club Membership is our Comment Club privileges. So, if you feel the above show is a totally non-fundamental thing that doesn't apply in the least, then give it your best below. Please do stay on topic on all our comment threads, because that's the way to keep them focused and readable. With that caution, have at it.
