Side By Side singing love songs for Valentine's Day in Regina
Regina's Side By Side quartet is expanding its Remembrance Day repertoire with some romantic harmonies for Valentine’s Day.
by Ashley MartinNo, it’s not November, and yes, Side By Side has a concert this weekend.
The Regina quartet has performed an annual Remembrance Day concert for the past five years. On Sunday, they’ll serenade an audience with romantic harmonies for Valentine’s Day.
We asked Side By Side’s singers about what to expect from the show, Sounds A Lot Like Love. Here’s what they said.
Dianne Burrows, soprano
Favourite song they’ll perform: “What A Wonderful World,” made famous by Louis Armstrong. “This song has a beautiful melody and the words are very meaningful.”
Standout lyric: “I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do, they’re really saying I love you.”
What can the audience expect? “I hope that our audience members have an enjoyable afternoon listening to these familiar melodies and humming their favourites on the way home.” She added, there will be “delectable desserts” on hand.
Doug Pederson, tenor
Favourite song they’ll perform: “Every Time We Say Goodbye” by Cole Porter. “This is a very short song, so there is no room for error; tight harmonies make all the difference.”
Standout lyric: “Why the Gods above me, who must be in the know, think so little of me, they allow you to go.”
What can the audience expect? “We love to sing and more importantly to sing together. We hope that comes across and the result is an enjoyable show for everyone.”
Carolyn Speirs, alto
Favourite song they’ll perform: “You’ve Got a Friend,” written by Carole King and recorded in 1971 by James Taylor. “ I’ve always enjoyed James Taylor’s music and it’s fun to have a chance to perform this beautiful number in a quartet arrangement. We’ll sing many songs about romantic love, but we also want to celebrate friendship in our Valentine’s show.”
Standout lyric: “Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you gotta do is call, and I’ll be there, yes I will. You’ve got a friend.”
What can the audience expect? “There’s a lot of negativity these days — if you spend much time on social media, you see how divided people are. I want our audience to have an afternoon of simple joy. I want people to feel a sense of community.
“Whether you enjoy jazz, folk, Broadway or the Beatles, there’s something for everyone in this show.”
Norris Bjorndahl, baritone
Favourite song they’ll perform: “Times Like This,” written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty for the musical farce Lucky Stiff. “What I like most about this song is the sense of reciprocal love that dog owners share with their adorable, fuzzy, wagging, precocious friends.”
Standout lyric: “‘He cheers you up by chewing up the news.’ This is better than swearing at the news, which is my usual response.”
What can the audience expect? “I hope the audience walks away a little happier and emotionally lighter than when they walked in — but physically heavier thanks to the desserts they’ve eaten at the concert. Maybe when they leave the concert, they’ll even still be humming a tune that they haven’t heard in a while, and thinking of the meaningful, and often humorous aspects of our relationships with friends, family, and of course, dogs.”
Side By Side performs Sounds A Lot Like Love on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m. at Lakeview United Church (3200 McCallum Ave.).
Joining the quartet are pianist Bill Sgrazzutti and double-bass player Chris Jones.
Tickets are $15 and include dessert and coffee at intermission. Tickets are available at Dancer’s Den Dancewear (1630 Albert St.), and by phone at 306-586-7844 or 306-585-0404.
