Sia sings Unforgettable

Composer and conductor Thomas Newman has a sweet way with old songs. I have encountered several movies that turned out to have been scored by Newman, with very effectively placed oldies. La Vie En Rose in the animated flick Wall-E; the tango Por La Cabeza in Scent of a Woman, all those Disney songs in Saving Mr. Banks; and who can forget how What A Wonderful World gave a new meaning to death and dying in Meet Joe Black.

Newman is at it again in his latest work, the Disney animated feature Finding Dory starring Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, Albert Brooks as Marlin, Diane Keaton as Dory’s Mom, Hayden Rolence as Nemo and others. This is the sequel to the hugely-successful Academy Award winner Finding Nemo about the kidnapping and rescue of an adventurous clownfish from 2003. 

This time around, it is Nemo’s friend, the absent-minded regal tang fish Dory who goes off in search of her parents who are in the rehab center and aquarium, the Marine Life Institute in California. Of course, her friends Nemo and Marlin tag along on the exciting but also dangerous journey during which they discover magic within their flaws, friendship and family.

The Grammy-winning Newman also provided the Oscar-nominated music to Finding Nemo, where he made excellent use of the French classic Beyond The Sea, that was popularized by Bobby Darin during the late ’50s. Nemo though was given a new, very hip version. That Beyond The Sea was performed by the UK’s favorite singing bad boy, the Take That rebel, Robbie Williams. Needless to say the stint in Nemo with that song added cache to Robbie’s reputation for versatility.

And now Dory has her own old song. It is a surprising, but now that I have heard the new version, I must say, truly excellent choice. The song is Unforgettable and it is performed in the end credits by the Australian singer-composer and big pop star Sia. She is the singer hiding behind the blonde wig with a kewpie doll mouth, responsible for the monster hits Chandelier and Cheap Thrills. Her recording of Unforgettable is all soul spiced with grit and truly affecting. It is another proof that a beautiful song, no matter how old will always remain beautiful.

Unforgettable was composed by Irving Gordon, who also wrote Sinner Or Saint. It was recorded by Nat King Cole in 1951 and became a big hit a year later. It was also covered by singers Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., Marvin Gaye, Ester Phillips, Lou Rawls, Engelbert Humperdinck, Johnny Mathis, Roberta Flack, Dianne Schuur, the Captain & Tennile, Andrea Bocelli with Lisa Kelly and George Benson, among others.

Unforgettable though is best known for the landmark version released in 1991. It was produced by David Foster and thanks to the wonders of digital technology featured Natalie Cole in a duet with the original recording made by her father, Nat Cole. It was one of the cuts in the album Unforgettable With Love made up of standards recorded by Nat Cole. It blew everybody away. 

Unforgettable With Love became a multi-platinum seller and big award winner. It was named Album of the Year at the 1992 Grammy Awards and also won for Best Engineered Album. The single Unforgettable won for Record of the Year, TraditionaI Pop Vocal Performance, Song of the Year and Best Arrangement for Accompanying Vocals. I remember Natalie’s pictures in the papers hugging all those little Grammophones.

Unforgettable is now 61 years old. I find it so amazing that it has gone from Nat King Cole to Sia in Finding Nemo and will be heard again and loved by a new generation of music lovers.

Incidentally, upcoming Manila visitor Kenny Rogers has a charming version of Unforgettable in his album of the same title. Rogers blends country ballads like Crazy and You Decorated My Life with American Songbook standards in the must-have collection. Other songs included are It Had To Be You, Somewhere My Love, I Only Have Eyes For You, You Send Me, Always, I Swear, Endless Love, Love Me Tender, Stardust, When I Fall In Love and Unchained Melody.

Now, wouldn’t it be nice if Rogers can perform one or more of those songs in his Araneta Coliseum show on Aug. 11.