The two versions of My Destiny
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Derek McGovern
Jul 25, 2008, 7:17:13 PM7/25/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
The decidedly melodramatic My Destiny -- written by the Be My Love/
Because You're Mine duo of Cahn and Brodszky for the movie Serenade --
was one of Lanza's favourite songs, and he certainly gives it all on
his two recordings of this number. But I've always thought it was
strange that RCA elected to release the non-soundtrack version of this
song on the Serenade soundtrack album, as opposed to the recording
from the film itself. Or was this Mario's decision? Of the two
renditions, I would have thought that the soundtrack version -- which
is softer, more restrained, and more evenly sung -- would have been
the more popular choice with the public. I find the commercial
recording exciting, but way over the top.
What do the rest of you think?
Here's the film version (beautifully reproduced here):
http://www.4shared.com/file/56562708/4da8b04/My_Destiny_--_film_version.html
And here's the RCA version:
http://www.4shared.com/file/56562927/accdd91d/My_Destiny_--_RCA_version.html
Because You're Mine duo of Cahn and Brodszky for the movie Serenade --
was one of Lanza's favourite songs, and he certainly gives it all on
his two recordings of this number. But I've always thought it was
strange that RCA elected to release the non-soundtrack version of this
song on the Serenade soundtrack album, as opposed to the recording
from the film itself. Or was this Mario's decision? Of the two
renditions, I would have thought that the soundtrack version -- which
is softer, more restrained, and more evenly sung -- would have been
the more popular choice with the public. I find the commercial
recording exciting, but way over the top.
What do the rest of you think?
Here's the film version (beautifully reproduced here):
http://www.4shared.com/file/56562708/4da8b04/My_Destiny_--_film_version.html
And here's the RCA version:
http://www.4shared.com/file/56562927/accdd91d/My_Destiny_--_RCA_version.html
Message has been deleted
Jan Hodges
Jul 26, 2008, 2:35:53 AM7/26/08
to mario...@googlegroups.com
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Hi Derek,
I am afraid I am not particularly fond of "My Destiny" It is the actual song that doesn't appeal to me. I agree though that Mario's singing in the film version is preferable. Although the ending of the RCA version is way over the top I prefer the orchestral support to just piano. However this song doesn't do much for me even with Mario performing it.
Jan | |||
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Lou
Jul 26, 2008, 4:06:29 AM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Derek: My Destiny may be one of Lanza's favorite songs (to my
surprise), but it has never been mine. Neither the lyrics nor the
melody particularly appeals to me. Lanza's singing, though, is
something else again. His committed delivery, at once warmly
passionate and tenderly poetic, draws me to the song in spite of
myself. I, too, prefer the film version over the RCA recording.
Actually, I find the latter way over the top only at the end of the
song, when Lanza lets it rip starting from "Your lips control."
On Jul 25, 4:17 pm, Derek McGovern <derek.mcgov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The decidedly melodramatic My Destiny -- written by the Be My Love/
> Because You're Mine duo of Cahn and Brodszky for the movie Serenade --
> was one of Lanza's favourite songs, and he certainly gives it all on
> his two recordings of this number. But I've always thought it was
> strange that RCA elected to release the non-soundtrack version of this
> song on the Serenade soundtrack album, as opposed to the recording
> from the film itself. Or was this Mario's decision? Of the two
> renditions, I would have thought that the soundtrack version -- which
> is softer, more restrained, and more evenly sung -- would have been
> the more popular choice with the public. I find the commercial
> recording exciting, but way over the top.
>
> What do the rest of you think?
>
> Here's the film version (beautifully reproduced here):
>
> http://www.4shared.com/file/56562708/4da8b04/My_Destiny_--_film_versi...
surprise), but it has never been mine. Neither the lyrics nor the
melody particularly appeals to me. Lanza's singing, though, is
something else again. His committed delivery, at once warmly
passionate and tenderly poetic, draws me to the song in spite of
myself. I, too, prefer the film version over the RCA recording.
Actually, I find the latter way over the top only at the end of the
song, when Lanza lets it rip starting from "Your lips control."
On Jul 25, 4:17 pm, Derek McGovern <derek.mcgov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The decidedly melodramatic My Destiny -- written by the Be My Love/
> Because You're Mine duo of Cahn and Brodszky for the movie Serenade --
> was one of Lanza's favourite songs, and he certainly gives it all on
> his two recordings of this number. But I've always thought it was
> strange that RCA elected to release the non-soundtrack version of this
> song on the Serenade soundtrack album, as opposed to the recording
> from the film itself. Or was this Mario's decision? Of the two
> renditions, I would have thought that the soundtrack version -- which
> is softer, more restrained, and more evenly sung -- would have been
> the more popular choice with the public. I find the commercial
> recording exciting, but way over the top.
>
> What do the rest of you think?
>
> Here's the film version (beautifully reproduced here):
>
>
> And here's the RCA version:
>
> http://www.4shared.com/file/56562927/accdd91d/My_Destiny_--_RCA_versi...> And here's the RCA version:
>
Derek McGovern
Jul 26, 2008, 4:16:22 AM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Lou and Jan: I agree that My Destiny is not a great song, but I
feel it works well within the context of the movie -- and especially
as a sinister melodic motif for evil Joan Fontaine/Kendall Hale.
Incidentally, on a 1974 BBC radio documentary about Lanza, its writer-
presenter, Peter Clayton, made the comment (after playing My Destiny)
that the lyrics of the songs that Lanza sang "often contained an
uncanny similarity to the singer's own life". He went on to wonder if
it had ever occurred to Lanza that the line in My Destiny -- "I must
be what you want me to be" -- "summed up all his old troubles with
MGM". Interesting!
feel it works well within the context of the movie -- and especially
as a sinister melodic motif for evil Joan Fontaine/Kendall Hale.
Incidentally, on a 1974 BBC radio documentary about Lanza, its writer-
presenter, Peter Clayton, made the comment (after playing My Destiny)
that the lyrics of the songs that Lanza sang "often contained an
uncanny similarity to the singer's own life". He went on to wonder if
it had ever occurred to Lanza that the line in My Destiny -- "I must
be what you want me to be" -- "summed up all his old troubles with
MGM". Interesting!
Message has been deleted
Muriel
Jul 26, 2008, 5:08:04 AM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi all: I, too, have never been fond of My Destiny as a song, but I
agree that it *is* important to the storyline in the film. Mario is
much more effective in the film version. I think of it as the
personification of the Joan Fontaine character and is played at
different times when we are to be reminded of her. She was a true
nemesis to Mario's own character, and the words and music reflect
that
completely.
I think Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky were entirely successful in
capturing the conflict of the Vicente/Hale relationship in their
collaboration. We can hear it and have no doubt that a difficult
tension
was present between the two. Mario also conveyed that in his singing.
I give him credit for such a good performance, but I cannot say I
choose to listen to the song when there are tons of more romantic
ones
from him. I'm sure he recognized its place, though, as he sang it in
the film with an alternating wistful/compelling tone, one in which he
communicated the love/hate attachment perfectly. It is probably not an
easy song to sing, as is also true of the Be My Love song from Cahn/
Brodszky.
I find the comment by Mr. Clayton interesting. MGM certainly became
Mario's real life nemesis, eh? Good topic....
agree that it *is* important to the storyline in the film. Mario is
much more effective in the film version. I think of it as the
personification of the Joan Fontaine character and is played at
different times when we are to be reminded of her. She was a true
nemesis to Mario's own character, and the words and music reflect
that
completely.
I think Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky were entirely successful in
capturing the conflict of the Vicente/Hale relationship in their
collaboration. We can hear it and have no doubt that a difficult
tension
was present between the two. Mario also conveyed that in his singing.
I give him credit for such a good performance, but I cannot say I
choose to listen to the song when there are tons of more romantic
ones
from him. I'm sure he recognized its place, though, as he sang it in
the film with an alternating wistful/compelling tone, one in which he
communicated the love/hate attachment perfectly. It is probably not an
easy song to sing, as is also true of the Be My Love song from Cahn/
Brodszky.
I find the comment by Mr. Clayton interesting. MGM certainly became
Mario's real life nemesis, eh? Good topic....
Derek McGovern
Jul 26, 2008, 5:25:03 AM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Muriella: You wrote:
> I think Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky were entirely successful in
> capturing the conflict of the Vicente/Hale relationship in their
> collaboration. We can hear it and have no doubt that a difficult
> tension was present between the two.
That's certainly true of the wonderful moment in Serenade when Mario
> I think Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky were entirely successful in
> capturing the conflict of the Vicente/Hale relationship in their
> collaboration. We can hear it and have no doubt that a difficult
> tension was present between the two.
is strumming the guitar at dusk (in Mexico), and he suddenly turns
away from Juana (down below), playing a few bars of My Destiny as he
does so to reveal his torment. Great stuff, and beautifully filmed
with just the right use of light and subdued colour.
I was just thinking that as well as not releasing the soundtrack
version of My Destiny, it was odd of RCA to have overlooked the
sensitively rendered "soft" rendition of the other popular song in the
film: Serenade. That particular version (the one he sings in Mexico)
would have had significantly more appeal on the hit parade than the
loud released version with the strained high C, which (understandably)
didn't make much of a dent in sales at all. The released version only
works (marginally!) in the context of the film, since the first half
is supposed to be sung with pain in Mario/Damon's voice -- for obvious
reasons. But heard outside of the film, it merely sounds loud and
graceless. Yet another strange decision by RCA!
Muriel
Jul 26, 2008, 6:00:22 AM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Caro Derek: Oh, that scene is a superb manifestation of Damon
Vincente's struggle with his emotions! Very good!! Do we thank Anthony
Mann for this?
You must have been reading my mind re: the farewell to Mexico Serenade
as I have been playing it over the last week! It is on my mind and I
wanted to write about it, but didn't have my thoughts in the proper
order to do so. I see this more tender rendition as a plea to his love
to join him on his journey back to his homeland. She had turned down
his marriage proposal, but he was not able to accept that and was
pouring out his love to her one more time. I find I get chills when
listening to this particular Sernade. It is very touching to me.
What gives with these movie people? Recently we saw the same thing in
the two Song Angels Sing discussion. Why the song with the
inappropriate high last note was used at all is a mystery to me. Why
the recorded All The Things You Are was never used in the film is a
real tragedy in my opinion. Why? Why? Why? When it came to Mario, it
seemed that those in charge had no clue as to what should be part of
his final legacy. Perhaps it is once again the thought that he had
many more years and many more recordings ahead of him to sort through.
Now it has come down to our examining that legacy and putting things
right for Mario.....in our own way.
Ciao, Muriel (Sigh)
Vincente's struggle with his emotions! Very good!! Do we thank Anthony
Mann for this?
You must have been reading my mind re: the farewell to Mexico Serenade
as I have been playing it over the last week! It is on my mind and I
wanted to write about it, but didn't have my thoughts in the proper
order to do so. I see this more tender rendition as a plea to his love
to join him on his journey back to his homeland. She had turned down
his marriage proposal, but he was not able to accept that and was
pouring out his love to her one more time. I find I get chills when
listening to this particular Sernade. It is very touching to me.
What gives with these movie people? Recently we saw the same thing in
the two Song Angels Sing discussion. Why the song with the
inappropriate high last note was used at all is a mystery to me. Why
the recorded All The Things You Are was never used in the film is a
real tragedy in my opinion. Why? Why? Why? When it came to Mario, it
seemed that those in charge had no clue as to what should be part of
his final legacy. Perhaps it is once again the thought that he had
many more years and many more recordings ahead of him to sort through.
Now it has come down to our examining that legacy and putting things
right for Mario.....in our own way.
Ciao, Muriel (Sigh)
Sam
Jul 26, 2008, 12:12:10 PM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Since we are speaking of "Serenade", I wanted to ask if most of you
have noticed that some prints of the film have only an orchestral
opening while other prints have Mario singing part of the song (and
rather poorly at that). I have always wondered why this discrepancy
exists.
Incidentally, I couldn't get either of the My Destiny recordings to
play, but I have always liked the one with piano. It is hard to
improve on excellent!
> > graceless. Yet another strange decision by RCA!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
have noticed that some prints of the film have only an orchestral
opening while other prints have Mario singing part of the song (and
rather poorly at that). I have always wondered why this discrepancy
exists.
Incidentally, I couldn't get either of the My Destiny recordings to
play, but I have always liked the one with piano. It is hard to
improve on excellent!
>
> - Show quoted text -
Lou
Jul 26, 2008, 1:31:07 PM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Speaking of the song Serenade in the film, I wonder why the film's
powers that be chose it over the more exciting outtake ("When you
speak to me") of the same title. Perhaps it's because the rather bland
selected version is meant to provide a measure of relief from the
heavily operatic feel of the movie.
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
powers that be chose it over the more exciting outtake ("When you
speak to me") of the same title. Perhaps it's because the rather bland
selected version is meant to provide a measure of relief from the
heavily operatic feel of the movie.
Derek McGovern
Jul 26, 2008, 4:00:19 PM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
On Jul 27, 4:12 am, Sam <s...@bee.net> wrote:
> Since we are speaking of "Serenade", I wanted to ask if most of you
> have noticed that some prints of the film have only an orchestral
> opening while other prints have Mario singing part of the song (and
> rather poorly at that). I have always wondered why this discrepancy
> exists.
>
> Incidentally, I couldn't get either of the My Destiny recordings to
> play, but I have always liked the one with piano. It is hard to
> improve on excellent!
credits only featured on the *video* edition of the film, not the
theatrical version (thank goodness!). Goodness knows why anyone
thought it needed to be added to the movie; it even makes the
commercially released version that ends the film seem like a
masterpiece in comparison!
I don't know why you haven't been able to play the two My Destiny
takes; the links work for me.
Derek McGovern
Jul 26, 2008, 4:30:41 PM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
On Jul 27, 5:31 am, Lou <louab...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Speaking of the song Serenade in the film, I wonder why the film's
> powers that be chose it over the more exciting outtake ("When you
> speak to me") of the same title. Perhaps it's because the rather bland
> selected version is meant to provide a measure of relief from the
> heavily operatic feel of the movie.
Hi Lou: My hunch is that Warners replaced the "When You Speak to Me"
> Speaking of the song Serenade in the film, I wonder why the film's
> powers that be chose it over the more exciting outtake ("When you
> speak to me") of the same title. Perhaps it's because the rather bland
> selected version is meant to provide a measure of relief from the
> heavily operatic feel of the movie.
Serenade song because its melody wasn't distinct enough as a motif for
Juana's character. One of the things that's effective in the movie is
the contrast between the "foreboding" My Destiny theme to represent
Joan Fontaine's character and the reassuring, "pleasant" Serenade
theme for Juana. Much as I love the excitement of Lanza's singing on
the two takes of the discarded song, I can understand why it wouldn't
have worked as effectively as an orchestral theme.
Armando
Jul 26, 2008, 8:20:41 PM7/26/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Interesting comments regarding My Destiny. I always felt the song is
perfectly appropriate in reflecting Lanza’s state of mind at that
particular point in Serenade, where the conflict between his
infatuation with the Fontaine character and his career begins to
surface.
While musically the song might not be outstanding, (it’s certainly an
improvement on Boom Biddy Boom Boom!) I can understand Lanza
identifying with it, particularly the lyrics “And I am chained to my
destiny” that paralleled his own real life conflict.
As far as the two takes are concerned, the soundtrack version has the
edge but I also like the added drama of the RCA take with orchestra as
opposed to piano.
Also, as a song, I find it superior to the alternate Serenade, which
although excitingly sung is musically very ordinary.
perfectly appropriate in reflecting Lanza’s state of mind at that
particular point in Serenade, where the conflict between his
infatuation with the Fontaine character and his career begins to
surface.
While musically the song might not be outstanding, (it’s certainly an
improvement on Boom Biddy Boom Boom!) I can understand Lanza
identifying with it, particularly the lyrics “And I am chained to my
destiny” that paralleled his own real life conflict.
As far as the two takes are concerned, the soundtrack version has the
edge but I also like the added drama of the RCA take with orchestra as
opposed to piano.
Also, as a song, I find it superior to the alternate Serenade, which
although excitingly sung is musically very ordinary.
Derek McGovern
Nov 25, 2011, 11:19:17 AM11/25/11
to mario...@googlegroups.com
I've been listening to the two versions of "My Destiny" quite a bit recently while writing an article on Serenade (the book vs.the film), and I have to say that I've come away with renewed appreciation for what Lanza does with the commercial version. He sings this intensely melodramatic song exactly as it should be sung, and while I still prefer the version with piano overall, the orchestral rendition certainly has its moments. Besides, who else could have pulled this off?! (Or had the bravery to invest so much of themselves in their rendition.)
About the only part I don't like is "Take my arms/For you alone can make my arms"; elsewhere, this is wild but thrilling stuff. I wish now it had been included in the film's musical montage, as originally planned. Perhaps if it had been in the film, the echo chamber wouldn't have been so annoying on the final note!
Cheers
Derek
About the only part I don't like is "Take my arms/For you alone can make my arms"; elsewhere, this is wild but thrilling stuff. I wish now it had been included in the film's musical montage, as originally planned. Perhaps if it had been in the film, the echo chamber wouldn't have been so annoying on the final note!
Cheers
Derek
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