- published: 06 Mar 2011
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Frederica von Stade (born June 1, 1945) is an American mezzo-soprano. Born in Somerville, New Jersey, she acquired the nickname "Flicka" in her childhood. Von Stade attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City. She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1970 and in 1971 appeared as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro at the Santa Fe Opera. "It was two of the newcomers who left the audience dazzled: Frederica von Stade as Cherubino and Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess. Everyone knew at once that these were brilliant finds. History has confirmed that first impression."
Trained in the bel canto style, von Stade is known for her roles in Rossini's The Barber of Seville and La Cenerentola. In addition to opera, von Stade has also performed a wide range of musicals, from Show Boat to The Sound of Music to A Little Night Music and has appeared on numerous PBS specials, most notably in 1991's A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert. She has also appeared in many Kennedy Center Honors broadcasts for CBS. Von Stade is also a respected recital artist, performing works ranging from Mozart and Haydn to Mahler to Broadway show tunes. Her LP album of Mahler songs was praised as "cherishable" by Peter G. Davis of The New York Times.
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.
In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s. Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B, pop and rock artists.
You are the light in children's eyes
You are the hope that never dies
You are all the best in me
And you forgive the rest in me
You are courage wrapped in grace
You are victory's laughing face
You are Noah's returning dove
You are love
You are the welcome kiss of peace
You are the joy of sweet release
You are the mischievous at play
You are the end of summer's day
You are the soul who is my soul
You are the half that makes me whole
You are Noah's returning dove
You are love
Once the only word I knew was I, I, I
Nothing mattered but myself alone
Still a voice within me whispered why? Why? Why?
Why must you keep struggling on your own?
What an endless hill I tried to climb
When you were there to help me all the time
You are the garden where I walk
You are the quiet while I talk
You are the comforting caress
You are the end of emptiness
You are the joy I longed to know
You are the flower in the snow
You are Noah's returning dove
You are love
Once the only word I knew was I, I, I
Nothing mattered but myself alone
Still a voice within me whispered why? Why? Why?
Why must you keep struggling on your own?
What an endless hill I tried to climb
When you were there to help me all the time
You are the garden where I walk
You are the quiet while I talk
You are the comforting caress
You are the end of emptiness
You are the joy I longed to know
You are the flower in the snow
You are Noah's returning dove
You are love
You are Noah's returning dove