Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas from Bobby Hebb.com

The people at

http://www.BobbyHebb.com

and

http://www.sunnythesong.com

Wish you a healthy, wonderful Christmas.
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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Play along to "Sunny" with guitarist Greg Howe

Please always visit our main pages
http://bobbyhebb.com 
http://sunnythesong.com 

 GUITARISTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE JAMMING TO BOBBY HEBB'S 'SUNNY' BY UTILIZING GREG HOWE'S BACKING TRACK
 ____________________________________
Here's Greg Howe jamming to his own backing track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edVbz_uXJd0 

________________________________________________________
There are different ways to download the track so that you can create your own rendition, playing lead to Greg Howe's terrific backing track

The first one is a no-muss, no-fuss free download from Mrtzcmp3.net

http://www.mrtzcmp3.net/Greg_Howe_Sunny___backing_track__1s.html

I like this as it is nice and clean, and you can immediately download and play to it!
______________________________________________________________
Warning: when downloading from the internet there might be malicious viruses.  ONLY download if you trust the site. This is just a directory, this blog is only a directory service. The safest site may be YouTube, owned by Google (as is this blog service).
We'll list all the YouTube videos possible. We are working on developing a huge landscape of "Sunny" versions for our main page http://sunnythesong.com

YouTu MP3
http://youtump3.com/Greg_Howe_-_sunny_-_backing_track@EMeeFqonva0.html 
_____________________________________________________________
 
Greg Howe - Jammin' on Sunny - Backing track mp3
192 kbps  5.63mb    
http://mp3skull.com/mp3/greg_howe_backing_track.html
_______________________________________________
Greg Howe's rendition of "Sunny"
http://www.4shared.com/mp3/-PDPSB7X/Greg_Howe_-_Jammin_on_Sunny_-_.html
_________________________________________________
Ultimate Guitar.com   Video of Greg Howe
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=682022
_____________________________________________________

 Our List of Artists performing to Greg Howe's instrumental track of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny"

Anouck André

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63yTa3znSPM

French guitarist Anouck Andre', here's her direct page
http://www.youtube.com/anouckandreguitar

Posted June 30, 2012

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=1104865
  #1  
Old 06-30-2012, 05:30 PM
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 91
Sunny Greg Howe
Hi everyone!

I had some free time this week end so I tried me over 'Sunny' , using the Greg Howe Backing track.
The chords are not so easy to follow if you want to go out of the pentatonic scale.
I try to 'open' my playing and to build more phrases.

I hope you'll like !

Have a 'sunny' week end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63yTa3znSPM
_____________________________________________________________________________
D.C. Hendrix

First Take-Sheddin On Sunny-Greg Howe Backing Track

DCHendriX1992DCHendriX1992·1 video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjEcPAq23FA
__________________________________________________________________
MARTIN MILLER  "Sunny" leads on the Greg Howe track

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyLyJ_JW-as
Uploaded on Jul 24, 2011
http://www.martinmillerguitar.com Just had my go at this kick ass backing by Greg Howe. Went through these changes with a couple of students and thought why not give it a shot myself?
 _____________________________________________________________________

Martin Miller - Sunny Cover (Greg Howe) on Fruity Loops

DadGuitarJWDadGuitarJW·1 video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yfsI4iE-6c
__________________________________________________________________
Nick Brenock

Nick Brenock- jamming on Sunny (Martin Miller cover) 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1be9E8K5_k___________

Peaknoiz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPYv3r7sHpw
___________________________________________________________________

Ray Bergstrom - covering Martin Miller's solo on Sunny (Greg Howe Backing Track)

acquiredtaste7acquiredtaste7·1 video




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itjgbo9BxF4


___________________________________________________________________
Vuk Ninkovic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7kAF5EzXwY

 

THERE APPEAR TO BE TWO MAIN BACKING TRACKS, GREG HOWE'S AND RANDY MARTIN GUITAR.  ABOVE IS TO GREG HOWE'S, BELOW IS RANDY MARTIN. IF YOU FIND ERRORS ON THIS BLOG PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE ABOVE E MAIL ADDRESS.   

JOE V., EDITOR



___________________________________

Sunny-More Funky Guitar-Backing Track


Randy Martin Guitar - this has chords written on the YouTube video and the backing track to play along to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMAHjIbGvLM

RandyMartinGuitar

RandyMartinGuitar 1 month ago
One is a combination of E7#9 to E7b9 which is in my "Advanced guitar jazz chords for minor 2-5-1 progressions" video lesson (the chord diagram for that is at 3:45) and the other is just an E7#9.

Play along, sing, add other instruments and send them to us:  hebb_project {@}Yahoo.com

________________________________________________________________
Justin Zhang's on the Randy Martin Guitar track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_lxjMXT5yI

_______________________________

 

_____________________________________



____________________________________________________________________________
OTHER VERSIONS OF "SUNNY"
Click on band's name to hear

Elektraband's techno/disco rendition
http://www.mrtzcmp3.net   Click on band's name for link

Pillowtalk perform "Sunny"

Montefiori Cocktail perform "Sunny"

Jazz-W.A.V.E.

Gorillaz Mash-up / rap
Gorillaz vs Bobby Hebb

  Artist "3" 
Sounds like the Boney M version

 Jamiroquai live

_____________________________________________________
William Sanders improvising bass over Lee Fields & The Expressions (sounding a lot like James Brown's version)

William Sanders  bass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_lxjMXT5yI

William Sanders' writes: Published on Jul 30, 2012
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Quick improvisation on the 1968 Fender Coronado II Bass "Wildwood III", strung with D'Addario flatwounds, in an Ampeg B15.
__________________________________________________________________


Search Results

Lee Fields & The Expressions

http://leefieldsandtheexpressions.com/

Here are a bunch of videos of Lee Fields & The Expressions performing "Sunny"

https://www.google.com/webhp#hl=en&tbo=d&sclient=psy-ab&q=lee+fields+and+the+expressions++sunny&oq=lee+fields+and+the+expressions++sunny&gs_l=hp.3...10869.12165.2.12536.7.7.0.0.0.0.437.1922.1j1j1j3j1.7.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.CGtlJYHtnoY&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.dmQ&fp=31229be95c8561f6&bpcl=40096503&biw=597&bih=368

Lee Fields
http://vimeo.com/34642879
In its 25 years of existence, the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA has made a striking name for itself, becoming the largest student-run festival in the United States. In 2011, it sold out both days, bringing together and attracting a diverse crowd inspired by its shared love of music to revel under the California sun.

Lee Fields and the Expressions performing “Sunny” capture the bright and euphoric atmosphere felt by those who attended the celebration of JazzReggae’s 25th year. For more information about the 26th Annual JazzReggae Festival, please visitwww.jazzreggaefest.com and on Facebook, facebook.com/jazzreggaefest.
 ____________________________________________________________________

Lee Fields live on June 25, 2011 Central Park, NY

Uploaded on Jun 26, 2011
This version of Sunny was performed by Lee Fields & The Expressions at Central Park, NY- SummerStage 6/25/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3KciNfy84c 
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Lee Fields "Sunny" (Bobby Hebb) @ North Sea Jazz 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0vyyPu8Bj4
____________________________________________________________________
Live in the New Morning, July 2010
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xetb0s_lee-fields-the-expressions-sunny_music#.UNcdzayDUvQ

Lee Fields Directory
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x1jlgw_wouam74_lee-fields-the-expressions/1#video=xetb0s

___________________________________

Lee Fields & The Expressions - 'Sunny' Live Brick & Mortar San Francisco 5/18/2012 Encore and Finale

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-YYWisE2bg

_____________________________________________________________________
SMOOTH JAZZ BACKING TRACK

Sunny-Smooth jazz version-backing track.

BazineNabilBazineNabil·32 videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl7nGJtU5cQ

______________________________________________________________________

Sunny Solo chitarra - jazz fusion sunny

Gianpiero BrunoGianpiero Bruno·50 videoshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZN4KAs3UA8
___________________________________________________________________________

Sunny Backing track - base-per-chitarra - Backing track sunny

Gianpiero BrunoGianpiero Bruno·50 videos

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ssrXB1y8o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ssrXB1y8o

 http://www.gianpierobruno.it/Sunny-Backing%20track-%20base-per-chitarra-Backing%20track%20sunny.html

Published on Dec 19, 2012
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Thursday, December 20, 2012

What is your favorite cover of "Sunny" ?

As we develop CD 2 for the Bobby Hebb boxed set, we are asking Bobby's fans to mail us ...
Hebb_project [@} yahoo.com to tell us why they think a rendition should be added!

Different Lyric and Instrumentals and different tempos are part of the consideration!
____________________________________
BILL COSBY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz4kakIj6w4

Bobby Hebb allowed very few people to alter his words - only the first studio version by Frankie Valli and this beautiful version by Bill Cosby stand out as having lyrics different from the Bobby Hebb original.

Here's a flash version of Sgt. Pepper by Bill Cosby that a fan created  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xauvA9flBnw&playnext=1&list=PL88C780A8B763F805&feature=results_main



____________________________________________________
TOM JONES & ELLA FITZGERALD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GL6FcsNZzE
____________________________________________________
BOOKER T & THE MG's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gpvqe2iln4  
____________________________________________________ 


CREATE YOUR OWN!
Here are the chord changes on this video, instrumental version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMAHjIbGvLM
 ________________________________________________
 

More to follow!

Send your links to versions you like   hebb_project {@} yahoo.com

6:40 PM December 20, 2012

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Saturday, December 08, 2012

New "Sunny" CD single from Sophie to be released December 9th

SOPHIE in the news with "Sunny"

Hucknall’s Sophie stars in city lights switch-on 

Saturday 8 December 2012
http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/lifestyle/hucknall-s-sophie-stars-in-city-lights-switch-on-1-5191563
The 18-year-old Anglo/Maltese performer, who represented Malta in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest at the age of 12, has been touring the UK over the summer and is continuing with a mini-Christmas tour promoting her new single ‘Sunny’. Her mum’s family has roots in Hucknall.
This latest record is a remake of the Bobby Hebb classic and is released on Sunday December 9 through Absolute Marketing/Universal Music.
 _____________________________________________________________________________
Sophie Debattista appeared via phone from London on Visual Radio 12/6/12
Sophie's rendition of  Bobby Hebb's "Sunny"   is officially released on Sunday, December 9, 2012.
____________________________________ 
Hello Sophie & Friends! The video interview is too loud for the first couple of minutes...please adjust your audio . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xfIGw3BzGI


Totally Sophie on Visual Radio December 6, 2012 at WinCAM, talking about Bobby Hebb's "Sunny"


SOPHIE performed "Sunny" as the closing number in Scotland on December 6 at the charity event Cash for Kids.


From the U.K. TELEGRAPH

Los Angeles Auto Show 2012 report


SUNNY cover versions the new Volkswagon Beetle Cabrio


"How different cars will be in the future," posited Jim Lentz, Toyota US CEO, in his opening address for this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. Not so very different, Jim.


 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motor-shows/los-angeles-auto-show/9711484/Los-Angeles-Auto-Show-2012-report.html

Besides, Jim, the future's retro out here. Look at the new Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio which, to a soundtrack of multiple cover versions of Bobby Hebb's 1966 hit Sunny, was launched in three special editions: 1950s in black monochrome paint, with black and silver alloys which look like hub caps and chrome door mirrors; 1960s in 'Denim blue' or 'Candy white', a black hood and blue- or red-and-black leather upholstery; and 1970s, a study in beige, with creamy brown hood, upholstery and paint. Park that alongside a load of OAPs on an outing and it would disappear.






                     Mr. Pop Culture's page from September 1966
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN
SUNNY - Bobby Hebb
SUNNY AFTERNOON - Kinkhttp://www.mrpopculture.com/files/html/sept08-1966/

Seems like things were very Sunny back then!



Here's a phenomenal duet between Aretha Franklin with Stevie Wonder, the original songwriter of "Until You Come Back To Me".  Listen to Stevie's gorgeous piano lines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00v2eqMHAvI

What is this song doing on our "Sunny" site?  Along with "Sunny" it is one of the editor's favorite songs!  And remember, Stevie Wonder has a studio AND live version of "Sunny" out there, and did write "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" after he recorded Bobby Hebb's "Sunny"

 "Sunny" Stevie Wonder LIVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEebj9UR7dY


"Sunny" Stevie Wonder STUDIO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMvdh6AKRts


Check out this novel rendition of "Sunny", a nice and smooth jazz rendition with this guitarist adding his overdubs.  Anyone recognize which of the many versions he is playing over?

Алексей Иванов - Sunny (Bobby Hebb)

Igor GolovkoIgor Golovko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlLme83Rj40




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Thursday, December 06, 2012

Tonight, Eastern time 8 PM http://www.wincam.org SOPHIE INTERVIEW


Tonight, Sophie Debattista is on my show, Visual Radio Live, 8 PM EDT
 
She's calling from Malta over near the Mediterranean, and we are discussing her new
CD single of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" being released December 9.
 
http://www.bobbyhebb.com
 
 To tune in:

http://www.wincam.org
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Saturday, December 01, 2012

RIP Mickey Baker - produced Bobby Hebb's "I Wish"

 Bobby Hebb replaced Mickey Baker in the duo MICKEY AND SYLVIA. The act became "Bobby and Sylvia" and recorded a 45 RPM on Battle.
 ___________________________________
Rest in Peace MICKEY BAKER
MacHouston Baker (October 15, 1925 – November 27, 2012),
known as Mickey Baker and Mickey "Guitar" Baker
__________________________________

Mickey Baker, Guitarist, Is Dead at 87

By
Published: November 29, 2012 
Mr. Baker is probably best known for a single song, “Love Is Strange,” a sexy pop tune that he and Sylvia Vanderpool Robinson recorded in 1956 as Mickey & Sylvia. It sold more than a million copies and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s rhythm-and-blues chart and No. 11 on the pop chart.

The recording was featured in the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing,” and the rapper Pitbull sampled it — including Mr. Baker’s signature keening guitar riff, which is said to have influenced a young Jimi Hendrix — in the song “Back in Time,” featured in the 2012 film “Men in Black 3.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/arts/music/mickey-baker-guitarist-whose-riffs-echo-today-dies-at-87.html

BOBBY HEBB'S 'I WISH' 
PRODUCED BY MICKEY BAKER
RECORDED BY JIMMY CHURCH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxQF-YiTLn8
  • Kenny Burrell is the guitar player, Sticks Evans the drummer. Jimmy Church is interviewed on our YouTube site
    communitymediamedfor 4 months ago

  • This song was written by Bobby Hebb, author of "Sunny" for his friend Jimmy Church. It was produced by Mickey Baker of Mickey & Sylvia fame. Bobby Hebb replaced Mickey Baker and the duo Mickey & Sylvia became Bobby & Sylvia and they signed to Battle Records. There are some great session people on this recording. Jimmy Church did an interview on Visual Radio with Joe Viglione on July 5, 2012 and talked about this song. That interview is up on You Tube.
    sunnyhebb1 4 months ago


Guitarist Mickey Baker Dies; Had Hits In The '50s, Played On Hundreds Of Records

 

Jan Persson/Redferns

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/11/30/166237827/guitarist-mickey-baker-dies-had-hits-in-the-50s-played-on-hundreds-of-records
 
Mickey Baker, one half of the hit-making duo Mickey and Sylvia in the late '50s and an influential guitarist whose work can be heard on hundreds of records, has died at his home near Toulouse, France.
He was 87.
NPR's Tom Cole reminds us that Mickey and Sylvia cracked the Top 20 in 1957 with a rule "Love Is Strange." But he was much more than a one-hit wonder, Tom says. Baker "added instrumental spice to records by The Coasters, Ruth Brown, Ray Charles" and others. He played on hundreds of sessions.
A jazz musician first, Baker also wrote "what for many years was the book for anyone wanting to learn to play jazz guitar," Tom adds.

 




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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Top Stories we are working on Wednesday 11-28-12


The Jammin' with Greg Howe on Sunny phenomenon on YouTube


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edVbz_uXJd0&mid=50

__________________________________________________________________

WHO IS POLO?
Watch his version of "Sunny" on YouTube
We believe he is a French singer and have requested an interview.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHms818T1HE
 
Published on Aug 26, 2012 by  
__________________________________
SOPHIE ARTICLE IN TMRZOO
to be mentioned in Winchester Observer

Sophie Debattista's rendition of "Sunny" is #995 in the Bobby Hebb Catalog Archives created by Richard Ely!   

Nine Hundred and Ninety Five Hard Copies of the song "Sunny" may not include all the YouTube versions of the Bobby Hebb classic.

Review: Sunny as Recorded by Sophie

by Joe Viglione on November 27, 2012
Post image for Review: Sunny as Recorded by Sophie The new CD single of Bobby Hebb’s classic “Sunny”, as recorded in the Mediterranean country of Malta by Sophie (Debattista found at TotallySophie.com,) is a dynamic, charging pop performance that display’s the singer’s appealing voice in a high energy dance setting with the title of the song repeated over producers Elton Zarb and Giles Squire’s quasi industrial backing track.

On Jan 1, 2006 French chanteuse Sophie Villamayor released her rendition of this song of declaration that “the bright days are here” following in the footsteps of so many other female vocalists including (but certainly not limited to) Mieko Hirota, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Cher, Mary Wells, Italian pop singer Mina, Dusty Springfield and – of course – Melba Moore – who sings back-up with Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson on Bobby Hebb’s hit version.
The official release date of the new single – “Sunny” by Sophie – is December 9.  Produced at Freetime Studios in Malta the disc is on Thru The Mill, Ltd., on Amazon, iTunes and on TotallySophie.com.  (Editor’s note:  Sophie will appear on Joe Viglione’s VISUAL RADIO LIVE on Thursday evening, December 6, 2012 8 PM Eastern Time via telephone.  You can tune in on wincam.org  This first interview was conducted via e mail).
http://www.tmrzoo.com/2012/40310/review-sunny-as-recorded-by-sophie 

TOP 10 STORIES ON Bobby's Blog
in order of page views by readers.









































6)Bobby Hebb on NPR
Aug 30, 2007
































10)Bobby Hebb News May 17, 2012
May 17, 201

Information on Indigo's version of "Sunny"

  • This version is our "Sunny Song Of The Day" for June 25, 2012 on Bobby Hebb dot blogspot dot com Thank you. Editor, Joe VIglione
    sunnyhebb1 5 months ago

  • IN DIGO - Sunny (Bobby Hebb Cover)

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-O9VOhTeic

    IN DIGO - Sunny (Bobby Hebb Cover)
    Cover Version von Sunny live gespielt von IN DIGO auf der alten Mainbrücke in Würzburg. 
  • Thank you for your interest. The Trio is Slowakian (Kosice/Bratislava) and their music is rough from the heart. Nothing like the mainstream, commercial "arts" industries of our days, which symbolizes the death of culture (spirit), love (fraternity) and economy (equity). Only very few people do recognize the quality of true music which expresses pain and optimism at the same time.
    Antroposofia1 in reply to sunnyhebb1 (Show the comment) 3 months ago
  • Hammer performance!


    From Google news - the new orchestrated cover album featuring "Sunny"

    Neben Filmmusik aus „Rocky“ (Gonna Fly Now) und aus dem Animationsfilm „Drachenzähmen leicht gemacht“ sind sowohl sinfonische Werke für Blasorchester wie „La Storia“ oder „Around the World in 80 Days“ auf der CD zu finden. Auch traditionelle Stücke wie die „Katharinenpolka“ von Kurt Gäble oder der „Fliegermarsch“ haben ihren Platz gefunden. Sogar ein Arrangement des modernen Poptitels „Sunny“ von Bobby Hebb und des Duke Ellington Klassikers „Caravan“ wurden auf der Veldener CD verewigt.
    http://n-land.de/kultur/kul-detail/datum/2012/11/21/jetzt-auch-auf-cd.html 
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Monday, November 26, 2012

SOPHIE INTERVIEW! / Sophie's new CD single "SUNNY" to be released December 9th


Sunny
As recorded by Sophie


REVIEW
The new CD single of Bobby Hebb’s classic “Sunny”, as recorded in the Mediterranean country of Malta by Sophie (Debattista found at TotallySophie.com,) is a dynamic, charging pop performance that display’s the singer’s appealing voice in a high energy dance setting with the title of the song repeated over producers Elton Zarb and Giles Squire’s quasi industrial backing track.  

On Jan 1, 2006 French chanteuse Sophie Villamayor released her rendition of this song of declaration that “the bright days are here” following in the footsteps of so many other female vocalists including (but certainly not limited to) Mieko Hirota, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Cher, Mary Wells, Italian pop singer Mina, Dusty Springfield and - of course - Melba Moore - who sings back-up with Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson on Bobby Hebb’s hit version.

The official release date of the new single - “Sunny” by Sophie - is December 9.  Produced at Freetime Studios in Malta the disc is on Thru The Mill, Ltd., on Amazon, iTunes and on TotallySophie.com

The Sophie Interview

JV:Hello Sophie, I was listening to your version of "You Can't Hurry Love". It has a nice pop attitude like the original 1966 Supremes version along with that Phil Collins drumbeat from his 1983 rendition.  Almost thirty years have passed since Collins and almost 50 years for Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and the Supremes...how did you develop your version?

Sophie: Hi there! Well yes rightly said, lots of time has passed since Phil Collins and The Supremes version of ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’. Personally I’ve always loved this song, it’s an all time favourite for many people and so easy to sing along to. I first started to sing the cover version after hearing Phil Collins perform it live on British TV. After that I took my version into the recording studio with me one day and I just watched it grow and grow from there!

JV: "Up The Wall" is a good song - what can you tell us about it?

Sophie: Thank you very much! ‘Up The Wall’ is actually one of my favourite original songs to sing live on stage. I wrote it when I was in a relationship that drove me crazy, and not in a good way. It’s basically about a guy (in my case) or a girl that is absolutely annoying your socks off and I dedicate this song to that particular person.

JV: When I read the title "Love to Love You" I initially thought you were covering Donna Summer, but this sounds like a classic Brit Pop song and is very appealing.  How did the recording of "Love to Love You" evolve?

Sophie: I love a bit of pop! When we recorded ‘Love To Love You’ I was in a very happy place of life and all I wanted to sing and write about was Love. That’s why at that moment in time it felt so right to take Love To Love You to the next level and evolve it into a catchy pop song everyone can sing along to and relate to, because there is nothing without love.
 



ON SUNNY - the Sophie interview
(Editor's note:  Sophie will appear on Joe Viglione's VISUAL RADIO LIVE on Thursday evening, December 6, 2012 8 PM Eastern Time via telephone.  You can tune in on http://www.wincam.org  This first interview was conducted via e mail).

JV: Sophie, when do you remember first hearing "Sunny", and by which artist?

Sophie: To be honest I can’t remember the very first time I heard the song because it has been at the top of my all time greats for such a long time! The version I first heard and fell in love with was definitely Bobby Hebb’s, he sings it with such ease and has a voice I could listen to all day, it’s so pure!

JV: Your publicist stated "'Sunny' is one of Sophie's favorite tracks of all time, and she was thrilled when she learned that she would be recording a remake of the song as part of her first album"   Who chose the song to be on your debut album?

Sophie: I was super excited when I learned that we were going do a remake of Sunny for my debut album!! The idea was suggested to me by my management and as soon as they mentioned Sunny as a possible song for the album, I was over the moon!! I knew there were lots of artists who had created amazing covers of the song in their own way, so I was intrigued to see what the producers and I could come up with when we started working on Sunny in the studios in Malta!

JV: How did you create your studio version of "Sunny" ?

Sophie: I created my version of Sunny by working with two brilliant producers in Freetime Production Studios Malta who are Giles Squire and Elton Zarb. We started off by creating a slow tempo version of Sunny and kept it’s original bluesy feel. We then looked at the possibility of mixing it up a bit and bringing out the pop side if the song. We kept on playing about with the track and fine tuning certain bits until we were finally happy with the result.

JV: The song is available on the internet on Totally Sophie.com http://totallysophie.com/music.html and your site says it is about to be released by Tesco.   In which countries will the physical CD be available?

Sophie: To begin with my management Thru The Mill will officially release the single on the 9th December, starting as an online download to see how it goes via internet before creating physical CDs to sell. Saying this, there have been an amount of hard copies produced, and these will be distributed to TV and Radio Stations. Also if my management were to agree then I was hoping to give a couple of signed copies away through an online competition.





JV:Will you be performing the song live - or have you already performed "Sunny" in concert and - if so - who are the performers backing you up?

Sophie: Yes I definitely intend on performing Sunny live on stage, this is one of the best bits for me! In fact throughout the Summer I was on tour of the UK, performing in around 20 various events, festivals and gigs, accompanied by the beautifully talented ladies from Italia Conti (London)! The aim of the tour was to make new friends and promote my next single ‘Sunny’! This song formed part of my repertoire every time I performed, and although the lyrics didn’t always reflect in the weather, ‘Sunny’ always put a smile on the audience’s face!


JV: Will "the fabulous ladies from the Italia conti academy, London,   
Mia-Jay Clarson x - Jo Shah x - Jane Ridler x - Marni-Lee Clarson x
www.italiaconti.co.uk  be performing with you on "Sunny"?
Sophie: Well coming up in the months of November and December I will be performing at a couple of Christmas Lights Switch On festivals and some other events in the UK too. I will naturally be performing my version on Sunny throughout the shows, however unfortunately the ladies from Italia Conti won’t be performing with me on every event.

JV:: Bobby Hebb performed "Sunny" on tour with The Beatles in 1966 in America, have  you heard the song in the nightclubs of England or Germany where we understand it is still a big dance hit?

Sophie: To be honest with you I have been so busy lately that apart from a one of ladies night in Malta I haven’t been out to many clubs, as most of my spare time is taken up by songwriting and playing the guitar. :)

JV: Have you ever heard Mieko Hirota perform "Sunny"...she's known as the "Connie Francis of Japan" and may have recorded her version before Bobby's was issued. What do you think of Mieko's early version?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HsRXOTRaCY

Sophie: Wow! I have never heard that version of Sunny. Thank you so much for passing on this link. Mieko Hirota has a stunning voice! It actually has some similarities to Bobby Hebb’s version, which I love, but it’s so unique at the same time!!




JV: "Sunny" makes waves around the world, from South America to Asia.  Would you mind commenting on this phenomenon and how a contemporary version like yours keeps the magic alive, as do these other performers who sing Bobby Hebb's work:

Sophie: I think it is extremely important for artists to keep remaking all time greats like ‘Sunny’ to keep a phenomenon going!! ‘Sunny’ has evolved into something much bigger than just one simply song. It is only thanks to artists like these listed below that this phenomenon keeps growing and keeps reaching a bigger audience and new generations!

JV: Luis Miguel, "The Sun of Mexico", performs "Sunny" south-of-the-border, as we say here in the states.  and Lee Soon-kyo - also known as "Sunny" is said to have performed the song in Korea and Japan.  Have you heard either of these versions?

LUIS MIGUEL, "SUNNY" Studio Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY7UlMpxJWA&feature=related
Sophie:This is a great version by Luis Miguel and although I don’t understand Spanish, I love the fact that he has translated the song. Like this people who understand Spanish and not English can get a gist of what ‘Sunny’ is all about by listening to this version.

Lee Soon-kyu (born on May 15, 1989), who uses the stage name Sunny, is a Korean singer, dancer, DJ, MC, model, musical actress and member of the Korean girl group Girls' Generation.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ComrpQxDOjY

Sophie:Wow what amazing stage presence Lee has! She demands attention when she’s performing. I really love the idea of choosing ‘Sunny’ as her stage name, it suits her as she looks like she’s got a very bubbly character, and whenever you hear her stage name you naturally think of the song. Her version of Britney’s song is awesome, I love it!

Ameimi also has a rendition. What do you think of it?
http://bobbyhebb.blogspot.com/2012/11/ameimi-sunny-song-of-day-for-11-8-12.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-FHvslUO-0

Sophie: Wow this is a lovely version of Sunny! Very uptempo and bouncy. Whenever artists cover a song, one thing I always look out for is the originality they show and the new flavours they find in a song, and from the versions I have heard, they have all managed to do just that!

JV: When did you first start singing in public?

Sophie: I first started singing in public when I was around nine years old. It was when I formed part of a duet with my best friend Yazmin. Though back then it was all a bit of fun, ever since I’ve always known that I wanted to live my life through music. 


JV: How did you put your group together and pick your producer and your team?

Sophie: I love working with great people and being surrounded by positivity! So when I came to putting my team together, that was something I looked out for. I have worked with Elton Zarb at Freetime Studios for a very long time and we have such a great musical relationship, and the same goes for my executive producer Giles Squire who is also my manager. Also when I first went on tour of the UK last Summer I was in need of some fresh young backing dancers, as my Maltese group couldn’t travel with me. So after a long audition process we chose the 4 lovely ladies from Italia Conti who are Mia-Jay, Jo, Marni-Lee and Jane, they are absolutely fabulous!


JV: Do you have any plans for touring the United States or any other countries and exotic places?

Sophie: Right now the plans are to see how people receive my music and see where it takes me. We spent lots of time getting the music to sound as we want it to, so for know we’ll let the music do the talking!

JV::What's the title of your debut album?

Sophie: I don’t think I’m supposed to reveal that yet! However I can probably give you a little clue without getting told off by my management. The name to the album is going to have something to do with my first name! :)

JV:Sophie, thanks for your time and for performing Bobby Hebb's classic song.

Sophie: Thank you :)


Tune in to http://www.wincam.org  on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 8 PM EDT for the Sophie interview on Visual Radio.
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