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"Memory" is a show tune from the 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats^[1] sung by the character Grizabella, a one-time glamour cat who is now a shell of her former self. The song is a nostalgic remembrance of her glorious past and a declaration of her wishes to start a new life. Sung briefly in the first act and in full near the end of the show, "Memory" is the climax of the musical, and by far its most popular and well-known song.

The lyrics, written by Cats director Trevor Nunn, were based on T. S. Eliot's poems "Preludes" and "Rhapsody on a Windy Night". Lloyd Webber's former writing partner, Tim Rice and then-current collaborator Don Black submitted lyrics to the show's producers for consideration, however, Nunn's version was favoured.

Lloyd Webber, fearing that the tune sounded too similar to a work of Puccini, and the opening - and the haunting main theme - is also from the clarinet solo in the Mamas & Papas' 1965 song "California Dreamin'", asked his father's opinion. According to Lloyd Webber, his father responded, "It sounds like a million dollars!" So he based the haunting opening bars of the tune on Ravel's Bolero.

Prior to its inclusion in Cats, the tune was ear-marked for earlier Lloyd Webber projects, including a ballad for Perón in Evita and as a song for Max in his original 1970s draft of Sunset Boulevard.

In its original orchestration, the song's climax is in the key of D-flat major, the composer's favorite.

The arrangement of the lyrics in the show were changed after the initial recordings of the track, with the first verse beginning, "Midnight, not a sound from the pavement..." being used in only the brief, Act I rendition of the song and a new verse, "Memory, turn your face to the moonlight..." in its place for the Act II performance. Furthermore, the original second bridge section became the first and a new second bridge instated. Consequently, the arrangement of the lyrics for a recording usually depends on whether the artist has played the role on stage.

The song is often incorrectly referred to as "Memories"; the correct title is the singular "Memory".

Cover versions

"Memory" has been covered by numerous musical acts.

• Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Grizabella in the West End production of Cats, released a version of the song that was a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1981.^[2] This version was re-recorded in 1998 with a slight lyrical alteration, which was included in the video release of the musical. This version made #36 in the UK in October of that year.^[3] Paige also recorded a version for her 1983 album Stages
• Barbra Streisand recorded "Memory" for her 1981 album Memories. When released as a single, Streisand's cover reached #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #9 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart in 1982. In the UK, this version peaked at #34 the same year.^[4]
• Barry Manilow released a cover of "Memory" as a single in late 1982; this became the highest-charting version to date on the Billboard Hot 100 when it reached #39 in January 1983.^[5] Manilow's recording also made the Top 10 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart, reaching #8.^[6] This version is included on his album, Here Comes the Night.

• Sarah Brightman (who recorded an Italian version of the song, "Piano")
• Betty Buckley (first to play Grizabella on Broadway)
• Celine Dion
• Petula Clark
• José Carreras
• Rocío Banquells Spanish version (1990).
• Jason Castro on the seventh season of American Idol
• Sandra Criado on the sixth season of Spain's Operación Triunfo
• Kim Criswell on the album, Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber Volume 1
• Kikki Danielsson (with lyrics in Swedish by Olle Bergman as "Minnet") on her 1982 album Kikki
• Barbara Dickson in 1985
• Maria Friedman in 1992
• Lesley Garrett
• Howard Keel on his album, And I Love You So
• Stephanie Lawrence, who later played Grizabella in London, in 1988
• Mark Rattray
• Julian Lloyd Webber on the 2001 album Lloyd Webber Plays Lloyd Webber
• Menage, a Hi-NRG disco group (1983)
• Simone Simons from de Ducht symphonic metal band Epica (althoug in the song they just play piano)
• Marti Webb, who played Grizabella in London and on two UK tours, on her 1989 album Performance
• Jacinta Whyte
• Susan Boyle, as a finalist in the third series of Britain's Got Talent, performing live on Britain's ITV network; later, when Boyle became an overnight sensation, the selection was planned to be on her debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" but was not recorded (it is planned for a later release)
• Dianne Pilkington played the role in the recent UK National Tour (2006-2007)
• Chrissie Hammond played Grizabella and closed the show in London in 2002 and played Grizabella on 2 UK National Tours (2003-2004,2006-2008).

A rendition of the song can also be found in the 2003 comedy film School Of Rock.

In the film Jersey Girl, all but Gertie, the main character's daughter, perform the song at a school talent show.

Another rendition of the song can be found in the 2009 film "Funny People".

References

External links

• Rhapsody on a Windy Night and
• Preludes the T. S. Eliot poems that inspired the lyrics to "Memory"
• Memories 1981 Album Barbra Streisand Archives MEMORIES album page