I would like to send some ideas on some really nice chanson type recordings of songs from the 30's Budapest. Budapest at that time was a leading cultural centre for music in Europe and produced some worldclass singers and music.

I am attaching some links and hope that ther is a chance that Barbra will listen to them and perhaps even like them. I am sure it is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun to research for new material and this would be something unique and a new approach for non-American music. I follow the work of Jay Landers and I congratulate him on his cooperation with Barbra. I am sure he would also like these ideas. I know I am just a fan (but a very long-time and dedicated one!) and I am not even sure, if this gets to Barbra of any of her artistic advisors, but I try anyway - who knows I may even be lucky.

So here are some links:

This first song is called: Always that minute (Mindig az a perc), written in Hungarian for the largest movie star in Hungary in the 1930s, Ms. Katalin Karady, interpreted by her in this recording (so it is quite an old sound from the 30's). The 2nd version is rerecording by a current singer in Hungary, Ms. Agnes Szaloki, with a completely different orchestration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIAm1xYFmAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4ThW_fdt2I

This second song: Your eyes have loved me longest (a ket szemed szeretett legtovabb)
The first version is sung by Ms. Karady from one of her movies, the second version, again by Ms. Agi Szaloki.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqgN-pUd_KY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXziNS7oSuE

Of course, there are lots more, but this is just to give you a taste of this style. For example, another beautiful song would be Gloomy Sunday, written by a Hungarian pianist, Rezso Seress, (who was not a trained musician) the song in its heydey became a worldwide hit, even sung by Billy Holliday. Its the perfect song for Barbra's repertoire. I know Falling Leaves was recorded by Barbra in the 60's, but I think that is such a classic, she could rerecord it again.

I hope that this is interesting for her.

Thank you for taking time to reading this letter. Perhaps you will enjoy these songs.
Andrea, Budapest, Hungary