More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/great_american_songbook/once_upon_a_time.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
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Once Upon A Time is a lovely, heart-wrenching ballad that isn't that well-known, even though it has been sung by well-known singers like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. I'm singing to a karaoke arrangement based on Frank Sinatra's version of the song. The exquisitely beautiful orchestration is by master arranger, Gordon Jenkins.
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ONCE UPON A TIME

Once upon a time 
A girl with moonlight in her eyes 
Put her hand in mine 
And said she loved me so 
But that was once upon a time 
Many years ago 

Once upon a hill 
We sat beneath a willow tree 
Counting all the stars
and waiting for the dawn 
But that was once upon a time 
Now the tree is gone 

How the breeze ruffled up her hair 
How we always laughed as though
tomorrow wasn't there 
We were young
and didn't have a care 
Where did it go? 

Once upon a time 
The world was sweeter than we knew 
Everything was ours 
How happy we were then 
But somehow once upon a time 
Never comes again.
Never comes again.
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/great_american_songbook/once_upon_a_time.html
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Once Upon A Time

More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/90s-to-present/just_the_way_you_are.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com
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My cover of Bruno Mars' beautiful 2010 love song, Just the Way You Are, for which he won the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award in 2011.
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JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

[VOCAL/INSTRUMENTAL INTRO]

[VERSE]

Oh, her eyes, her eyes,
make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair,
falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful,
and I tell her every day.
Yeah, I know, I know,
when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so
sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me,
"Do I look okay?" I say

[CHORUS]

When I see your face,
there's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
just the way you are
And when you smile,
the whole world
stops and stares for awhile
'Cause girl you're amazing
just the way you are

[VERSE]

Her lips, her lips,
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh,
she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful,
and I tell her every day
Oh, you know, you know,
you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for
then just stay the same
Don't even bother asking
if you look okay, you know I'll say

[CHORUS]

When I see your face,
there's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
just the way you are
And when you smile,
the whole world
stops and stares for awhile
'Cause girl you're amazing
just the way you are

The way you are
The way you are
Girl you're amazing
just the way you are

When I see your face,
there's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
just the way you are
And when you smile,
the whole world
stops and stares for awhile
'Cause girl you're amazing
just the way you are
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/90s-to-present/just_the_way_you_are.html
For more songs, visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com

Just the Way You Are

More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/90s-to-present/apt.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com
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My cover of the incredibly catchy K-pop mega-hit, APT., by Rosé and Bruno Mars. It recently was the most popular song in the world — the #1 song on the Billboard Global 200 chart from November 2, 2024 to January 21, 2025 (and currently the #1 song on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart) — and it is part of a trend of 80's style songs in current pop music, I'm delighted to say! I'm also delighted to be doing a cover of a song that is very popular right now.
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APT.

[INTRO]

This is the start
Of a game called "Heart".
Now go play your part. . .
Game on!

[CHORUS]

아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh

[VERSE]

😘 😘 😘
Kissy face, kissy face
sent to your phone, but
I'm trying to kiss your lips for real
uh-huh, uh-huh
❤ ❤ ❤
Red hearts, red hearts
that's what I'm on, yeah
Come give me somethin' I can feel
oh-oh-oh

[PRE-CHORUS]

Don't you want me like I want you, baby?
Don't you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the

[CHORUS]

아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh

[VERSE]

It's whatever, it's whatever,
it's whatever you like
(whoo)
Turn this 아파트 into a club
uh-huh, uh-huh
I'm talking drink, dance, smoke, freak,
party all night
come on
건배, 건배, girl, what's up?
Oh-oh-oh

[PRE-CHORUS]

Don't you want me like I want you, baby?
Don't you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the

[CHORUS]

아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh

[BRIDGE]

Hey
so now you know the game.
Are you ready?
'Cause I'm comin' to get you,
get you, get you
Alright, hold tight
I'm on my way
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I'm on my way
Hold tight, hold tight
I'm on my way
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I'm on my way-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay

[PRE-CHORUS]

Don't you want me like I want you, baby?
Don't you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the

[CHORUS]

아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh
(just meet me at the)
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh
(just meet me at the)
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh
(just meet me at the)
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
uh
uh-huh, uh-huh
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/90s-to-present/apt.html
For more songs, visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com


APT.

More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/90s-to-present/die_with_a_smile.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com
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My cover of the beautiful 2024 hit ballad, Die With a Smile, by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which was nominated for the 2025 Grammy Award for Song of the Year. It's the third in my trilogy of Bruno Mars covers, along with APT. (2024) and Just The Way You Are (2010).

As of this moment, APT. and Die With A Smile also happen to be the two most popular songs in the world! — they are #1 and #2 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart (for the week of February 15, 2025).
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DIE WITH A SMILE

[VERSE]

Oooh

I
I just woke up from a dream
Where you and I had to say goodbye
And I don't know what it all means
But since I survived, I realized

[PRE-CHORUS]

Wherever you go,
that's where I'll follow
Nobody's promised tomorrow
So I'ma love you every night
like it's the last night
Like it's the last night

[CHORUS]

If the world was ending,
I'd wanna be next to you
If the party was over
and our time on Earth was through
I'd wanna hold you just for a while
and die with a smile
If the world was ending,
I'd wanna be next to you
Oooh

[VERSE]

Oh
lost
lost in the words that we scream
I don't even wanna do this anymore
'Cause you already know what you mean to me
And our love's the only war worth fighting for

[PRE-CHORUS]

Wherever you go,
that's where I'll follow
Nobody's promised tomorrow
So I'ma love you every night
like it's the last night
Like it's the last night

[CHORUS]

If the world was ending,
I'd wanna be next to you
If the party was over
and our time on Earth was through
I'd wanna hold you
just for a while
and die with a smile
If the world was ending,
I'd wanna be next to you
Right next to you
Next to you
Right next to you

La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

[CHORUS]

If the world was ending,
I'd wanna be next to you
If the party was over
and our time on Earth
was through
I'd wanna hold you
just for a while
and die with a smile
If the world was ending,
I'd wanna be next to you
If the world was ending,
I'd wanna be next to you
Oooh
I'd wanna be next to you
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/90s-to-present/die_with_a_smile.html
For more songs, visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com

Die With A Smile

Die With a Smile

More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/60s_70s_80s/i_saw_the_light.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com
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My cover of one of my all-time favorite songs, Todd Rundgren's I Saw The Light. Every time I hear this sweet, happy song, the music touches my heart and uplifts me, so I knew I had to sing it at some point! The arrangement and harmonies for this song are unique and pure musical genius, and they drew out of me an energetic, heartfelt performance.
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I SAW THE LIGHT

[VERSE 1]

It was late last night
I was feeling something wasn't right
There was not another soul in sight
Only you
only you

[VERSE 2]

So we walked along
Though I knew that there was something wrong
And a feeling hit me, oh so strong
About you

[CHORUS 1]

Then you gazed up at me
And the answer was plain to see
'Cause I saw the light
In your eyes (In your eyes)
In your eyes (In your eyes)

[VERSE 3]

Though we had our fling (We had our fling)
I just never would suspect a thing (Suspect a thing)
'Til that little bell began to ring (Began to ring)
In my head
in my head

[VERSE 4]

But I tried to run (I tried to run)
Though I knew it wouldn't help me none (Not help me none)
'Cause I couldn't ever love no one
Or so I said

[CHORUS 2]

But my feelings for you
Were just something I never knew
'Til I saw the light
In your eyes (In your eyes)
In your eyes (In your eyes)

[INSTRUMENTAL (GUITAR SOLO)]

[VERSE 5]

But I love you best
It's not something that I say in jest
'Cause you're different, girl, from all the rest
In my eyes

[CHORUS 3]

And I ran out before
But I won't do it anymore
Can't you see the light
in my eyes (In my eyes)

[OUTRO]

In my eyes (In my eyes)
In my eyes (In my eyes)
In my eyes (In my eyes)
In my eyes (In my eyes)
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/60s_70s_80s/i_saw_the_light.html
For more songs, visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com

I Saw The Light

This track was written by myself and my best friend, Ruth Anne Pollard who has a soundcloud channel of her own, https://soundcloud.com/ruth-anne-1. 

We wrote this song as a dedication to ourselves and to many others out there who have put much of our own feelings aside in order to be there for the ones around us who are less empathetic and less likely to reciprocate. These unrecognized feelings that we struggle to speak about can start to build up within us and come to the surface, causing those around us to question who we are because we have essentially been forced to wear a mask for so long.

Musically this song was inspired by Chariots of Fire by Vangelis, particularly in the verses 

Nobody knows the things we do
For the ones we love
Nobody knows

Nobody cares
But we keep on trying not to lose hope 
Nobody knows

When you're dying to release
What no one will let you speak
And you choose words carefully
Nobody knows

Nobody knows my defenses died, falling from me
Now all I need is you to want me to be fine
Nobody knows how I've lived this lie, buried beneath
Knowing the truth can be worse sometimes

Nobody hears, nobody listens
When you're trying to tell them who you are

They pay you no mind
When you try to be open 
And It's clear all the time
You never receive anything you provide

When you're dying to release
What no one will let you speak
And you choose words carefully
Nobody knows 

Nobody knows my defenses died, falling from me
Now all I need is you to want me to be fine
Nobody knows how I've lived this lie, buried beneath
Knowing the truth can be worse sometimes

Nobody knows my defenses died, falling from me
Now all I need is you to want me to be fine
Nobody knows how I've lived this lie, buried beneath
Knowing the truth can be worse sometimes

Nobody Knows

More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/she/index.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com
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I began writing She when I was 23, but never finished it. But just for fun, I picked up this song again in 2020 on my birthday, and worked until I completed it. My completed lyrics bring the song's story into today's complex world (of pandemic, Zoom, etc.): Two people who live on opposite sides of the world fall in love through computer screens. They are not able to get on a plane and meet. Still. . . love will find a way.
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SHE

She
came along. . .
And before I knew it,
my head was spinning,
my heart beginning
to feel the way that I

feel
when I'm in love.
It's a way of knowing,
a way of healing,
a way of growing.
My senses are reeling
in her.
And before I knew it,
my heart belonged to her.

Lisa is the one
who smiles like the sun
and melts my heart.
She makes me complete.
Though we may not meet,
we're not apart.
Reaching round the world,
I sing to the girl
I've only seen
on a screen. . .
What can it mean?
Virtual play.
Her night, my day.
Still. . .
Love will find
a way.

She
fills my heart.
And the night was long,
and the stars were bright,
as our souls took flight,
and we finally met
in our dreams.
And in soul adventures,
my heart was joined to hers.

Lisa is the one
who smiles like the sun
and melts my heart.
She makes me complete.
We smile when we meet:
we're not apart.
Every night at three,
our souls meet for tea
at the Eiffel Tower.
Astral power. . .
The witching hour. . .
Bodies asleep.
Souls in deep.
Yes!
Love has found
a way.

She. . .
She's my song.
She's the song I dance to,
the song I sing with,
the song I live by
in all of my seasons
with her.
And for all my sweet life,
my heart belongs to
her.
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/she/index.html
For more songs, visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/marys_song/index.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com
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Mary's Song was one of the first songs I wrote. I was 18. The "Mary" in the song didn't yet exist in my life, so I put the song "in my closet", without playing it for anyone. I would have to wait many years for Mary to finally appear! And since then... "We've been together every day, and each day I've loved you more."
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MARY’S SONG

When I was small, I used to dream
that I would become a king.
Then I grew up and it came to seem
that dreams didn't mean a thing.
But. . .

Last year, the neighbors moved away
and fairy tales do come true —
'cause the day you came,
I heard your name,
and I named my song for you.
And the day you came,
someone spoke your name,
and I named this song for you.

Mary, my Mary,
our spring has returned once again.
Green grass is growing —
let's hope it will never end.
Softly. . . sing softly. . .
of castles beyond the sea.
There's no time to cry —
time keeps flowing by. . .
sail across it with me.

We've been together every day,
and each day I've loved you more.
Searching the world for the perfect girl,
I fell in love with the girl next door.
Funny it may seem. . . please don't laugh.
I sing it from me to you:
but I love you so
I think you should know
I would spend my life with you.
And I love you so
I think you should know
I will spend my life with you.

Mary, my Mary,
our spring has returned once again.
Green grass is growing —
let's hope it will never end.
Softly. . . sing softly. . .
of castles beyond the sea.
There's no time to cry —
time keeps flowing by. . .
sail across it with me.
There's no time to cry —
time keeps flowing by. . .
sail beyond time with me.
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
https://www.christongmusic.com/marys_song/index.html
For more songs, visit my website:
https://www.christongmusic.com


Mary’s Song

More streaming and download options & more about this song:
www.christongmusic.com/60s_70s_80s/annies_song.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
www.christongmusic.com
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One of my very favorite songs. . . My cover of John Denver's beautiful, heartfelt love song and prayer, Annie's Song. I've composed a new choral arrangement for the Instrumental Bridge. This song has a spiritual significance for me, and I sing it in the manner of a prayer.
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ANNIE’S SONG

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again

Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again

[INSTRUMENTAL WITH CHORAL ARRANGEMENT]

Come let me love you
Come love me again

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
www.christongmusic.com/60s_70s_80s/annies_song.html
For more songs, visit my website:
www.christongmusic.com

Annie’s Song

More streaming and download options & more about this song:
www.christongmusic.com/others/easter_parade.html
For more songs, click my picture (left) or visit my website:
www.christongmusic.com
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Happy Easter, everyone!

My friend, Jackie Hogan, and I accompany Irving Berlin’s 1933 classic — Jackie playing ragtime piano, and me singing in my best “Fred Astaire” style.
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EASTER PARADE

In your Easter bonnet,
with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady
in the Easter Parade.

I'll be all in clover
and when they look you over,
I'll be the proudest fellow
in the Easter Parade.

On the avenue,
Fifth Avenue,
the photographers will snap us,
And you'll find that you're
in the rotogravure.

Oh, I could write a sonnet
about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I'm taking
to the Easter Parade.
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More streaming and download options & more about this song:
www.christongmusic.com/others/easter_parade.html
For more songs, visit my website:
www.christongmusic.com

APT.

Chris Tong

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