Ok, one more, Michael Nyman's "The Heart Asks Pleasure First," main theme from the movie the Piano. I used to play this, I should bring it back into my fingers!
People Pleasing Piano Pieces?
Most of what I attempt on the piano are songs that are known as "Standards". Usually, I choose to play something because the song has two things - a nice melody, something easy to recognize after only hearing it once, maybe easy to hum or play back in one's mind, and a thought provoking lyric. Even though I don't sing, I often have the lyrics in my head while playing.
The Days Of Wine And Roses is one such song. I saw an interview with Jack Lemmon who said that before filming of the movie began, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer performed the song for the cast, just piano and vocal, kind of casual. Jack said he cried. And shortly after filming was completed, both Jack and Lee Remick sought counseling for alcoholism.
The song is only two compound sentences, but pure genius in the depth of what is being said.
The days of wine and roses laugh and run away like a child at play
Through a meadow land toward a closing door
A door marked "nevermore" that wasn't there before
The lonely night discloses just a passing breeze filled with memories
Of the golden smile that introduced me to
The days of wine and roses and you
Here's my arrangement and humble attempt at yet another voicing of Hank and Johnny's masterpiece.
TC3 Thanks, TC3. There is no shame in the joy one gets from playing music, no matter the level of expertise or difficulty, or simplicity, of the piece. We all have our reasons for playing an instrument, but ultimately the important thing is how our efforts make us feel. Not many casual musicians are as accomplished as they would like to be. But given our circumstances, with various distractions, commitments, etc., we do the best we can. Some days we feel good about our musical endeavors, sometimes we get discouraged. But we should always look for the joy and be proud of ourselves for taking the time to explore music.
We do a gig a couple of times a year at a local smallish town. It has a very large library and a large room that they use for weekly events, usually a music type group, not always music, but something for the community. It's over the lunch hour, 12 - 1, and it's always free. (It's a non-paying thing for us, but great advertising.) It's well attended. Wednesdays. Pretty much every week.
Seems that every time we're there, in the front row, there is a lady who's mentally challenged. Have never actually met her but I pay attention. If she likes the music, she's often wigglin' and jigglin' and groovin' and grinnin' to the music. It is really good feedback for me as a musician. If she's not enjoying the music, it makes me think something is wrong.
That kind of joy / happiness is infectious... in both directions! 
8 months later
lilypad I played this Grade 4 piece for a piano club meeting and got a lot of enthusiastic comments on it.
I cannot see your video, it says: "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Alfred Music". Could you please tell us which piece it was?
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... feeling like the pianist on the Titanic ...
Animisha Sorry about that. It is "French Movie Waltz" by Catherine Rollin from her book "Dancing on the Keys".
There are still some other recordings of it on YouTube if you want to hear what it sounds like. I'll try and remember to put a title next time I share a YouTube video as "video unavailable" seems to more and more common.
Here comes Enya's Watermark one more time.
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... feeling like the pianist on the Titanic ...
- Edited
This is a version of "What a Wonderful World" by Jon Baptiste. I played the piece once in a store on an old piano. The manager said it’s her favorite piece.