A magic song: AMAZING GRACE. Verses by the Englishman JOHN NEWTON, music composed by the American WILLIAM WALKER. I show you videoclips with ELVIS PRESLEY, LEANN RIMES, CHARLOTTE CHURCH and HAYLEY WESTENRA. Also, I show you cool First Day Covers (FDCs) with ELVIS PRESLEY

""Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725–1807), published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, "Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world.

Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction but his life's path was formed by a variety of twists and coincidences that were often put into motion by his recalcitrant insubordination. He was pressed into the Royal Navy and became a sailor, eventually participating in the slave trade. One night a terrible storm battered his vessel so severely that he became frightened enough to call out to God for mercy, a moment that marked the beginning of his spiritual conversion. His career in slave trading lasted a few years more until he quit going to sea altogether and began studying theology."

"Author Gilbert Chase writes that "Amazing Grace" is "without a doubt the most famous of all the folk hymns",^[1] and Jonathan Aitken, a Newton biographer, estimates that it is performed about 10 million times annually.^[2] 

It has had particular influence in folk music, and become an emblematic African American spiritual. Its universal message has been a significant factor in its crossover into secular music. "Amazing Grace" saw a resurgence in popularity in the U.S. during the 1960s and has been recorded thousands of times during and since the 20th century, sometimes appearing on popular music charts."

"Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.


'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd!


Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.


The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.


Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.


The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John Newton, Olney Hymns, 1779"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace

Let's see some interpretations:

Elvis Presley
Publicity photo for Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Background information
Birth name	Elvis Aaron Presley
Born	January 8, 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	August 16, 1977 (aged 42) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Rock and roll, pop, rockabilly,country, blues, gospel, R&B
Occupations	Musician, actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1953–77
Labels	Sun, RCA Victor
Associated acts	The Blue Moon Boys, The Jordanaires, The Imperials
Website	elvis.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley

LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes in October 2009
Background information
Birth name	Margaret LeAnn Rimes
Born	August 28, 1982 (age 29) Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Origin	Dallas, Texas
Genres	Country, pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actress, author
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Curb
Associated acts	Eddie Cibrian, Ronan Keating,Brian McFadden, Marc Broussard
Website	Official Website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeAnn_Rimes

Charlotte Church
Church performing at Selfridges in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Charlotte Maria Reed
Born	21 February 1986 (age 25) Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales
Origin	Cardiff, Wales
Genres	Pop, Celtic, classical, classical crossover, operatic pop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Sony BMG (1998-2006) Power Amp Music (2010-Present)
Website	charlottechurch.co

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Church


Now, turn up the sound volume even more, after Hayley talks and starts singing !

Hayley Westenra
Background information
Birth name	Hayley Dee Westenra
Born	10 April 1987 (age 24) Christchurch, New Zealand
Genres	Classical, pop, Celtic, operatic pop
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals, Piano, guitar, violin, recorder
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Universal Records New Zealand Decca Records
Associated acts	Celtic Woman, Andrea Bocelli, Ennio Morricone
Website	http://www.hayleywestenra.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayley_Westenra

"Hayley Dee Westenra (born 10 April 1987)^[1][2] is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist,^[3] songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Pure is the fastest-selling international début classical album to date, having made Westenra an international star at age 16. In August 2006, she joined the Irish group Celtic Woman, was featured on their Celtic Woman: A New Journey CD and DVD, toured with them on their 2007 Spring Tour, and also was featured on their DVD, The Greatest Journey: Essential Collection, released in 2008.

Across classical music to easy listening, folk and pop style songs, Christchurch soprano Hayley Westenra has performed songs in English, Celtic, Welsh, Italian, German, French,Portuguese, Latin, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese and Māori from west to east, from north to south all around the world.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Westenra has performed for dignitaries around the world. She is the second youngestUNICEF Ambassador to date and has contributed to charities around the world."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayley_Westenra

ELVIS PRESLEY First Day Covers, with pictorial postmark

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