A month ago, I asked if anyone played special music for the start of Spring, Lent and Easter. I mentioned some of the music I played in my store over those six weeks, and also got some great suggestions from you guys to add to my playlist next year.
Now it's a question about Spring II: after Easter, which covers Mother's Day.
When I had my gift store, the week of Mother's Day I played soundtracks about women and children: The Sound of Music, Gypsy, Mame, and Hello Dolly (the B'way soundtrack with Carol Channing, singing 'Motherhood'). Made the atmosphere festive, and the customers would spend more time in the store and spend more money (that was the whole idea).
But then came Friday / Saturday / Sunday...
I have to say the one album which really stood out and had quite an emotional impact was Olivia Newton-John's "Warm and Tender". All weekend long I would devote to this CD - playing it over and over again in the store. More often than not, it would touch people emotionally, and could have female customers crying as they picked out cards and gifts. They would tell me, 'It just touches me...such a beautiful album for Mother's Day.' Songs that really got them crying was 'Rocking', 'The Flower That Shattered the Stone', 'Rock-a-Bye Baby', 'Jenny Rebecca', and 'Reach Out for Me / Brahms Lullabye' (they would sob when they heard this one). I'll never forget one woman (buying gifts for her mother, Godmother, and Grandmother) said it brought back happy memories of spending time with them when she was little, and realizing time was not on their side any more (as she wept).
Just thought I'd share...