CAFFE` LATTE` TOP 2000 TRACKS

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#28 THE WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND

TINA ARENA

(2007)

Writers: Michel Legrand; Alan & Marilyn Bergman

"The Windmills Of Your Mind" was a song created for the 1968 motion picture 'The Thomas Crown Affair' which starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. The version used in the film was performed by Noel Harrison who scored the 1st chart hit interpretation of the hypnotic track; reaching the British Top 10. French composer Michel Legrand and married couple Alan and Marilyn Bergman collected an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category with the composition. Over the years, it has been covered by an array of artists. Among the best are versions by Dusty Springfield (1969), Sally Ann Marsh (1996), Alison Moyet (2005), Barbra Streisand (2011) and Sting. The latter recorded his cover of the classic song for the 1999 remake of 'The Thomas Crown Affair'. Tina Arena cut her interpretation for inclusion on her 2007 covers album 'Songs Of Love & Loss'. 
During an interview with the legendary songwriters, the Bergmans explained how they came to write the mesmerising lyrics for "Windmills...". Marilyn began: "that was written... for a sequence in which Steve McQueen is flying a glider". "At one point, one of us had a line that said "the windmills of your mind", she continued. "Once we decided that we were going to focus on that line, I think the rest of the song took shape". 
Alan added: "one clue that helped me to write that song was... when we said "round" on that first note, it gave us a clue to where to go in the next line...round like a circle, then we were thinking of all images that were round... clocks and moon... apple".
'Songs Of Love & Loss' was her 1st English language album since 'Just Me' in 2001. On the Australian chart. the new release returned her to the Top 10, peaking at #3. The album, recorded with the London Studio Orchestra in the English capital, was self-funded. Arena then signed with EMI. 
'Songs of Love & Loss 2' was issued the following year and reached #12. Around this time, Arena toured Australia with Andrea Bocelli. In 2012, she was a judge on a revival of the TV show "Young Talent Time" (on which she had first found fame as an 8-year old). 
In 2013, Arena released 'Reset'. This was her 1st English album of all new material in a dozen years. The new collection climbed to #4 in Australia. The tracks "You Set Fire To My Life" and "Only Lonely" both cracked the Top 40 in her homeland.

This is a list made up of the songs I enjoy the most, ranked in order of preference: the higher we go, the more I cherish them. Some were released as singles, others as album tracks. Some are obscure; others were worldwide hits or have universal appeal. They aren't always the most famous or popular, but simply a personal choice. I have excluded songs from the last few years in order to get a better idea of a song's lasting impression. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites. 
Each week, 2 new songs from the remaining Top 100 are added, while another 2 are also included from positions 1501-2000 on the other weekdays. Check back here  for an update of the 2000.