Track 16:

Now Until the Break of Day (Single Version)

Performed by Christine Anu/David Hobson/Royce Doherty
Written by Benjamin Britten/Hawkes & Son (London) Ltd (publishing)
Produced by BLAM, Co-produced by Paul Mac
Additional arrangements by Felix Meagher
Inspired by the 1993 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream by The Australian Opera

Now Until the Break of Day is a extremely enjoyable interpretation of the original song written by Benjamin Britten. In 1968, Britten wrote this piece of modern opera using direct words and phrases from the famous Shakespearian play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Bazmark Inq. created their own rendition for Something For Everybody, and it quickly became a popular track.

The powerful voices of Australian songstress Christine Anu and opera singer David Hobson (with accompaniment by Royce Doherty) give an enchanting feeling to the song, and the pair come together to create wonderful harmonies.  I feel the song has a very magical feel about it, and I can definitely imagine this track being performed in renditions of Luhrmann's A Midsummer Night's Dream. I find it to be a feel-good song, and it is one of my favourites tracks on the album. Feel free to click on the links below to access the song lyrics, and also interpret the lyrics in the context of the original play.

Click here for the song lyrics for this version of Now Until the Break of Day.

The magical music clip for this song can be found on the Behind the Red Curtain DVD that is included in Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy.

Here's what Baz Luhrmann had to say about Now Until the Break of Day (single version):

"Now Until the Break of Day is a piece of Shakespeare written 400 years ago, interpreted into a modern opera by Benjamin Britten in 1968. It is sung by pop diva Christine Anu, opera singer David Hobson, dance floor techno vocalist Royce Doherty, backed up by the gospel choir "Cafe at the Gates of Salvation," and orchestrated by Irish folk composer Felix Meagher with brass arrangements and children's choir. It was produced by BLAM and techno guru Paul Mac. "