The Heart of Lorenz Hart: Much of this blog extolls the virtues of the innovative composers who created the Great American Songbook. But the appeal of our favourite songs is also due to the specificity of the words or lyrics that are part of a seamless emotional experience. One of America's greatest songwriters, Harold Arlen, said " Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song makes you feel a thought !" The 1948 MGM musical about the collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart was also called " Words & Music."
Although Lorenz Hart wrote a number of songs that deal so poignantly about love, he never achieved the same exultant romantic experience about which he wrote so evocatively.. Songs like " Isn't It Romantic" " My Romance" " My Funny Valentine" and, most prophetically " Nobody's Heart Belongs to Me ( and none ever did for Lorenz Hart.)
For example the song " My Heart Stood Still " tells of the moment when " I took one look at you, That's All I meant to do and then my heart stood still " The singer is smitten by a mere glance of a complete stranger. How romantic! ( Can such a singular moment end up on a happy note ? Some have, some haven't)
Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle, the great arranger and orchestrator provide a tender and respectful version of " My Heart Stood Still " . The irony is that Sinatra, unlike Larry Hart. had an over abundant series of romances and affairs that are a matter of public record and contribute to his legend as a world class romantic.
PERFORMANCE LINK: http://youtu.be/wDjPYO5ZNnk
A more realistic view of the complexities of life and its inevitable disappointments can be found in Hart's lyrics to " This Funny World." Here Rodgers and Hart tell of the odds of our human expectations coming to fruition. Mary Cleere Harran, a NY based cabaret singer, accompanied only by a piano player and a plaintive cello delivers the concluding and sobering news that "This Funny World is Making Fun of You" There is such a stark contrast between the perspectives in thse two different songs - one idyllic, the other ruefully pessimistic.
PERFORMANCE LINK; http://youtu.be/-vhZDqdXywQ
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