Ella Fitzgerald sings " Like someone in Love ."

In 1944, Jimmy Van Heusen ( born Chester Babcock in Syracuse) and lyricist  Johnny Burke wrote a lovely melody sung by Dinah Shore in the movie " he Belle of the Yukon."
It is a simple, pure melody, much in the style of Jerome Kern and Ella has a matchless way with elegant melodic lines.
Just to further demonstrarte this melodic masterpiece, I have added an instrumental version by noted alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. There is a fine string and guitar accompaniment to the lyrical outpouring of Desmond's souring improvisation around the basic melodic structure.

https://youtu.be/fa8PxCGRqYk


https://youtu.be/YWnN0hgrOQg










  

https://youtu.be/G8KMmZElJyhttps://youtu.be/G8KMmZElJyAA




https://youtu.be/G8KMmZElJyA

Sinatra sings Sondheim:   "  We had a good thing going"   was written for " Merrily We Roll Along" a relatively unsuccessful Sondheim musical ( with a small role played by Jason Alexander aka George Costanza from Seinfeld.)

Sondheim is a master storyteller in song. Sinatra's greatest gift, among other things, is his ability to portray the dramatic elements of the music and especially the words-the songwriter's story intent.
Unlike other songs we have been featuring about the glad/sad aspects of romance, this song honestly admits that there were good things about the relationship but which is now gone. Bob Hope used " Thanks for The Memory" as his theme song. It also acknowledges the joy that once was but has now passed.

https://youtu.be/C3z-cz-bURM

  SINATRA and  "Glad to Be Unhappy."   Rodgers & Hart  were always able to combine a lovely melody with often tart and seditious lyrics.
The title may seem to be contradictory-how can  one be  glad while at the same time being unhappy ?

It appears that Lorenz Hart believed that the ardour and headlong  pursuit of a love object is so exhilarating that even an unsuccessful affair can make one  euphoric . The song ends with " I'm so unhappy-But Oh so glad. "
Frank Sinatra's many romantic interludes were marked by the same sad/glad dichotomy and this song does reflect many of his own sentiments.
https://youtu.be/Kx2jhrimuGs

Sinatra & Jobim:  "  This Happy Madness"  combines  the  bossa nova composition and guitar of Antonio Carlos Jobim, the  brilliant lyrics of Canadian Gene Lees, the matchless interpretation by Sinatra and the gently pulsating arrangement by Claus Ogerman. 

Sinatra himself aid this was the softest he has sung because he believed the gentle Brazilian combining of the samba and jazz influences was best served by lyrical restraint. Having Jobim play and sing with Sinatra adds even more exposition of the Brazilian music influence. One is reminded of the powerful Brazilian dance culture after seeing the Rio Olympics extravaganza.





https://youtu.be/EITOu26uChg

This Happy Madness