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
Friday, 26 August 2016
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
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
Thursday, 25 August 2016
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
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
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
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
CECILE MCLORIN - GRAMMY JAZZ VOCALIST WINNER
Cecile McLorin Salvant-Grammy jazz vocalist winner
Listen to this amazing performance of Poor Butterfly, a song written one hundred years ago and still as touching as it always has been.
In addition to her impeccable timing and pitch-perfect performance, it is doubly remarkable since she songs alone, without any accompaniment and yet it is so compelling.
https://youtu.be/zyU7QP2oWQ4
Listen to this amazing performance of Poor Butterfly, a song written one hundred years ago and still as touching as it always has been.
In addition to her impeccable timing and pitch-perfect performance, it is doubly remarkable since she songs alone, without any accompaniment and yet it is so compelling.
https://youtu.be/zyU7QP2oWQ4
Saturday, 23 January 2016
REBECCA LUKER TELLS THE WHOLE WIDE WORDL OF HER LOVE REBECCA LUKER TELLS THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD OF HER LOVE
Rebecca Luker Tells The Whole Wide World Of Her Love
Rodgers & Hart wrote "I'll Tell The Man On The Street: for the 1938 show I Married Angel. The introductory verse rejects the traditional privacy of a passionate love by " Not telling of her love to the red, red rose Or to the babbling brook, where the sweet magnolia grows Or the Whipporwill on the hill above."- All the usual poetic and private imagery often found in love songs.
Instead the main chorus asserts that she''ll " Tell the man on the street and everyone I meet, That you and I are sweethearts."
Accompanied by the Boston Pops, Rebecca Luker delivers this poignant message with great sincerity and sweetness letting the whole ,wide world know of her now very public love.
On a personal note, I sang and played this song at my son's wedding and when I came to sing the lines " And when you're old and grey, You''ll never get away from me" the married woman in the audience over the age of 50 did show some tears. Not because of my performance but of the memory of their own lifelong marriages when they too, began to grow older and accumulate grey hair.
https://youtu.be/KOqUN37VOQ4
Rodgers & Hart wrote "I'll Tell The Man On The Street: for the 1938 show I Married Angel. The introductory verse rejects the traditional privacy of a passionate love by " Not telling of her love to the red, red rose Or to the babbling brook, where the sweet magnolia grows Or the Whipporwill on the hill above."- All the usual poetic and private imagery often found in love songs.
Instead the main chorus asserts that she''ll " Tell the man on the street and everyone I meet, That you and I are sweethearts."
Accompanied by the Boston Pops, Rebecca Luker delivers this poignant message with great sincerity and sweetness letting the whole ,wide world know of her now very public love.
On a personal note, I sang and played this song at my son's wedding and when I came to sing the lines " And when you're old and grey, You''ll never get away from me" the married woman in the audience over the age of 50 did show some tears. Not because of my performance but of the memory of their own lifelong marriages when they too, began to grow older and accumulate grey hair.
https://youtu.be/KOqUN37VOQ4
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