Ella Fitzgerald
Mandy Patinkin
Della Reese
Frank Sinatra - 1961
Isn’t today Saturday? 😂 😂 😂I'll be reducing this series to once or twice per week - Always on Wednesdays - Occasionally on Sundays...
I posted on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week - "Family leave" has ended - All is well with a very happy ending, thankfully - and it's back to work on Monday.Isn’t today Saturday? 😂 😂 😂
I try to give everyone a chance - The only requirement is that they made a legitimate effort to interpret the song to the best of their ability - I don't let personal preferences affect the selection process and I try to open it up as wide as I can but I always try to maintain a certain standard for every performance.When I saw the list I was excited to see Patsy Cline on it. I thought her voice would be perfect for it. I don't own much music by her, but on my two disc best of set, she does a lovely intimate version of Cole Porter's "True Love" (originally sung by Bing Crosby). This song never needs to go louder than piano, and she blew it.
I also expected to like Bing, but he didn't dig into the lyrics. I hate to be so predictable, but I again ended with Ella who benefits from a small combo, which keeps things intimate even when they swing a book. The voices of Mandy Patinkin and Della Reese did nothing for me. Pat Boone seemed bland (surprise, surprise). Bobby Darin's arrangement was too much. At least Frank seemed to have fun with it (with the help of Nelson). So he gets my second vote.
I shall miss you, Shaughn!I posted on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week - "Family leave" has ended - All is well, thankfully - and it's back to work on Monday.
As always, MAS, very insightful take on the tunes that is greatly appreciated - I had no idea how the Patinkin tune would be received - Glad to see that I should always trust my judgement - Thanks for affirming that - Cheers!Pat Boone has a lovely voice, but he seems off key to me in some instances. Boring, too.
Patsy Cline‘s version is too dragged out, she does makes a mini-drama of this, mournful.
No Bing for me.
Bobby Darrin’s peppy version is wrong for this song, like he don’t care!
I love Ella! But isn’t this a hopeful song? She sounds sad. But what a smooth voice.
At first I thought Patinkin was a woman; he was singing in head voice. His rendition is the most apt for the mood of the song. The tempo is perfect. He moves me, despite the weird tremulous voice. It’s the only version I heard complete.
This was when Della Reese could still sing without the low wobble That invaded her voice. I like the tempo on her version, too. She reminded me of Eartha Kitt with that diction. Della for #2.
You don’t swing with these words. No thanks, Frank.
Just couldn’t not do my best with all the trouble you take on these contests.As always, MAS, very insightful take on the tunes that is greatly appreciated - I had no idea how the Patinkin tune would be received - Glad to see that I should always trust my judgement - Thanks for affirming that - Cheers!
I will still be here - Just not quite as often...
And it's much appreciated.I try to give everyone a chance - The only requirement is that they made a legitimate effort to interpret the song to the best of their ability - I don't let personal preferences affect the selection process and I try to open it up as wide as I can but I always try to maintain a certain standard for every performance.
As I mentioned in the thread for part 1, Berlin wanted to include the song in the stage version of the Marx Brothers' "The Coconuts," but the book writer, George S. Kaufman, refused, suggesting Berlin change the lyric to, "I'll be loving you Thursdays."Can anyone sing "Always" in a way that keeps me from saying "never"? Can someone make me think, "OK, sometimes," or at least "just this once"?
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Sorry - wife - corrected.Write = wife? That was always my understanding.