[Shaughnessy]

Irving Berlin - "Always"

"Always"

Everything went wrong,
And the whole day long
I'd feel so blue.
For the longest while
I'd forget to smile,
Then I met you.
Now that my blue days have passed,
Now that I've found you at last -

I'll be loving you Always
With a love that's true Always.
When the things you've planned
Need a helping hand,
I will understand Always.

Always.

Days may not be fair Always,
That's when I'll be there Always.
Not for just an hour,
Not for just a day,
Not for just a year,
But Always.


Note: This is Part Two of a two part contest - Part One can be found here -

The Showtunes Sing-Off - Part 1 of 2 - Irving Berlin -...

Irving Berlin - "Always" ""Always" is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1925, as a wedding gift for his wife Ellin Mackay whom he married in 1926, and to whom he presented the substantial royalties. Although legend (and Groucho Marx) claims Berlin wrote the song "Always" for The Cocoanuts he...

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Pat Boone

Patsy Cline

Bing Crosby and Eugenie Baird

Bobby Darin

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[Shaughnessy]

Ella Fitzgerald

Mandy Patinkin

Della Reese

Frank Sinatra - 1961​

 

[Shaughnessy]

I'll be reducing this series to once or twice per week - Always on Wednesdays - Occasionally on Sundays...

 

[Shaughnessy]

Isn’t today Saturday? 😂 😂 😂

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.

 

[Shaughnessy]

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 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.

 

[Shaughnessy]

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.

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...