Which songs or musical standards have haunted you?
For my entire life I've been hearing certain songs and musical tunes. These same songs and melodies have been done by countless artists. Today I decided to search the origination of this music.
"Tenderly" has probably been the most consistent tune in my life. I recall it from my high school prom.
"Tenderly" is a popular song published in 1946 with music by Walter Gross and lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Copyright 1946 by Edwin H. Morris & Company, Inc. Originally written in the key of Eb as a waltz in 3/4 time, it has since been performed in 4/4 and has subsequently become a popular jazz standard.
Early recordings were by Sarah Vaughan, who recorded the song in 1946 and had a US pop hit with it in 1947;[1] and the Brazilian crooner and pianist Dick Farney (Farnésio Dutra e Silva) who recorded the song in 1947.[citation needed] Since then, "Tenderly" has been recorded by many artists, but perhaps the best-known version was by Rosemary Clooney. Clooney's recorded version reached only #17 on the Billboard magazine pop charts in early 1952, but it is more popular than the chart data would suggest, as is evidenced by the fact that Tenderly served as the theme song for Clooney's 1956-1957 TV variety show. The song featured in the 1953 film Torch Song.
"Early Autumn" is another favorite of mine sung by "Anita O'Day"
"Early Autumn" (1949) is a song composed by Ralph Burns and Woody Herman with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was a hit for Woody Herman in the year it was written.
"Claire de Lune" is one of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard.
Suite bergamasque was first composed by Debussy around 1890, but was significantly revised just before its publication in 1905. It seems that by the time a publisher came to Debussy in order to cash in on his fame and have these pieces published, Debussy loathed the earlier piano style in which these pieces were written.[2] While it is not known how much of the Suite was written in 1890 and how much was written in 1905, we do know that Debussy changed the names of at least two of the pieces.
"Passepied" was called "Pavane", and "Clair de lune" was originally titled "Promenade Sentimentale." These names also come from Paul Verlaine's poems.[3] It is interesting, however, to note that "Promenade Sentimentale" alludes specifically to one of Verlaine's earliest collections, "Poèmes saturniens," a fact that Debussy obviously took into account when he changed the name (and most likely much of the music)[citation needed] in order to suit both his later style, and Verlaine's.
"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. After being recorded by Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis, the song became a popular jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists.
"Round Midnight" appears in my collection by more artists than any other tune.
"'Round Midnight" is a 1944 jazz standard by pianist Thelonious Monk. Jazz artists Cootie Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Pepper, and Miles Davis have further embellished the song, with songwriter Bernie Hanighen adding lyrics. Both Williams and Hanighen have received co-credits for their contributions.
What standards can you add to this list that have haunted you for many years?
