4 posts tagged “ella fitzgerald”
so here are more Cole Porter tunes. I am pairing each of Ms. Ella's interpretations with the performers in the wonderful Cole Porter tribute album Red Hot + Blue, released in 1990 (and rereleased in 2006) by the red hot foundation as an AIDS benefit and to increase the awareness of and education on AIDS.
the red hot foundation is a worldwide organization fighting the spread of AIDS. I encourage everyone to check them out and the other releases in the Red Hot series - I think they are up to 15 now.
the tribute to Cole Porter, Red Hot + Blue is available at Amazon.
Ms. Ella's interpretation of So in Love is impeccable, but k.d. lang's take is heartbreaking
I love Kirsty Maccoll. when together with The Pogues, even more so
David Byrne's twangy take in this song may be nearer Porter's intent. maybe
I think Annie Lennox is the contemporary singer closest to Ella Fitzgerald
Tom Waits goes off in his own distant tangent. wouldn't expect any less
a fun naughty bit. both Ms. Ella and the boys from Erasure go to town
Neneh Cherry's take delivers more of the creep and paranoia implied in the lyrics
edit: as per mmb's request, here's one more pairing.
de-lovely
de-phisticated
born on this date, June 9, 1891, in the eccentrically named town of Peru, Indiana. a good start for a consummate wordsmith and master of wordplay.
let's hear for the birthday boy, shall we? Ms. Ella will do the honors
Mack the Knife, aka The Ballad of Mack the Knife, originally Die Moritat von Mackie Messer, is a song composed by Kurt Weil with lyrics by Bertold Brecht for The Three Penny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper). the song has enjoyed popularity for almost 80 years, being covered by many, many performers.
Ruben Blades, the Panamenian singer and composer (sorry, Drude for making you homesick for Panama), recreated "Mack the Knife" as "Pedro Navaja" in 1970s Bronx. it is a great song.
the lovely Ella and the Duke
*sorry for the lack of cover art. I've had this for ages and can't locate the album it originally came from
