Two very different singers going to battle today. Both are smooth bastards that ooze cool though. Careful, watch your step, cool is slippery and these guys just leave a trail of it wherever they happen to go. Oh me? Yeaaah especially stay clear of that, I ooze something else. Just walk around it and avert your eyes. It's better for everyone that way.
The song is, "I Wish You Love." It's your standard that was fun I have a broken heart now but I wish you luck in your future romatical endeavors kinda song. Actually I can't think of many songs like that. I know this one track, "It Was So Nice While It Lasted." But, I can't remember if the dude was angry or ok with the fact that the shit was done. Most songs seem to deal more with the loss as opposed to the acceptance of loss. Ex: every song ever written. Ok maybe not but basically most songs are either about the search for love or the loss of love. This is no exception, the main difference being the singer's acceptance of the past and the ability to not hold it against the person that they still love. Does, "It's Too Late" by Carole King kind of fit in that category? Just checked and yeah it does.
"There'll be good times again for me and you
But we just can't stay together, don't you feel it, too
Still I'm glad for what we had and how I once loved you."
Now I am trying to think of loss of love acceptance songs, I am sure there are a ton out there. Like, "Copa Cabana"...yeah maybe not that one. But this song is for sure one of those types of acceptance songs. Instead of wanting to burn her house down and stab any guy that gets within a 25 mile radius of her, he is like, that's cool....ouch...no really have a good time, I really do think he means it though....unlike SOME people I know, *points over shoulder at person pointing at him....* Wait...a...minute..Damn mirrors...
"My broken heart and I agree, that you and I will never be, so with my best, my very best, I set you free."
And just so you know, he isn't speaking about unlocking the cage, turning off her GPS tracking so she goes "off grid" or untieing her hands, he is talking about letting go of the his hopes for reconcilliation and the life that he pictured for them both. At least I think so.
Umm were we supposed to be doing something here, besides expounding on a simple song with uncomplex lyrics and a pretty straightforward meaning you can easily decipher with one listen? Oh yeah, so first up to bat is Dean Martin. You know this guy, at least I hope so. For those of you out there who don't listen to Grandpa music or are not in fact Grandpas, for shame!! Even if you don't listen to him, you should know who he is.
And if you seriously don't know who he is, then you can go here Wikipedia
But cmon who the hell doesn't know who Dean Martin is? The boys at the IHOP would laugh you right outta our 11:00 AM meeting if you came in spouting some nonsense like that, "Who's Dean Martin? Why I outta...damn whippersnappers with their rappidy hop and the buttock shaking..their pony riding and wanting to make love to people, on their bended knees. I used to be able to bend my knees. Back in my day you courted you didn't freak, and a freak was something bad, not something you would embrace. Eagles were birds and butterflies were insects, when did they become burlesque show movements. These pre-pubescent children with their gyrations, it's just so tawdry. I just saw the state of Florida has a new song out, well I'll tell you something sunshine state, it's all just noise to me, noise I say!! I don't even know what an applebottom is, it used to be the bottom of an apple, but something leads me to believe it's something suspicious in this day and age. Bunch of ruckus, It's a God damn shame."
Listen to Dean's version, it's undeniably smooth. He coolly rides the rhythm. Dean never seems to exert himself, projecting a voice that just easily saunters across the melody and music that backs him. The light flourishes of strings combine for a nice airy confidence that lightly tugs on heart strings and guides you through the song. The acceptance part is prominent in this version, the unaffected vibrato of Dean's voice while slightly twinged in remorse and pain from the loss never fully emotionally bubbles to the surface. He steadfastly remains the calm crooner. When he dips to the lower registers you can feel the pain but the arrangement totters between something apt for a nice Summer day spent in a hammock and a song to be listened to while sitting alone in a parlor with a strong glass of scotch. It's playfully heartbreaking. Either way you look at it, the song is beautiful and Dean does an excellent job in his effortless translation.
Next up Sam Cooke. Ehhhhh...he's aiiiight. Nothing special...only like one of my favorite voices EVAR!!!! Sorry..*Puts shirt back on* Sam's choice to stretch, elongate and slow the pace of the song lends itself to a more emotional interpretation. Whereas Dean's was smoothly paced, sashaying along with the music, Sam seems to take a more laconic approach, taking his time to imbue each lyric with more bravado. His pure voice is easily able to caress each lyric and instill it with more heartbreak than Dean's. The way he uses the smoothness and purity of his voice to ride the lyrics seems to punch the song up. From the start, the first music note followed immediately by the way he dips into that first lyric is captivating. The backing music seems secondary to the prowess of Sam's voice. While Dean's is applaudable because it seems effortless, Sam's is superior because of the obvious effort that he put forth. Sam's version is just an excellent display of singing, that's a pretty song, that's a great singer, that's how you do it. The phrasing is perfect, and I can't think of a note that I would change. I love the way he stretches the words out, the perfect pitch of his voice is heart melting poppy musical goodness. So for me Sam wins, who didn't see that coming?
Talk about a song battle, check out how many people recorded this song. Some heavy hitters in that group, if I wasn't lazy I would get some more copies, but uh...yeah..I am lazy. I bet the Ella is awesome, but out of the two versions I have on my computer Sam wins. I have heard the drifters version on vinyl and I can say that it loses to Sam and Dean. Have you heard any other versions? Do you Like Dean's better? Would you like a neck massage?
* Ronnie Aldrich
* The Artistics
* Chet Baker
* Long John Baldry
* Michael Ball
* Billy Hawks (New Genius of the Blues, 1967)
* Shirley Bassey (1968)
* Gianni Basso
* Vicki Benet
* Franco Battiato
* Bruno Bertone
* Ray Brown
* Ray Bryant
* Joyce Carr
* Johnny Case
* Jeanne Castle
* Ray Charles
* Rosemary Clooney
* Nat King Cole
* Harry Connick Jr.
* Chris Connor (1978)
* Russell Conway
* Sam Cooke (1963)
* Van Craven
* Bing Crosby
* Bette Davis
* Blossom Dearie
* Joey De Francesco
* Tony De Sare
* Marlene Dietrich
* Joe Diorio
* Bill Doggett
* Arielle Dombasie
* The Drifters
* Harry "Sweets" Edison
* Ella Fitzgerald
* The Five Jades
* Buddy Fo
* Vincent Franco
* Alison Fraser
* Laura Fygi
* Judy Garland
* João Gilberto
* Giant Sand (1995)
* Benny Goodman
* Eydie Gorme
* Graciela
* Benny Green
* Grant Green
* Niki Haris
* Bill Henderson
* Ian Hendrickson-Smith
* Ron Hevener
* Earl Hines
* Engelbert Humperdinck
* Willie Hutch (April 1976)
* Chrissie Hynde Soundtrack from the movie Eye of the Beholder, 1999
* Joni James
* Jack Jones (1962)
* Jerry Lee Lewis(1982)
* Gloria Lynne (the biggest hit single, 1964)
* Friends of Dean Martinez (1995)
* Chris Montez (1966)
* Mark Murphy (in "Song For The Geese", 1997)
* Lisa Ono
* Esther Phillips (1965)
* Frank Sinatra with the Count Basie orchestra (on It Might As Well Be Swing, August 1964)
* The Skatalites
* Keely Smith (1957)
* Rod Stewart and Chris Botti (October 18, 2005)
* Barbra Streisand (1966)
* David T. Walker (1976)
* Nancy Wilson (October 1960)
* Rachael Yamagata
* Natalie Cole
* Patricia Kaas (on Piano Bar, 2002)
* Dean Martin (1962)
* Shirley Bassey
* La Rondalla de Saltillo
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