The only time I was fortunate enough to see Ella Fitzgerald perform was at one of her last appearances ever at the Hollywood Bowl, August 13,1992. They turned out all the lights, and brought her out. The lights went up and she was sitting in a chair. By this time, suffering from diabetes, she's lost one of her legs (both by 1993). The house was packed. She opened with this song, and she talked a bit before starting. She said, "I don't know why people love this song so much, but I'm going to do it for you..." trailing off. Then, she started singing it, and it was just as good as she had ever done. It was so great. The acoustics were good...The Hollywood Bowl is such an amazing place to see any artist. The orchestra backing her was awesome. The weather was perfect. At that very point, there could not have been a more perfect place to be on this earth. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. People were just watching her whole set with tears streaming down their faces, me included. It was a night I will never forget as long as I live.
2020 Silly me . . . when I had first heard Luther Vandross rendition in the 80s, I had thought it was an original . . . then someone had told me about Dionne Warwick's . . . then I had learned since . . . Brook Benton, Jackie Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRAE, SONNY ROLLINS, so many before/after has recorded this song . . .and now, ELLA FITZGERALD . . . . WOW!!!
The other versions are excellent; especially Dusty with Burt, but this one really made me cry... incredible extra dimensions (and additional verse compared with the male versions)
Dear Ella has always been my #1 favorite singer. She honestly has the most beautifully smooth voices ever. And, she is the only vocalist who could add jazz scat to a pop song, making it sound as if it was written for the song, and could pull it off with perfection! Several years back when Queen Latifah starred as Bessie Smith in “The Bessie Smith Story”, and did a jazz vocalist skit on Saturday Night Live a year or so before “Bessie”. And, it got me to thinking. So, I wrote an article for my old Facebook musical lovers group page, all about how Queen Latifah should play Ella in an Ella Fitzgerald biopic. She’s just about the same size, vocal range, buttery smooth voice that could melt even the Titanic iceberg! And, Queenie proved that she’s able to imitate other vocalists. I think she would be amazing. And, you are most definitely dead center bullseye on your comment!
Ask the musicians and they'd say that was Billie. Ella was fabulous but the beauty of her voice and her awareness of it sometimes gets in the way of the music. Not to the same extent as Sarah Vaughan, but nevertheless. She's too conscious or her skill and never had Billie's ability to possess a song - in a way that made all subsequent performances seem like covers of her version. Ella's was the most beautiful voice in jazz but not the most important.
@@nickberry8329 Which musicians? I know many musicians (from Duke Ellington and Andre Previn to Natalie Cole and Peggy Lee) who regard Ella Fitzgerald as the most important or as the greatest jazz vocalist ever. Ella never wanted to posses a song because she believed a singer should serve a song and not vice versa - that's why she is a classical singer who will be appreciated in 150 years.
@@Castorp-wn7dh Well, Ella wasn't a classical singer, but let's leave that to one side. I have it from the mouths of Sweets Edison and Ray Brown personally, and Sinatra always said Billie was the benchmark. And unlike Ella, she never decended into scat, which is precisely the singer exploiting the song for his/her own ends (Louis being the exception that proves the rule). Cole Porter once publicly chastised Sinatra for messing with one of his melodies. No one served the song like Billie which is why she ended up owning what she sang in the same way as Nina Simone did. Another way of referring to that might be artistic integrity. Listen to both of them singing "I Loves You Porgy". Two different versions that both feel like truths. Ella was a magnificent singer but not on the same level as an artist as Billie or Nina. She was Renate Tebaldi to Billie's Maria Callas.
@@nickberry8329Thank you for your reply and let me reply once again to your statements. With regard to St. 1 (Ella isn't a classical singer): if being a classical singer means going through classical vocal education (like opera singers), singing classical music repertoire or just being able to read sheet music, then Ella isn't a classical singer (by the way, Caruso and Pavarotti couldn't read music as well). If being a classical singer means representing an exemplary standard within a certain musical style or genre that is being universally recognised by connoisseurs and general audience, then Ella is a classical singer (the best example is her representation of the American Songbook). With regard to St. 2 (Billie is a benchmark): I agree but so is Ella, Sarah, Nina etc. Frank Sinatra said in 1959. interview: "Ella Fitzgerald is the only performer with whom I've ever worked who made me nervous. Because I try to work up to what she does. You know, try to pull myself up to that height - because I believe she is the greatest popular singer in the world, barring none, male or female" (keep in mind that Frank said this in 1959. when he was on the top of his vocal and artistic height). With regard to Ella's everlasting influence and importance, many modern pop and jazz singers recognize Ella as their biggest role model or one of the biggest (Adele, Lady Gaga, Lana del Rey, Kandace Springs etc.). With regard to St. 3 (Ella was exploiting the song for her own ends when she was doing scat): most of Ella's studio recorded songs were delivered without any scat. When she did scat, I would not say it was an exploitation of a song for her own ends, but an example of masterfull vocal improvisation, using a voice like an instrument rather than a speaking medium. You may like it or not, but scat is an epitome of jazz vocal artistry that enriches the vocal performance of a song by improvising the melodies and rhythm. If this is an exploitation of a song, then all jazz is an exploitation art. With regard to St. 4 (Bille had artistic integrity because she served the song and nobody did it like her): It would take a dissertation to explain what it means to serve a song and we would still probably disagree. However, let me quote Wynton Marsalis to give you just a glimpse of how I understand serving a song: "She (Ella) sang perfectly in tune. She can deliver a lyric better than anyone who has ever lived. She had a type of soulfulness you could not define - it was classic and pure. And that's what Duke (Ellington) liked". With regard to St. 5 (Ella was not a great artist as Billie or Nina, but "only" a magnificent singer): in my opinion, Ella was at least as great artist as Billie or Nina and probably even greater: (i) look at my previous replies to your statements; (ii) Ella was not only a great vocalist, but she could also deliver a song with great stylistic intelligence and emotional expression (you imply that a song performed by Billie or Nina feels more truthful than Ella's perfomance - this is a highly subjective opinion because very often I feel truth in Ella's performances more than I do in Billie's or Nina's). Ella can make me cry AND smile, unlike Billie who is not notorious for making people happy with her songs. By the way, why should we count only (or primarily) sorrow and pain as epitome of emotional expression, as some people who favour Bille over Ella often imply? Happines is also a very important emotion and it takes a great artistry to express it through your voice (maybe it's even more difficult when you had a somewhat miserable life like Ella); (iii) I can give you numerous examples where Ella performed the same song in a completely different manner (Billie and Nina did not have that interpretative ability because they were vocaly inferior to Ella); (iv) Ella started as a swing singer, moved to bebop, she sang perfect scat, was an extraordinary jazz vocalist and had no fear of modern material as the 1960s and 70s came along. From the Blues to bossa nova and calypsos to carols she imbued all with her unique voice, sounding forever young (Billie and Nina don't come even close to Ella's artistic diversity); (v) Ella won 13 Grammy Awards (20 nominations) and she still holds a single all time record: she is the female artist with the most recordings (8) in the Grammy Hall of Fame. I suppose it is a hommage to Ella's aristry not only as a mere vocalist (technician) but as an interpreter of great american songs as well. With regard to St. 6 (Ella and Billie are like Tebaldi and Callas): probably the only thing Bille and Maria have in common is the emotional covering of the lyrics (beside their miserable life and legendary stardom status). Ella has more in common with Callas than Bille: (i) Callas was able to sing very well different operatic genres (from Bellini to Verdi, from lyric to dramatic roles, from belcanto to verismo) because she had great vocal technique, just like Ella was able to sing different materials with a great authority; (ii) Callas had a beautifull voice (maybe not like Tebaldi), but I hardly hear anyone saying Billie has a beautifull voice, unlike Ella who univocally posseses one of the most beautifull voices ever; (iii) Callas was somehow greater than opera, just like Pavarotti, i.e. people who don't usually listen to opera higly appreciate and favor their performances. Bille never achieved an universal appeal to general audience outside the jazz genre like Ella did (she sold more than 40 million records). Why? Because Ella's voice has an universal quality and that's what also makes it a classical voice that will be appreciated in centuries to come. By the way, in 2015. BBC listeners voted the greatest jazz ARTISTS of all time: 1. Miles Davis, 2. Louis Armstrong, 3. Duke Ellington, 4. John Coltrane, 5. ELLA FITZGERALD, 6. Charlie Parker, 7. BILLIE HOLLIDAY etc. Because of all this (and some other things) I believe Ella has the most important Voice in the world of jazz ever. Billie? I believe she holds an honourable second place. Maybe someone can convince me that Billie AND Ella are two equally most important jazz voices ever (so far nobody did that, but I am opened to that possibility). But to say Billie is more important than Ella or to say that Bille is greater artist than Ella - I would strongly disagree with this statement even if Bille was my all time favorite singer!
@@Castorp-wn7dh Wow, thanks for the essay. If you mention Callas and Pavarotti in the same context, you don't get it. OK, think Hank Williams vs. Chet Atkins. Callas wouldn't be in the top 20 top female opera voices of all time for vocal beauty, but she had more influence on her art than any singer since Chaliapin. And if you believe polls, you'll believe that "Imagine" was the No.1 or No.3 best song ever written, depending on your preferred poll. But hey, I'm just a singer, so what do I know?
Unlike many other versions of this incredible song, Ella realises that a melody this wonderful should just be sung without too much embellishment & not shouted. Beautiful.
houseofhits1 but she does shout some, her style is a combination of shout and straight singing. This song is better sung as a lullaby, not uptempo, I think thats what you mean. As an aside, If you listen to the different sets recorded on her '69 tour, you'll notice they were completely rehearsed and performed almost note for note the same, at every date.
I think “shouting” is another form of Interpreting this song , it’s just as legitimate as singing it as a lullaby. The listener and audience at large will decide what they like or becomes popular.
Clearly you can’t be black. Pretty sure you mistakes “soul” for shouting, too much embellishment my ass 7 years later this still stupidest thing I’ve ever read
That run at 1:06…. Her voice was like the acrobatic runs of a saxophone, the ambient tinge of a muted trumpet, the fluid slide of a trombone, a whole jazz combo in one pitch perfect voice…. No one brought more finesse, class and emotion to the American Song Book like Ella Fitzgerald…
A chair still a chair Even when there's no-one sitting there A chair is not a house And a house is not a home When there's no-one there to hold you tight And no-one there you can kiss goodnight A room still a room Even when there's nothing there but gloom A room is not a house And a house is not a home When the two of us are far apart And one of us has a broken heart Now and then I speak your name And suddenly your face appears But it's just a crazy game When it ends, it ends in tears Darling, have a heart Don't let one mistake keep us apart I'm not meant to live alone Turn this house into a home When I climb the stairs And turn the key Oh, please be there Still in love with me It’s so nice to have a man around the house It’s so nice to have a man around the house I'm not meant to live alone Turn this house into a home When I climb the stairs And turn the key Oh, please be there Still in love with me A house is not a home A home is not a house A house is not a home and a home is not a house Without a man
I come from Poland and I think she had beautiful voice. First Lady of Polish Song said that she love hearing Ella Fitzgerald, because she had something magic in her voice. And I think, that is true.
Mateusz Matusiak That, and her "muse" that made for the perfect improvisations. Do you know what I mean? The greats can tap into it, it's a spiritual genius thing, that works when the performer surrenders to it in performance, like automatic writing.
Incredible phrasing... it is pure magic and we are so lucky to have this in a recording. To think the people back in 1969 had that moment - what a time to be alive.
Here trills are butter im 25 years old and ella Fitzgerald is one of me ultimate fav singers of all time I wish we had jazz/blues restaurants and bars open these days
You have not heard a perfect version of a song untill you've heard Ella sing it This version ist masterfull, touching and simply unmatched Indeed no words to describe Anyone who knows something about Ella's life (from biographies) might burst into tears when he hears Ella with that song and the way she sings these lyrics Ella was a lonely woman Never had luck with men Her whole life was on stage She was loved by millions for her singing But she lived alone on the stage After her concerts she went to eat something with her musicians then she went into the respective hotel To go the next day in another city or another country to be back on stage That was her life fifty or sixty years She died on June 15 1996 Ella you will be forever in my heart and your voice will always warm my soul
(2/10/23) Burt Bacharach passed away 2 days ago... ...and, given how broad, deep, and high his catalogue was, all I can think of is... Imagine if Miss Ella had decided to do one more "Songbook," after she revisited her classic series in the '70's with the “Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook…” Just one... "The Burt Bacharach/Hal David Songbook." Just imagine...
A chair is still a chair, even when there's no one sittin' there But a chair is not a house and a house is not a home When there's no one there to hold you tight And no one there you can kiss goodnight Whoa, ohh, girl A room is still a room, oh, even when there's nothin' there but gloom But a room is not a house and a house is not a home When the two of us are far apart And one of us has a broken heart Now and then I call your name And suddenly your face appears But it's just a crazy game When it ends, it ends in tears Pretty little darling, have a heart, don't let one mistake keep us apart I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home When I climb the stairs and turn the key Oh, please be there, sayin' that you're still in love with me, yeah I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home When I climb the stairs and turn the key Oh, please be there, still in love I said still in love Still in love with me, yeah Are you gonna be in love with me? I want you and need you to be, yeah Still in love with me Say you're gonna be in love with me It's drivin' me crazy to think that my baby Couldn't be still in love with me Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be Well, well, well, well Still in love, so in love, still in love with me? Are you gonna be Say that you're gonna be Still in love with me, yeah With me, ohh Still in love with me, yeah Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Burt Bacharach / Hal David
Not only was she’s the best jazz singer ever but she was also a very humble person she did not come from a good situation when she was young (understatement) but she didn’t let it destroy her or make her arrogant when she became famous she adopted a family member and raised him as her son and started a home for children who had a rough start like her in LA. She was one of a kind, classy, she was everything. They don’t make them like that anymore and I hate to say that, but there’s just so few people that are talented and had a rough upbringing and are nice people. I love you , we all love you, Ella. 🙏😢💚 🎼
When I feel down I listen to Old songs like this one just because I feel a safety in it It's such a shame there's no more of these kind of artists but they still left us some sparkles
I had forgotten what a wonderful voice she had. This is one of my favorite songs and I have heard so many wonderful singers cover it but she really nailed it,
Part of what makes Ella Fitzgerald so great is the way notes get better as she holds them. Most singers hit a note and then it fades away, or maybe they'll add some vibrato to keep you interested. Ella _builds_, whether she trills or drops away or gets husky or does nothing. It's quite something. E.g. listen to 2:12-2:40 for her impeccable choices on how to continue each note! The best jazz singer and interpreter of standards ever. Not to take anything away from Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Karen Carpenter, Dusy Springfield, and today's greats.
Ella brought so much joy to this world with her impeccable singing. She will always be the Queen of music.I don't know what we would have done without her.She was the worlds treasure.😁♥
Ella is better at a wider range of material than Aretha Franklin. And then there are oodles of really good singers. Adele and Beyonce are hella talented, but ...
.......did anyone else start crying in the middle of this at some point? It's not always about the melisma, and she proved that with such grace and an almost lost vocal style.
One of the greatest vocalist of all time! There had never been a song written that she didn’t capture the very essence of music and lyric ! She should live forever through her style and voice!
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