Responding to a request, here is my own version of the unforgettable classic "Harlem Nocturne", written in 1939 by Earle Hagen (music) and Dick Rogers (lyrics) for the Ray Noble Orchestra.
The song mood is bluesy, melancholic and really makes us imagine a broken hearted man during a night of solitude in Harlem. His love left him and he remembers the happy moments, the laughs and the passion they had.
I find this verse to be especially on point, considering the year of releasing of the song:
"Don't ask me to hide
The heartbreak inside,
The gleaming light is gone,
The light went dark!"
I see it as a rebellion against the taboo of hiding the unhappiness and solitude. We all try to hide our feelings when we are sad, but I imagine in 1939 it was considered totally crazy for a man to cry and lament after a woman, and shout his sadness to the world.
With this concept in mind I took the song and I tried to make it sound more modern, with a new chord progression, because I feel it is an artist duty to pass on old lessons and values than look outdated when in fact they are as relevant today as when written.
enjoy
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To buy this cover:
fabiomarziali.com/track/2523561/harlem-nocturne
To buy the backing track:
fabiomarziali.com/track/2523560/harlem-nocturne-gm
Free score:
fabiomarziali.com/files/1088789/harlem-nocturne-eb-score.pdf
4 ноя 2020
