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“... the
jam sessions feature greats
Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, Johnny
Hodges and Benny Carter. This is an inspired
version of a song Parker would revisit regularly.” |
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- Ben Maycock
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Britain’s
“Radio Sweetheart Number One,” singer
Elsie Carlisle, introduced “What
Is This Thing Called Love?” to the
London Pavilion on March 27th,
1929. The song was performed as
part of Wake Up and Dream,
a musical revue with words and
music composed by Cole Porter and
the book by John Hastings Turner.
The Wake Up and Dream
score comprisedover a dozen Porter songs,
including “Let’s
Do It, Let’s Fall in Love,”
which was introduced
the previous year in the musical
Paris.
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In addition to
Elsie Carlisle, the revue also
starred a young Jessie Matthews,
(later to become one of Britain’s
top musical comedy stage and screen
stars), her husband and manager
Sonnie Hale, and dancer-actress
Tilly Losch. Wake Up and Dream
ran on the London stage for 263
performances.
In the United States the Broadway
production of Wake Up and Dream
was met with mixed reviews. It opened
on December 30, 1929, at the Selwyn
Theatre and starred Jessie Matthews,
Jack Buchanan, and Tilly Losch,
with Frances Shelley singing “What
Is This Thing Called Love.” The
revue was cut short after only 136
performances.
The title Wake Up and Dream
would later be used for films in
1934, 1942 (the British title for
the American film What’s Cookin’),
and 1947, the movies sharing nothing
more than the title with the Cole
Porter revue.
Leo Reisman and His Orchestra
(Lew Conrad, vocal) would be the
first artist to place “What Is This
Thing Called Love” on the pop charts.
On February 15, 1930, 11 months
after its introduction, the song
made its chart debut rising to
number five.
Also making it onto the charts
with “What Is This Thing Called
Love?” were:
-
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
(1930, #10)
- Fred Rich and His Orchestra
(1930, #19)
- Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
(1939, #15)
- Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
(Connie Haines, vocal, 1942,
#13)
- Les Paul (electric guitar,
1948, #11)
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Cole Porter claimed that “What
Is This Thing Called Love?” with
its innovative alternating major
and minor key changes, was inspired
by a Moroccan native dance. In the
biography
Cole: A Biographical Essay by
Robert Kimball and Brendan Gill,
the lyrics of the song are placed
next to a picture of Tilly Losch
and Toni Birkmayer in dance pose.
Towering over them is William Cavanagh
dressed as an African idol. This
exotic costuming and dramatization
would seem to reflect the supposed
origin of the piece.
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Musicologists often praise the construction
of both the song’s melody and harmony.
The strength and beauty of each
combine to create one of the most
played and arranged of Cole Porter’s
compositions. The song continues
to challenge new generations of
jazz musicians, inspiring improvisations
that may stray from the standard
but are intrinsically linked with
the original. A notable example
is John Coltrane’s “Fifth House”
which is based on Tadd Dameron’s
“Hot
House” which in turn is based
upon “What Is This Thing Called
Love?”
While critical analysis of “What
Is This Thing Called Love?” usually
focuses on the exotic nature of
the music, the lyrics are also well
crafted. In contrast to the inventive
harmony, the words tell a rather
conventional love tale with no references
to idols or Moroccan dances. From
the opening line “I was a humdrum
person,” through the lament of love
both found and then lost, the refrain
asks the listener “What Is This
Thing Called Love?”
Porter undoubtedly had a feeling
for the relative merits of both
his words and his music. In “What
Is This Thing Called Love?” the
charming and well-suited lyrics
are restrained so as not to upstage
the musical composition. As the
song is most often performed as
an instrumental it would appear
that his instinct was correct. -JW
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Musical analysis of
“What Is This Thing Called Love?”
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| Original
Key |
C major;
false key change to Bb major in “B” section |
| Form |
A1 – A2 –
B – A3 |
| Tonality |
Alternating
between major and minor |
| Movement |
There are
mainly steps and skips downward and leaps
upward. It is 40% long, sustained pitches. |
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Comments
(assumed
background)
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The harmonic progression of “A,” a simple
I – iv – V7 – I (the diminished chords in
this piece are decorative substitution for
the tonic in its secondary dominant or V7/iv
function), owes as much to the blues as
to North African folk song. “B” begins in
the key Bb (established by use of F7 as
secondary dominant) and then drops to Ab
and G7, giving the piece an almost Eastern
feeling, if only briefly. |
K. J. McElrath - Musicologist for JazzStandards.com
Check out K. J. McElrath's book of Jazz Standards Guide Tone Lines at his web site (www.bardicle.com). |
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Sometimes, as in my recording of “What Is this Thing Called Love,” I will insert
the changes from “Giant Steps” in certain parts of the song rather than use the
old hackneyed sets of changes that we are so used to hearing. I IV II VI songs
just bore me to tears these days. Ever since Charlie Parker we have been collectively
changing the harmonic structures of these songs.
Jay Thomas plays saxophones, trumpet, flugelhorn, and flute
www.jaythomasjazz.com
Are you a published Vocalist or Instrumentalist?
Add a comment and we'll credit you with a link
to your site. (more...)
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“What Is This Thing Called
Love?” was included in these films:
- You’re a Lucky Fellow,
Mr. Smith (1943)
- The More the Merrier
(1943)
- Night and Day (1946,
Cole Porter biography,
Ginny Simms, vocal)
- Young Man with a Horn
(1950)
- Starlift (1951)
- The Eddie Duchin Story
(1956)
- New York Stories
(1989)
- The Russia House
(1991)
- Husbands and Wives
(1992)
- De-Lovely (2004,
Lemar, vocal)
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Click on a CD for more details
at Amazon.com
Susie Arioli Swing Band
It’s Wonderful
2000, Justin Time Records
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| Canadian vocalist/percussionist
Susie Arioli’s debut album contains a superb
rendition of the song. Arioli’s rich vocals
are laid over mellow country swing. |
Frank Sinatra
In the Wee Small Hours
1998, Capitol 94755
Original recording, 1955
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| This is the first of many collaborations
between Sinatra and arranger Nelson Riddle.
Sinatra’s voice and the Riddle clarinet
theme create one of the most haunting interpretations
of the song. |
Kenny Garrett
Standard of Language
2003, Warner Bros. 48404
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| Saxophonist Garrett kicks off
his CD with a soulful, technically
perfect rendition of the song. The phrasing
only proves critics right when they suggest
he is the second coming of John Coltrane. |
Charlie Parker
Legendary Jam Sessions
2004, Definitive Classics
Original recording, 1952
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| Recorded in Hollywood, California,
and Washington, D.C., the jam sessions feature
greats Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, Johnny
Hodges and Benny Carter. This is an inspired
version of a song Parker would revisit regularly. |
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James P. Johnson was a master of the piano style
known as “stride,” the roots of which lay in the
ragtime of a generation before. His disciples were
to become legend to the generation following:
Duke Ellington, Count Basie,
Fats Waller and even
Thelonious Monk. Johnson’s 1930 version of this
tune includes the seldom-heard verse and is taken
at a medium tempo. Johnson’s playing illustrates
ideas his pupil,
Fats Waller, put to good use.
Sidney Bechet’s 1941 foray, with the great swing
era trumpeter Charlie Shavers, is taken at an almost
ballad tempo and is a wonderful, relaxed performance.
Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian
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| This section shows the jazz standards
written by the same writing team. Click on a name
to see all of a writer's jazz standards.
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Additional information on “What Is This Thing Called Love?” may be found in:
5 pages including the following types of information: history, lyric analysis, music analysis and song lyrics. (Book includes CD).
1 paragraph including the following types of information: music analysis.
2 pages including the following types of information: music analysis.
1 paragraph including the following types of information: summary.
1 paragraph including the following types of information: history and performers.
1 paragraph including the following types of information: lyric analysis and song lyrics.
Includes the following types of information: song lyrics.
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