| “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” is unusual in that the song has no verse. |
|
 |
|
- Chris Tyle
|
|
|
Cole Porter’s number was introduced by Virginia Bruce in the 1936 MGM musical Born to Dance. Hal Kemp’s recording hit the charts in October but was topped by Ray Noble’s effort in December, 1936:
- Ray Noble and His Orchestra (1936, Al Bowlly, vocal, #3)
- Hal Kemp and His Orchestra (1936, Skinnay Ennis, vocal, #8)
- Stan Freberg (1951, vocal, #11)
|
| |
|
| |
|
Although Porter had written music for a number of films, Born to Dance would be the first time he had written a complete score. It also was his first MGM musical for which he was getting $3,000 a week, quite a considerable sum in 1936.
|
| |
|
| |
|
Cole was asked to meet with the producers, writers and director of Born to Dance to help consult on the film and to then demonstrate the music he had written. Porter was uneasy with having to perform his material by himself but had to acquiesce. In the George Eels biography, The Life That Late He Led: A Biography of Cole Porter, the author quotes directly from Porter’s diary, relating the events surrounding the music for Born to Dance: “April 20, 1936. I took in ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ and they all liked it very much. Sam Katz [executive producer] asked me to get hold of [vocalist] Frances Langford at once and coach her for the song so she could come out and demonstrate it as soon as she was ready.” Langford came in on May 11, and they were pleased with her performance. (Langford was slated to play one of the parts in the film.) But on May 20, they asked Virginia Bruce (the female lead) to audition the song. Porter and the others were pleased with the results, and Bruce would eventually be the one to perform the song in the film.
Nevertheless, when Decca Records issued a set of recordings of music from the film, it was Langford who sang “I’ve Got You under My Skin.” Then Brunswick issued a recording of Bruce singing the tune, along with “Easy to Love” which was sung by young Jimmy Stewart in the film. The tune was immediately successful, landing second place in a list of songs played most often on the radio.
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” is unusual in that the song has no verse. It was standard practice with most popular songs to have a verse to “set-up” the chorus. Ironically most of the time tunes are performed without the verse anyway. The lyrics of “I’ve Got You under My Skin” relate to an infatuation “so deep in my heart, you’re really a part of me.” One of Cole’s neatest rhymes, “use your mentality, wake up to reality,” conveys the message “a warning voice that comes in the night.”
|
Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian
|
|
|
Musical analysis of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” | | Original Key | Eb major | | Form | A1 - A2 - B | | Tonality | Primarily major | | Movement | Primarily step-wise scale patterns, moving upward during “A” sections and downward during “B” before climbing to the melodic climax in measure 27. | Comments (assumed background) | | This melody has a very wide range, covering a full twelfth, from Bb to the F above the tonic an octave higher in the original key. Because the extreme ends of this range are approached by steps, however, it is not beyond the novice vocalist and, in fact, presents a fine opportunity for singers of limited experience to “stretch” their range and abilities. Porter’s original chord progression was fairly standard, moving ii - V7 - I for the most part. However, the melodic notes tend to avoid “color tones” such as the ninth, thirteenth, etc., so there are many opportunities for creative jazzers to come up with alternate changes. | 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). |
|
Are you a published Vocalist or Instrumentalist?
Add a comment and we'll credit you with a link to your site. (more...)
|
|
Click on a CD for more details at Amazon.com
Diana Krall
When I Look in Your Eyes
1999 Impulse! 304
Original recording 1999
|
|
Vibraphone and flute introduce the listener to the dreamy romance of a light bossa nova beat from guitarist Russell Malone and the lazy sensuality of Krall’s vocals.
|
Randy Weston
Solo, Duo & Trio
2000 Milestone Records 47085
Original recording 1950
|
|
Pianist Weston takes this tune in a duo setting with bassist Sam Gill, and together they explore Porter’s composition in a manner that Porter probably could not have imagined but would have delighted in.
|
Renee Rosnes
With a Little Help From My Friends
2001 Blue Note 26584
|
|
This album contains a superb version of the song featuring Rosnes’ upbeat, swinging piano in the midst of a somewhat ominous, swirling string section.
|
Martin Taylor
The Valley
2005 P-3 Music
|
|
For years Taylor was Stephane Grappelli’s guitarist, and even though the violinist was the star, it was clear that Taylor was a major talent. This CD shows him to great advantage in various settings. Opera star Bryn Terfel does a nice job of phrasing this song in duo with the guitarist.
|
|
Red Norvo’s magical trio from 1950, with guitarist Tal Farlow and bassist Charlie Mingus, charmed the jazz world with their skilled arrangements and facile solo playing. On “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” an ethereal contrapuntal figure alternates with melodic statements and solo passages, with Mingus laying down a solid foundation. Sharply contrasting with the Norvo recording is the Stan Getz Quartet version, also from 1950. Getz opens the tune in the tenor’s upper register, sounding remarkably like Paul Desmond. By the second chorus he’s delving into some Lester Young-style licks, but soon he’s into his own bag. Pianist Al Haig gets his turn, then it’s back to Stan for a swinging out-chorus. Charlie Parker’s recording from 1954 begins with a Latin introduction by the rhythm section, but then it’s into a straight-ahead groove with Bird first stating the melody then flying into some splendid improvisation.
Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian
Stan Getz
Quartets
Original Jazz Classics 121
|
|
| 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.
|
Additional information on “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” may be found in:
8 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: history and performers.
3 paragraphs including the following types of information: music analysis.
1 paragraph including the following types of information: summary, lyric analysis, music analysis and performers.
1 paragraph including the following types of information: history and performers.
5 paragraphs including the following types of information: film productions, history and performers.
1 page including the following types of information: history, performers, style discussion and song writer discussion.
1 paragraph including the following types of information: music analysis.
Includes the following types of information: song lyrics.
Includes the following types of information: song lyrics.
|
|
