Summertime (song)

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"Summertime" is the name of an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. A popular jazz standard, the song is in the Aeolian mode. A little known fact, is that the original name for the song was "Moontitties", but by fear that it would harm the opera's popularity, Gershwin was pressured into changing it to the name that we know today.

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[edit] Origin

Gershwin began composing the song in December 1933, attempting to create his own spiritual in the style of the African American folk music of the period. It is sung multiple times throughout Porgy and Bess, first by Clara in Act I as a lullaby and soon after as counterpoint to the craps game scene, in Act II in a reprise by Clara, and in Act III by Bess, singing to Clara's baby.

[edit] Popularity

It is widely believed that "Summertime" vies with the Beatles' "Yesterday" as one of the most often covered songs in popular music, with an estimated 2,600 different versions recorded. However, a far greater number of recordings of the former exist: as of 16.23 GMT on March 20, 2007, an international group of collectors of recordings of Summertime known as "The Summertime Connection," knows of at least 17,846 public performances, of which 11,994 have been recorded. Of those, the group has 7,116 full recordings and about 1,100 samples and incomplete recordings in its collection.

[edit] Translations

Summertime was composed in English, but it has been sung in many languages. (A random artist in each language is given as an example.) The Summertime Connection knows of performances in:

Kwartet Okazjonalny from Poland has performed a humorous tri-lingual version, underlining the stereotypes of the different languages.

[edit] People who have recorded "Summertime"

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Billie Holiday recorded a version of "Summertime," as did Frank Sinatra. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sang the song in duet. Charlie Parker played his version, along with many other jazz standards, with an orchestra section. Sonny Rollins and Coleman Hawkins performed it as a saxophone duet on the album "Sonny Meets Hawk!", which features a bass solo by Henry Grimes. Both Miles Davis and John Coltrane recorded their interpretations. R&B artist Sam Cooke scored a minor pop hit with his rendition of the song in 1957, when it backed his hit "You Send Me." One of the best known versions is Janis Joplin's recording of a blues-rock version with Big Brother & The Holding Company. Billy Stewart's version became a Top 10 Pop and R&B hit in 1966 for Chess Records. Even seemingly unlikely performers such as the Zombies and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes have made recordings of it, and Sublime's song "Doin' Time" is based on "Summertime". Mark Hamill gargled "Summertime" on The Muppet Show. It appears on several Duke Ellington CDs, usually his live dance recordings, but also from his Carnegie Hall concert in December 1943. Ethel Waters recorded it, too.

The song is a popular choice on the Pop Idol television franchise:

  • American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino (2004) performed the song twice on the program, and subsequently recorded the song for her album Free Yourself. She received a Grammy Nomination for the recording.
  • Andréa Boris (2004) performed the song in the Brasilian version of the show.
  • Canadian Idol contestant Jenny Gear (2003) reached the final six. Another contestant, Theresa Sokyrka, sang it in season two, and recorded it for her debut album.
  • In World Idols (2005) it was performed by Katká Košcova.
  • Sheryn Regis sang this song during the American Idols theme of the Champions Showdown in ASAP '05.
  • Aicelle Santos sang it in Pinoy Pop Superstar.
  • In 2005, it was sung by Lashondra and Leandra Jackson in America, and in Canada by Dianelys Hernandez.
  • In 2006, it was sung by Abi Finley on the BBC reality show "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria."
  • In 2006, Leona Lewis performed a powerhouse rendition of Summertime on The X Factor, a British TV program. This was also included on the "A Moment like This" single.
  • In January, 2007, Lorena Gomez won the 5th Spanish Operación Triunfo with a.o. her performance of Summertime. In the USA, Shyamali Malakar sang it in the 6th season trials in Seattle, while in Canada, Cayla Perricelli sang it at the trials at Binghamton University's Watters Theater on Jan. 6.

The song has also been sung by:

[edit] References

[edit] External links


The World of Porgy and Bess
Book and play - Opera
Creators: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin - DuBose Heyward - Dorothy Heyward
Media: Discography - Film adaptation
Songs and adaptations: "Summertime" - "Catfish Row"
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