the more things stay the same

My pal Karen is preparing a project for her first-grade class and she asked me to assemble a collage of "My Funny Valentine" song versions to play for her 6-yr-old charges.

It's an auditory event to examine how the kids might interpret various instruments, arrangements and vocal stylings that have come to embrace this tasty Hart/Rodgers chestnut.

WTF? See how each song treatment differs in terms of emotion, style and um, overall hummability (I imagine).

What a novel idea! That's what I said too... Anyway, here's my final tally. Ms. Karen will choose a handful of these tracks to play for the lucky wee buggers:

Ahmad Jamal - My Funny Valentine
Anita Baker - My Funny Valentine
Arturo Sandoval - My Funny Valentine
Ben Webster - My Funny Valentine
Bill Evans - My Funny Valentine (Live)
Billie Holiday & Louis Armstrong - My Funny Valentine
Billy Bragg - Valentine's Day is Over*
Billy Eckstein - My Funny Valentine
Björk - My Funny Valentine (Live at 'Gling Glo')
Carly Simon - My Funny Valentine (amazing)
Carmen McRae - My Funny Valentine
Chaka Khan - My Funny Valentine
Charlie Parker - My Funny Valentine
Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine (Live, w/ orchestra)
Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine (my fave, natch)
Chet & Stan Getz - My Funny Valentine (Live, Stockholm)
Dinah Shore - My Funny Valentine
Duke Ellington - My Funny Valentine (sublime)
Ella Fitzgerald - My Funny Valentine
Elvis Costello - My Funny Valentine (sigh)
Etta James and Bill Evans - My Funny Valentine
Frank Sinatra - My Funny Valentine (Live in '59)
Gerry Mulligan - My Funny Valentine
Gotan Project - My Funny Valentine (a thrill!)
Grant Green - My Funny Valentine
Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine (Live)
Jamey Abersold - My Funny Valentine
Joe Dassin - My Funny Valentine
John Coltrane & Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine (Live in '58)
Julie London - My Funny Valentine
Keith Jarrett - My Funny Valentine (Live in Juan-Les-Pins)
Lena Horne - My Funny Valentine
Linda Ronstadt & Wes Montgomery - My Funny Valentine
Michael Buble - My Funny Valentine
Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine (Live)
Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine
Miranda Sex Garden - My Funny Valentine
Nancy Wilson - My Funny Valentine
Nat King Cole - My Funny Valentine
Nico - My Funny Valentine
Nina Simone - My Funny Valentine
Paul Desmond - My Funny Valentine (Live)
Perry Como - My Funny Valentine
Pieces Of A Dream - My Funny Valentine
Rachelle Ferrell - My Funny Valentine
Ricki Lee Jones - My Funny Valentine (Live)
Rufus Wainwright & Kate McGarrigle - MFV (Live, Letterman)
Sam Brown - Valentine Moon*
Sarah Vaughn - My Funny Valentine
Stan Kenton - My Funny Valentine
Stephen Merritt - My Funny Valentine (Live, Spin Mag)
Stylistics - My Funny Valentine
Steve Earle - Valentine's Day* (Live - I love this)
The Whispers - My Funny Valentine
Tom Waits - Blue Valentine*
Tony Bennett - My Funny Valentine (Live in Paris)
Toots Thielemans - My Funny Valentine (Live)
Vesta Williams - My Funny Valentine
Wes Montgomery - My Funny Valentine
Wynton Marsalis - My Funny Valentine (Live)

Amazing, eh? I've been listening to the same bloody song for the past 2 days and yet, I cannot stop myself from listening to just one more... so beautiful, so rewarding. I loves their infinite pleasures, over and over again - all tender & sweet.

My Funny Valentine
Written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers
© 1937 Chapell & Co Inc (ASCAP)

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble, upright, truthful, sincere
And slightly dopey gent

You're my funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Still you're my favourite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart

Don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay, little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

--

* just to fuck 'em up a bit ; - )