The Song Is You

"The Song Is You" is a jazz standard composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was written for their musical Music in the Air (1932)^[1] and sung in that show by Tullio Carminati.^[2] In the subsequent 1934 film, the song was recorded and filmed but cut from the final release. An instrumental of the song can still be heard under the opening credits.^[3]

An early hit in 1932 was by Jack Denny and his Waldorf–Astoria Orchestra (vocal by Paul Small).^[4] In later years the song became often associated with Frank Sinatra,^[5] becoming the last song he performed with Tommy Dorsey.^[6] Many other artists have recorded the song over the years, including Charlie Parker.^[7]

"The Song Is You" is the recurring musical theme of the 2003 Guy Maddin film The Saddest Music in the World. Nine different versions of the song were arranged for the film by composer Christopher Dedrick, whose work received a Genie Award.^[8]

Composer Alec Wilder writes that the song "attempts too dramatic a statement on too small a stage [...] it suggests a grander voice than that usually associated with popular theater music", but that it nonetheless possesses a "superior quality" as a composition, with a "masterful" release containing "brilliant" harmony and melody.^[9] It is written in AABA form.^[9]

References

^ "Jerome Kern Biography". Songwritershalloffame.org. 1945-11-11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
^ The Broadway League. "The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". IBDB.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
^ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 125. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
^ Bret Wheadon. "Sinatra! The Complete Guide". Sinatraguide.com. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
^ "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #8". 1972.
^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
^ Gioia, Ted (2012). The Jazz Standards : A Guide to the Repertoire. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 385–386. ISBN 978-0-19-993739-4.
^ ^a ^b Wilder, Alec (1972). American Popular Song: the Great Innovators 1900–1950. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 64. ISBN 0-19-501445-6..

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[1] "Jerome Kern Biography". Songwritershalloffame.org. 1945-11-11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-15.

[2] The Broadway League. "The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". IBDB.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-15.

[3] "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2017.

[4] Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 125. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.

[5] Bret Wheadon. "Sinatra! The Complete Guide". Sinatraguide.com. Retrieved 2015-04-15.

[6] "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #8". 1972.

[7] "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

[8] Gioia, Ted (2012). The Jazz Standards : A Guide to the Repertoire. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 385–386. ISBN 978-0-19-993739-4.

[Wilder_p64-9] Wilder, Alec (1972). American Popular Song: the Great Innovators 1900–1950. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 64. ISBN 0-19-501445-6..

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