Though I wasn't aware then, yesterday was the 100th entry. Nothing special is planned. No lengthy extravaganza of a post, no sentimental recap of the boner blog's life so far- things will continue on as normal. However tonight I'm going to see Morrissey, so for me, that's a pretty damn good reward.
This summer song entry will be what is inarguably the most well-known song about the summer, "Summertime." It was originally written for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. Most people aren't aware of that. Yes, it was not written by Sublime. That said, it's one of the most covered songs ever, with about 2,600 recorded versions and 18,985 live performances. Everyone from Janis Joplin to Devendra Banhart to Scarlett Johansson had their own version. There's even http://www.summertime-collection.com/a popular site among the "Summertime" devotees, as it lists a couple thousand of the known versions.
Now of the versions I've personally heard, my favorite is by far the one the Zombies do.
The Zombies - Summertime
"It’s summertime
And the living is easy
The bees are jumping
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good looking
Would you hush pretty baby
Don’t you cry
One of these mornings
You’re going to wake up singing
There you’re going to spread wings
And take to the sky
But till that morning
Ain’t nothing, nothing going to harm you
With your mommy and daddy
There standing by
It’s summertime
And the living is easy
The bees are jumping
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good looking
Would you hush pretty baby
Don’t you cry"
The Zombies @Amazon.com
2 comments:
Not at all who I would have expected for "best cover" of Summertime. I like it.
The Zombies are pretty solid on the R&B cuts. "This Old Heart of Mine" from Live at the BBC is some really inspired whiteboy soul.
As for "Summertime," I'm partial to George Benson's recording from It's Uptown (1965).
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