This week on "Later with Jools Holland", we learn that Diana Krall, for many years entranced by Brazilian rhythms, has felt sufficiently moved to cram her new album choc full of bossa nova tributes. To illustrate this, she slides into a husky gender-reassigned version of "Girl from Ipanema".
Now I like a bit of jazz as much as the next man but I just can't get on with this. Slurry and out-of-tune, for me it's bordering on Vic Reeves territory. It's a classic tune Diana. Why condemn it to such a painful and unnecessary death?
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On the up-side, this week's programme also includes the very excellent Unthanks and some great soul from Maxwell.
8 comments:
Yes, I saw that and wondered what the point was. I don't think it was THAT bad, just unnecessary. And why put yourself up for direct comparison with Astrud Gilberto?
Have you got the new Unthanks album? Is it as good as the last one (which I bought on your recommendation!)?
Yes maybe a slight over-reaction. I think what I object to is the tendency amongst jazz musicians to sometimes take a well-known tune--often they add a bit of "swing" which may or may not be in keeping with the lyrical sentiments--and sing a slurrring approximation of the melody, all just as an excuse to show off their soloing technique. Just wish they'd write their own songs if they want to do that rather than mudering other people's.
Yes I did buy the new Unthanks album a while back. I would say as good as the last one, possibly better...
Not familiar with the original but listening to both to see if I "get" what you're saying :)
Do you think Jools really likes it as much as he makes out? He's enthusiastic about most things. Does he ever get home and go "Jeeese that was bad".
Have since learned that Astrud Gilberto's version isn't actually the original but can see it is pretty darn good!
I think Jools Holland is probably the worst thing in the programme. For a start he seems to be contractually obliged to interview his tedious showbiz mates Rowland Rivron and Ade Edmondson in every series...
One of the good things about Twitter (stick with me here) is someone calling himself--or herself for all I know--DrSamuelJohnson. He/she posts insightful comments (er, "tweets") on the issues of the day--in 18th Century English.
Re Jools, for example: "Unctuous Cockney-Oik Mister Jools HOLLAND earns the Trust of Musickians & then does assault them with his PIANO-FORTE". Says it all really...
Was it Astrud Gilberto's husband Joao who did the original "Girl from Ipanema"? Think he co-wrote it at least?
(Just warming up for 3 Kings quiz there...)
I think it was actually written by Antonio Carlos Jobim - and he probably did the first version.
Do you partake in a music quizz Hoops?!
Yes Cocktails, we brave the music quiz at the Three Kings in Clerkenwell (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/17/1792/Three_Kings/Clerkenwell) now and then, usually with limited success. Hoping for a Bossa Nova round next time then...
Yes, you are right that Jobim wrote it: I thought that Joao Gilberto might have written the words but the mighty Wikipedia reveals:
a) that the Portuguese lyrics were written by Vinicius de Moraes with English lyrics written later by Norman Gimbel;
b) that the first commercial recording was in fact in 1962, by one Pery Ribeiro (whatever happened to him?)
c) that the "Boy from Ipanema" has been recorded by Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald etc etc. Wonder if any are worse than Diana Krall's version?
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