ReCovered: "My Funny Valentine"

One of the most enduring and beloved entries in the so-called "Great American Songbook," this very sentimental jazz ballad is a gift that keeps on giving: if you appreciate it at all, then nearly each new rendition is a pleasant little surprise. Like the beautiful "Where or When"(sung here by Diana Krall), "My Funny Valentine" was composed by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart for their 1937 musical Babes in Arms. It was immediately popular, but didn't really reach its stride as a "hit" until the 1950s, when it was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, and many others.  (It is often performed as a trumpet solo.) A good introduction to the song is Chet Baker's 1952 recording:

The song is often performed with a note of lightness and whimsy, as befits its title and lyrics, but is most effective, at least for me, when sung relatively "straight," as a romantic ballad. A perfect example, and my favorite, is Julie London's 1981 rendition, which, sadly, was her final recording:

A slightly goofy, "cute" introduction to the song was included in Babes in Arms, and probably worked in that context, but the song is better off without it.  (It can be heard on the very fine covers by Ella Fitzgerald and, later, Linda Ronstadt, whose version can be heard here.) To demonstrate the universal appeal of the song, we could do worse than to listen to the Japanese actress and singer Kazuko Matsuo, pictured below, from 1966:

A far different rendition, as might be expected, comes from the great Carmen McRae, who puts her very individual stamp on the song, without sacrificing any of its essence.  This lady was a jazz singer:

Anyone who loves this song probably thinks of a certain someone when they hear it; music has that effect on the affections and the soul.  (Although a number of girls and women have passed through my life, I always associate the song with my only daughter: in the secret recesses of my heart, this has been "her song" as long as she's been alive.)  Regardless of who we each think of, however, the song endures.  Our final cover comes from Sting, who performs it with his typical élan.  Be advised that, in this video, the "screen" goes black almost immediately.   You'll just have to close your eyes and enjoy it, and I hope you do.  The song ends at the 4:50 mark.

Kazuko Matsuo