About Carmen McRae's Recording of "I'll Remember April"

 



"I'll Remember April" is a bittersweet song about a person who's had a brief love affair in April.  One of the lovers-- the one telling the story-- acknowledges the loss but is grateful for having had the affair.  This song, written by Gene DePaul in 1942, is one of those standards that's been recorded by a number of artists, including Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Hartman, and other great jazz and pop singers.  Their recordings are either too slow and syrupy or too upbeat for listeners who want to focus on and appreciate the special words as well as the music of this song. 

There's one recording of "I'll Remember April" that's just the right tempo and just the right style.  It's the recording by Carmen McRae.  McRae's performance of the poignant yet lovely "I'll Remember April," is showcased in this post.  Enjoy!

April in Paris with Ella and Louis

 

Many people love the recording of "April in Paris" by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.  Some consider this particular duet to be a masterpiece.   As I mentioned in my piece titled Random Thoughts about April a few blog posts ago,  I've never been to Paris in April.  I've always gone in summer or early autumn.  But like most people who've visited the City of Light and loved it, I expect to return more than one more time.  There's a good chance that one of my future visits will be in April of another springtime.  Until then, my memories, photos, books, videos, and other vicarious means will serve me well.

Random Thoughts about April

In many areas of the United States, the month of April is a confirmation that spring is trying to settle in and display all of its beauty.  Such is the case in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, the region where I live.  The famous Cherry Blossoms are in bloom, as are apple blossoms, jonquils, tulips, chrysanthemums, and other colorful flowers of the season. The grass is verdant again, and leaves on the area's myriad trees are budding green.  The air seems fresh as it alternates between cool and crisp on some days, and mild and not-so-crisp on others.

April seems to say that good things are still possible for this troubled world as well as for people's individual lives.  April tries to take care of the environment with its rains and breezes and its renewal of all of Earth's creatures. Not only is April a renewal month and a poster month for the environment, April is also, as most people know, a big month for travel.

In Aprils past, I've traveled to California, Florida, and New York, among other places. Thinking of April travel destinations reminds me of songs like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "April in Paris."  I've never been to Paris in April.  But some of my friends are in the City of Light right now.  While they're in Paris, I'll be "in the shed" working on my book projects.  However, I'll be thinking about them whenever I think of the song "April in Paris," and whenever I have my own memories of Paris in mind.