Today I was thinking about a couple of songs that have
the month of September as their theme. They are September in the Rain
and September Song. Years ago the muse gave me an affinity for songs
that honor the months; and for songs that honor the seasons, such as Autumn
Leaves, Autumn in New York, Moonlight in Vermont, and Let
It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! The muse must have given millions of
other people an affinity for them, too. CDs that include these classic songs
are selling on the Internet and in music stores. Musicians and vocalists are
still including them in their performances around the world.
I’ve heard recordings of September in the Rain by such legends as Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Washington. And I’ve listened to CDs that include September Song sung by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and The Platters. While I admire and enjoy the work of all of these legends, I prefer to listen to only two of them sing what I call the “Songs of September.”
Dinah Washington wins with September in the Rain. The lyrics of this song describe the rain as being a sweet refrain, a reminder of a love affair that happened during a September in the past. Washington’s strong voice and blues style add something special to this standard. These qualities along with her timing and clear enunciation (which can be heard on all of her recordings) enable Dinah to own September in the Rain.
The Platters, a bluesy pop group from the early rock and roll era, does the best job on September Song. A ballad sung slowly by some artists, September Song is a metaphor for a young person (May) and an older person (September) who are in love. The song bemoans what little time the couple has left; because, according to the song, September isn’t far from the end of the year and the end of life. Although the lyrics are a little sad, The Platters’ rendition of the song is upbeat, rendering the sound of it not sad at all.
The September-themed songs are nice. And the unique treatment of them by the artists mentioned above makes them great to listen to now and any time of year. --- Vwg
I’ve heard recordings of September in the Rain by such legends as Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Washington. And I’ve listened to CDs that include September Song sung by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and The Platters. While I admire and enjoy the work of all of these legends, I prefer to listen to only two of them sing what I call the “Songs of September.”
Dinah Washington wins with September in the Rain. The lyrics of this song describe the rain as being a sweet refrain, a reminder of a love affair that happened during a September in the past. Washington’s strong voice and blues style add something special to this standard. These qualities along with her timing and clear enunciation (which can be heard on all of her recordings) enable Dinah to own September in the Rain.
The Platters, a bluesy pop group from the early rock and roll era, does the best job on September Song. A ballad sung slowly by some artists, September Song is a metaphor for a young person (May) and an older person (September) who are in love. The song bemoans what little time the couple has left; because, according to the song, September isn’t far from the end of the year and the end of life. Although the lyrics are a little sad, The Platters’ rendition of the song is upbeat, rendering the sound of it not sad at all.
The September-themed songs are nice. And the unique treatment of them by the artists mentioned above makes them great to listen to now and any time of year. --- Vwg
