On Discovering the Song "Paris Is at Her Best in May"

When some people first heard the song "Paris Is at Her Best in May," they might have heard the recording of it by Sammy Davis Jr.  After hearing it, they may have searched for the recording online and learned that the only CD with Sammy Davis Jr. singing that song was a CD containing an old TV show called The Sammy Davis Jr. Show.  That show featured guests such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.  Some folks might not have wanted to buy the whole TV show, as it were, just for one song.  But for some like myself, if that was the only way we were going to get it, then that's the way it was going to be. 

"Paris Is at Her Best in May" is number six on that TV program of 12 tunes.  The lyricist and composer credits on the back of the CD appear as follows:  English lyrics by Gene Lees/Original French text by Charles Aznavour/ Music by Charles Aznavour & Pierre Roche.  

I'd like to have a video of Sammy Davis Jr. singing "Paris Is at Her Best In May," but the only video I could find had him singing another song first, and I didn't think the quality of that rendition was as good as his performance on the old TV program. 

Fortunately there's a great alternative video out there featuring two other artists singing, "Paris Is at Her Best in May."  That video appears today in a brief post on my other blog, Paris Related Pieces.  Check it out.  It might please you as much as it's pleased me.    

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.