FMM: Beguine here

Since we talked about Ella Fitzgerald during last week's Friday Magic Madness feature, let's continue the topic and talk about another one of her popular songs.

In 1956, she released an album entitled "Ella Fitzgerald sings the Cole Porter Song Book." 

Cole Porter was a popular songwriter in the 1930s, and one of his most famous hits was also popularized by Ella Fitzgerald.

"Begin the Beguine" has been sung and performed so many times through many decades by so many big artists. From Artie Shaw's instrumental version, to Perry Como's laid-back version, to Julio Iglesias' Spanish version.

But thanks to her voice and vocal styles, Ella Fitzgerald's version is still the best for me.

FMM: Ella, ella, eh, eh,

Nope, this isn't a post about Rihanna's "Unbrealla." After all, this is a Friday Magic Madness day.

It's about Ella Fitzgerald. Yes, the iconic Queen of Jazz.

Since we had records and cassette tapes of Ella at home, her music made an impression on me even as a little boy. Her voice, vocal stylings and songs impressed me - even as a kid.

One of the songs I'd always replay is this 1950s song that she sang with Louis Armstrong.

"Dream a little dream of me" is a song that's just like its title. 

It's dreamy in more ways that one.

FMM: Ella-mentary

For the first FMM song for 2024, we’re going to go back.

Way back.

In 1947, Frank Loesser - a popular and prolific songwriter - wrote this smooth and heartfelt ditty about New Year. It’s a song that proved to be such a classic that musical artists from the 1940s to the 2010s sang this song and had versions of it.

But for today, we’re paying homage to the OG.

Ella Fitzgerald was the first singer to sing “What are you doing New Year’s Eve.” True to her style of singing, this version is sultry and croony, and captures both the romance and celebration of Christmas.

So what am I doing?

Listening to this song over and over and over again, of course.