Frank Sinatra “What is this thing called love”

In The Wee Small Hours: 70 Years of a Masterpiece. Chapter 10 – Repertoire: “What is This Thing Called Love”

“What Is This Thing Called Love”
(Cole Porter, 1929)

British singer Elsie Carlisle was the first to perform this mournful lament by Cole Porter (1891–1964), included in the 1929 musical ‘Wake Up and Dream’. Since its debut, it has been endlessly reinterpreted by a dazzling constellation of stars, from Billie Holiday to Iggy Pop, including Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Robert Mitchum along the way.

The lyrics voice the eternal question humanity holds about love, from the perspective of a heart wounded by betrayal. The unfortunate soul is not seeking answers, but rather trying to set his emotions free.

Sinatra’s rendition is a treasure trove of expressive richness. He manages to convey the overwhelming sorrow within his soul with remarkable restraint—always on the verge of hysteria, but never crossing the line into excess that might tarnish the song’s beauty. It opens with unforgettable, melancholic clarinet lines that highlight the protagonist’s tormented thoughts.

In 1955, to the world, Frank Sinatra was the artist who sang of love more and better than anyone else. But the man beneath the surface remained unable to grasp the true complexity of that feeling.

“What is this thing called love?
This funny thing called love?
Just who can solve its mystery?
Why should it make a fool of me?
I saw you there one wonderful day
You took my heart and threw it away
That’s why I ask the Lord in Heaven above
What is this thing called love?”

Article written by Mahnuel Muñoz (Al Mal Tiempo, Frank Sinatra) https://www.facebook.com/groups/120950148274703/

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