Ella Fitzgerald: Lullaby of Birdland


Where to begin on this week's blog... Well first of all, this song is called "Lullaby of Birdland." It is a jazz standard sung by my favorite jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. I chose this song because it is the first jazz song I ever learned how to sing. I learned how to sing this when I was a senior in high school, because I had an audition that required a jazz piece. Ever since then I have fell in love with jazz, but specifically Ella Fitzgerald. I love her voice. It has a very unique sound that I feel no one could imitate. She also has a very wide vocal range. And in my opinion, she is the best scatter. I love listening to her scat, and she is my inspiration to learn how to scat, and become a better jazz singer. As for jazz itself, I absolutely love it. Jazz always puts me in a good mood. The thing I love most about jazz is that one jazz standard can be sung by five different singers, and not one of them will sound the same. Jazz singers are great at improvisation. Even when Ella Fitzgerald sings the same song, it sounds different every time. Also, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong have done quite a few songs together. I think they sound so great together because the both have such unique voices, and both of their great personalities just radiate through the music. Even if you have no interest in jazz, just check out Ella Fitzgerald, I’m sure you’ll change your mind.


Here are some more songs you might like

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
Tea For Two
Blue Skies
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

The Fugees: Killing Me Softly

What better way to start off my first Music 121 blog (first blog ever in my whole life) than with my favorite song. This song is called "Killing me Softly" by the Fugees (mainly Lauryn Hill). Before I begin talking about this song, I'd just like to say that with every blog I post there will be a video attached. Please watch, or at least listen to it because I really want you to understand where I am coming from when I write about these songs and the songs I post will have a meaning to me. Back to the song, "Killing me Softly" by The Fugees. The Fugees are a hip hop group that came to fame in the mid 1990's. The members are Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and Pras Michel.Their repertoire included elements of hip hop, soul and Caribbean music. I have loved this song ever since I was a kid. I don't know what it is about it, but I never get tired of listening to it. This song has a very chill sound. I love the soft playing percussion beat under the beautiful vocals of Lauryn Hill. And speaking of Lauryn Hill, I'd just like to say I love her voice. She has beautiful vocals, and she doesn't just sing her music, she feels it. If you just close your eyes and listen to her sing this song (or any song she sings), you can really feel the emotion. I really don't like the video, however. Today is actually the first time I have ever seen this video. I think the song is very deep, and the video, although very funny, does the lyrics no justice. It could just be because for all these years I've created an image in my head when I hear this song that the video completely goes against. (feel free to give your opinion on that in a comment) What I really like about songs by The Fugees and Lauryn Hill are the beats. I am big on percussion, and I've noticed that a lot of the songs by The Fugees and Laurynn Hill use good percussion beats to create that beat that you can't help but nod your head to. What happend to The Fugees? Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean went on to successful solo recording careers, while Pras Michel focused on soundtrack recordings and acting.

If you enjoyed this song, check out these other great songs
(Fugees)
Ready or Not
Fu-gee-la
Vocab

(Lauryn Hill)
Ex-Factor
That Thing
Can't Take my Eyes off You
Everything is Everything