Saluting centennial of Johnny Mercer, master lyricist
This is the day to salute Johnny Mercer, who was born 100 years ago, on Nov. 18, 1909.
He is credited with the lyrics for about 1,000 songs, including an exceptional number of what have long been recognized as standards of the great American songbook. Mercer's use of language could be just too "marvelous for words," as some of the past century's finest melody writers discovered.
I've always felt that the best popular songs, where text and tune are perfectly united, deserve to be ranked alongside the best classical art songs. Many of the works that bear the Mercer trademark certainly can be so ranked.
To celebrate his centennial, here are a few of my favorite Mercer songs, sung by some fabulous artists who make the most out of his lyrics -- and yes, as any of my devoted readers would expect, that means Streisand will be included:
Read more about Johnny Mercer.
Comments
Happy Birthday to Mercer and Thanks for the tunes. "Syklark" as always been a favorite for me, though I prefer the Ronstadt rendition. Who can deny the great Streisand? When not worrying about being an actress/director/activist/politico and on and on, no one does it better.....
Thanks very much for commenting. I like Linda's 'Skylark,' too, but I was so taken by that a cappella version from k.d. that I had to use it -- a nice way of putting extra attention on the lyrics, too, it seemed. TIM
Posted by: ruth | November 18, 2009 7:37 AM
So few people know the down home, understated style Mercer himself used as a vocalist...it would have been nice to include a clip of him performing on of his tunes!
Right you are. (I really did think about doing that at one point.) Let me see if I can make amends. TIM
Posted by: Robert Cunningham | November 18, 2009 9:48 AM
All wonderful choices, as usual from you. But, I must say that the k.d. lang a cappella version of "Skylark" leaves me speechless. Absolutely, as they say, fabulous!
Thanks ever so, you discerning reader. TIM
Posted by: Robert | November 20, 2009 2:54 PM