Facts you didn't know about the famous aria "Summertime"

10/9/2017

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music Story: Facts you didn't know about the famous aria "Summertime"

"Summertime" is a worldwide known aria composed for the opera "Porgy and Bess". We love this song and prepared some interesting facts for you!

The aria was composed by George Gershwin in 1935. It is believed that he took the Ukraine lullaby "Ой ходить сон коло вікон" as a basis. "Summertime" is performed in "Porgy and Bess" four times.

According to some statistics, the quantity of "Summertime" covers is 60 thousands approximately. It's more that Beatles' "Yesterday" has.

The aria became popular after it was performed by such Jazz musicians as Charles Parker, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Oscar Peterson.

The aria was translated into many languages including Esperanto (a constructed international auxiliary language).

"Summertime" was the last song Janis Joplin performed. She finished the last concert in her life with this song.

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

19 Comments

Ilias Tsiabardas

Beautiful Song performed so gracefully from all those Amazing Artists ,thanks for sharing this

Ellen Sheehan

Apart from the Porgy and Bess performance - so many great artists - of course The Bird’s jazz instrumental ranks with the best. Billie Holiday long had one of the most famous versions. Many would say Janis Joplin’s was the definitive - passion and pain in her delivery. Sam Cooke, Doc Watson, Billy Stewart deserve a listen. And the in the Doin Time sampled by Sublime. Miles, Coltrane, Chet Baker, Denis Solee………..

tdelisi

Celeste Thomas, Yes, and 59,999 others as well

Lulu Anne Percival

Absolutely stunning voice - perfect ❤️❤️

ninakamwene

Thank you for that hauntingly beautiful Aria sang by huge talented folks. RIP.

Edith Rookes

The dolls upgrade are excellent. Especially The Mad Hatter. Emma Watson and Kate Blanchett is good also. Summertime, yes I remember it well. The art on the dolls are just great , life-like.

Lydia Wood

I’ve seen Porgy & Bess many years ago. The score was wonderful.

Marti Fogel

So Beautiful!

Alan D. Suddeth

MISTER GERSHWIN HAS VERY RICH MUSICAL HISTORY IN AMERICA

Sharon Qualseth

Love this song and entire score from Porgy and Bess.

Ron Barnes

Great history behind the song "Summertime" by Gerswin. Thanks.

RainingStars

I love this song! I used to sing my son this song, every night before he went to sleep! It was one of his favourite songs, that I would sing to him. He's grown now. 🙂

Diana Newman

Love all the music from Porgy and Bess, but 'Summertime' is my favourite. It is so earthy and full of emotion.

Cathie Roth Lonnquist

I have loved this song since I was a child. I came from a very musical background and originally majored in music in college. I thought I had heard every singer who had sung this song but hearing that Janis Joplin had sung it surprised me. After listening to it here I was kind of sad because she massacred the song and I think by this point in her career her voice was already shot. I suppose there are those who will say they like the way she sang it but not me.

Carroll Price

The late Doc Watson does a great job on this song.

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