43 of 1001 Songs: Joseito Fernandez’s Guantanamera

 I know many, if not all, will disagree with me, but Joseito Fernandez is a bit more my speed of what I enjoy. Cuban music is a whole lot of fun, and with the recent reunited relations with Cuba between American, and needing a warmer song in this cool climate this seemed the perfect song to warm it up!

History: The beginnings of this song are sort of patchy, but Fernandez gets the main rights, if not all the attention for composing the song. For Cuba this is a hugely patriotic song, and it’s better known song from the country in other places. The song has been covered many times, with a popular version coming along in the 60’s of the tune. The lyrics are rather intriguing for the song as well, and worth looking up to learn a bit about the tune.

I had a lot of fun listening to this tune, and it might be one of the longer older tunes I’ve heard. Most only run around three minutes, but this one went a bit over four. I love the composure of the song though. Even though I can’t understand the language of the lyrics, I do hear a lot of the emotion from the singer performing the song enough to enjoy the tune, but what I really enjoy are the instrumentals.

I love the instrumentals on the album. You have a variety of brass and drumming instrumentals that bring out the flare of the song. I could have even just listened to these bits without the lyrics. The lyrics add a lot of emotion that wouldn’t otherwise be there though.

While I’m sure this song was released sometime in the early 40’s, I wasn’t able to find any exact date this song came on the radar. It’s odd considering they give a date for the covers. Perhaps it is because Joseito Fernandez claims this tune was made over time instead of all at once.

If you’re up for a listen of something different and a classic, then I do recommend this one. I have always loved music like this, and it makes me want to explore Cuban music more as well. This song also has been restored very well, and this brings out all the different enjoyable elements that make this song unique. I love how even the song opens with some acoustic playing, and the sound of the drums. It makes the song stand out, and have a lot of personality.

I also can’t help but wonder if I heard this song on Dexter? It sounded familiar the entire time I was listening.

41 of 1001 Songs: Billie Holiday’s Gloomy Sunday

One of the most prominent female figures in music is Billie Holiday, and if you listen to a few of her songs you will understand why. One of her tunes has already appeared on this list from the 30’s, and she once again makes a hit in the 40’s.  Gloomy Sunday is a beautiful song, and it sets the mood perfectly for what the lyrics capture in the tune.

History: Interestingly this song was a Hungarian song performed in 1933 by Rezso Seress, but it didn’t hit popularity till Billie Holiday’s version. It was even adapted before her version by another set of English artists. She would perform the tune in 1941 around the time that World War Two was being entered by Americans. It’s interesting to think of the things perpetuating around this version in particular.

I love the instrumentals of the tune as much as I love the vocals. The lead in of wind instrumentals give it’s a nice jazz tone, and it builds the mystery that is reflected in Holiday’s voicing. She has an unique voicing that I haven’t heard anything like since.

The lyrical content is sung as if Holiday already has her own personal meaning behind the lyrics. She sings it as if she is singing her own gloomy Sunday tale. The music only gets better as you continue to listen, and not only do the vocals intensify, but so does the music.

The instrumentals aren’t projected as well as the song, but I more so attribute that to recording of the time. It’s restored beautifully, but still some qualities could probably only be captured by personally hearing it live at the time. The arrangement and composition of the song is beautifully done, and it weaves the idea of a dark fairy tale with the choice of instruments.

I love how by the end of this song every part of the song works together to build the emotions. I can see why the public might have been a bit frightened of this song at the time. In a time where we reflect on as light and positive even going into dark times, no one wanted to push forth the darker roots to be popular sentiments.

39 of 1001 Songs: The Ink Spots’ Java Jive

If you’re a coffee lover you might want to add a new song to your morning playlist, especially one that loves on coffee as much as this tune does. The Ink Spots progress the tunes into the 40’s, and it shows the era of the 40’s is one to get excited to listen to as I move away from songs from the 30’s.

History: The song shows a huge music transition from the 1930s to the 1940s. The lyrics are a lot different. They still have lots of rhythm, but way less emotional tension, and a lot more fun instead with the words of the song. It also moves along the genre of jazz after the birth of blues oriented artists in the 30’s. The harmonies are an ode to mostly coffee, but you also have a love for tea in the song also that rings through. The song was recorded in 1940.

Songs like this are a subtle reminder of how times have shifted, and even shifted from the early 40’s, till after World War 2. This song was a recorded single, and yet it has the ease of a jingle. The song is relaxing and it definitely got me wanting to drink a cup of tea while listening.

Another aspect I noticed about the tune was how crisp it was in comparison to the songs recorded in the 30’s. This is just 1940, but you can already hear the difference. Also, I understand that many changes in the music industry and preservation had also been occurring by this time to contribute to that as well.

I wanted to keep in mind the cultural changes that were occurring when listening. I know the 30’s were a harsh one, and from what I remember a brief time between America entering World War II and the Depression I believe was upbeat, and this song does reflect that.

I can’t help but be compelled by the harmonies though. The guitar leads in the tune well with the other instrumentals to get the listener curious, but when the harmonies begin the real charm of the tune also begins. It’s a simple song that reflects a simple enjoyment till this day that people have. I love how the song continues, and the harmonies become more of what carries the tune than the instrumentals.

For a song to start the 40’s this is definitely a great start, and I’m excited to see more of what this era is going to offer. The Ink Spots are worth checking out if you’re looking to explore of this era.