Sing it, don’t say it…
- 17 Feb 08, 07:34 PM
“Picking up where my esteemed colleague Mr Bailie left off on the subject of Valentine’s Day…. Last year I got the standard bouquet of flowers and it was absolutely lovely - lilies and roses and all sorts of other blooms I can never the names of. Naturally I was delighted, particularly after several years in the romantic wildnerness. So, as I am still happily ensconced with my beloved - albeit not always necessarily in the same country - I would have to admit that when I awoke on the morning of February 14th my mood was one of optimistic expectation.
However, as the day wore on and no flowers, cards or other such gifts were being showered upon my person I did begin to panic slightly. After 3 calls to the 主播大秀 front desk to ask if anything had been delivered I realised I was starting to sound very desperate indeed. Bizzarely, when I was single none of this mattered, my expectation was zero. Now it was different, now there were no acceptable excuses.
By this stage I had taken to rehearsing in my head just how exactly I was going to enact the Valentine’s Day Massacre II – only the one victim, but a lot more blood! As you would expect I had also scripted the bitter words about “being neglected” and “unappreciated” and “I don’t care how much you think it’s just some sort of commercialised rip-off invented by greeting cards companies and florists”.
And then it happened. The little envelope popped up on my computer screen and in this electronic age I got the best, the most romantic Valentine ever. My beloved got in touch with his sentimental side, sat down at the piano and recorded, especially for me, a version of one of my all time favourite songs ‘My Funny Valentine’, written by Rodgers and Hart in 1937 and one of the most recorded of all the standards that make up the Great American Songbook.
Now obviously it helps that he’s a very talented singer songwriter and a terrific musician with a great voice – honestly I’m not being biased - but despite the fact that this has been covered by everybody from Ella Fitzgerald to Michelle Pfeiffer this is the best version I ever heard – and always will be.
It brought tears to my eyes, joy to my heart and I will treasure until the day I die. Who needs flowers now!!!!
And just in case you aren’t familiar with Mr Hart’s words here they are…
My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my favourite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little Valentine stay
Each day is Valentine's day
Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But don't you change one hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little Valentine stay
Each day is Valentine's day
Romantic or what? If I can find a way to let you hear Jim’s wonderful version I will definitely let you know!
The 主播大秀 is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Comments?? Post your comment