The Perfect Popular Song?

“Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.” E. Y. (Yip) Harburg

It’s not the music that you listen to. It’s the music that you are. -Anonymous

“Writing great songs is something you can’t do consciously. Rather you have to let the music come by itself. The job of the musician is to get out of the way of the music.” – Michael Jackson

For the exam, you should know all about the song “Over the Rainbow”, and why according to the video it has an exceptional melody. You should know the words.

We also talked about another song from the movie: If I only had a brain. Just saying.

Can you identify the most popular song of the twentieth century? It starts like this:

When all the world is a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble all around
Heaven opens a magic lane,

When all the clouds darken up the skyway
There’s a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your window pane
To a place behind the sun
Just a step beyond the rain….

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can’t I?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow might be the most perfect popular song ever written. It has been around since 1939. Here is the song from the original movie performance.

There are very popular covers.

Here’s one by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

Here’s another by Ariana Grande.

And of course, Ella Fitzgerald (with the verse)

But why? Why is it so popular (it is, after all, over 80 years old)? Why are people still in love with it?

Please read this link, – and yes, there may be a question on the exam.

You can learn more about Harold Arlen who wrote the music to Over the Rainbow and other wonderful songs…

This is a short book with some important songs.

And yes, I know…

Some of you may think this is the perfect popular song…

And that’s fine too!!

Complete creative freedom, you haven’t heard anything like it, opera right in the middle, part a capella, ballad, rock, opera, avoids regular structure – 5 sections. production, reduction mixing, 180 tracks to 24. Freddie’s personality and life, pushes boundaries.

A simple and fun way to fall in love with ‘old popular tunes’ is to listen to Chet Baker sing and play them. It’s never too late!

And now the important questions

What classifies as a popular song?

What is the ‘secret sauce’ that makes a popular song immortal?