Like Breathless Mahoney, only not, you know, terrible.
October 23, 2008 12:18 PM
If I want to be a lady lounge singer, in a restaurant/nightclub, draping myself across a piano in sequins and a smoky spotlight, what are the classic vamp songs I should learn, first?
Stormy Weather
Makin' Whoopee
Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love
Let's Misbehave
Mind if I Make Love to You?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:29 PM on October 23, 2008
Makin' Whoopee
Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love
Let's Misbehave
Mind if I Make Love to You?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:29 PM on October 23, 2008
I Wanna Be Loved By You, a la Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot
posted by amicamentis at 12:31 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by amicamentis at 12:31 PM on October 23, 2008
Why don't you do right (like some other men do)?
posted by stubby phillips at 12:32 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by stubby phillips at 12:32 PM on October 23, 2008
On non-preview. Dammit.
posted by stubby phillips at 12:32 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by stubby phillips at 12:32 PM on October 23, 2008
san francisco fan (cab calloway)
posted by stubby phillips at 12:39 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by stubby phillips at 12:39 PM on October 23, 2008
My Funny Valentine
posted by thebrokenmuse at 12:40 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by thebrokenmuse at 12:40 PM on October 23, 2008
I had never before realized that Crazy was written by Willie Nelson.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:44 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:44 PM on October 23, 2008
My heart belongs to daddy!
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 12:49 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 12:49 PM on October 23, 2008
Since I Fell For You
("Youuuuuu made me leave my happy home ....")
posted by Kangaroo at 12:57 PM on October 23, 2008
("Youuuuuu made me leave my happy home ....")
posted by Kangaroo at 12:57 PM on October 23, 2008
Kurt Weill has some fantastic stuff. Off the top of my head:
Speak Low from One Touch of Venus
The Alabama Song from the Rise and Fall of the City of Mahoganny (you know "Oh show us the way to the next whiskey bar/oh Don't ask why/oh don't ask why")
Pirate Jenny from The Threepenny Opera (okay, it's not exactly a torch song, but done right it will bring the fucking house down)
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:02 PM on October 23, 2008
Speak Low from One Touch of Venus
The Alabama Song from the Rise and Fall of the City of Mahoganny (you know "Oh show us the way to the next whiskey bar/oh Don't ask why/oh don't ask why")
Pirate Jenny from The Threepenny Opera (okay, it's not exactly a torch song, but done right it will bring the fucking house down)
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:02 PM on October 23, 2008
Seconding why dont you do right - performed by Jessica Rabbit
posted by nitsuj at 1:03 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by nitsuj at 1:03 PM on October 23, 2008
Hee. I used to do this. Here's my list:
How long has this been going on?
Cry me a river
Come rain or come shine
Night and day
The man I love
Bewitched
Misty
The man that got away
Fine and mellow
I'll add more later as I think of them. Have fun.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 1:12 PM on October 23, 2008
How long has this been going on?
Cry me a river
Come rain or come shine
Night and day
The man I love
Bewitched
Misty
The man that got away
Fine and mellow
I'll add more later as I think of them. Have fun.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 1:12 PM on October 23, 2008
pssst. that was Amy Irving singing for Jessica Rabbit. Yes, that Amy Irving.
posted by stubby phillips at 1:12 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by stubby phillips at 1:12 PM on October 23, 2008
'Crazy' (Gnarls Barkley) would sound great I reckon, slowed down, as a counterpoint to Willie Nelson/Patsy Cline's 'Crazy' - maybe even as a segue/medley.
'The Man I Love' (Gershwins)
The Fabulous Baker Boys soundtrack should give you a good baseline from which to work.
posted by goo at 1:14 PM on October 23, 2008
'The Man I Love' (Gershwins)
The Fabulous Baker Boys soundtrack should give you a good baseline from which to work.
posted by goo at 1:14 PM on October 23, 2008
Look to Peggy Lee's catalog.
posted by infinitewindow at 1:19 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by infinitewindow at 1:19 PM on October 23, 2008
Ooh, now I think of it I've always wanted to do a few of the Beaches soundtrack songs as a baby-grand lounging, sequinned singer - 'Glory of Love', 'Otto Titsling', 'Baby Mine' and 'I Think It's Going To Rain Today', and if you can throw in 'Oh Industry' that would be awesome.
posted by goo at 1:20 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by goo at 1:20 PM on October 23, 2008
Embraceable You
I Get Along Without You Very Well
Fly Me to the Moon
My Funny Valentine
Big Spender!
posted by pazazygeek at 1:34 PM on October 23, 2008
I Get Along Without You Very Well
Fly Me to the Moon
My Funny Valentine
Big Spender!
posted by pazazygeek at 1:34 PM on October 23, 2008
Crazy (Gnarls Barkley) as sung by my favorite drag queen/lounge singer.
posted by gingerbeer at 1:35 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by gingerbeer at 1:35 PM on October 23, 2008
Back in the 80s, Linda Ronstadt cut an album of torch songs, "What's New." Everything on that would be a good candidate (some already mentioned here).
Nina Simone had some suitable ones, especially, My Baby Just Cares for Me and Love Me or Leave Me. Black is the Color and Don't Smoke in Bed would take a little rearranging but seems like strong possibilities.
posted by adamrice at 1:48 PM on October 23, 2008
Nina Simone had some suitable ones, especially, My Baby Just Cares for Me and Love Me or Leave Me. Black is the Color and Don't Smoke in Bed would take a little rearranging but seems like strong possibilities.
posted by adamrice at 1:48 PM on October 23, 2008
Blues In The Night
C'est si bon
Santa Baby (seasonally, of course)
The Lady Is A Tramp
posted by tommasz at 1:52 PM on October 23, 2008
C'est si bon
Santa Baby (seasonally, of course)
The Lady Is A Tramp
posted by tommasz at 1:52 PM on October 23, 2008
You Belong To Me
Sway
Maybe This Time
and the arch Torch Song ...
Love For Sale
You could have a lot of fun going all Nouvelle Vague on songs, turning favorite songs into the lounge style ...The Killing Moon, The Guns of Brixton
and speaking of Breathless Mahoney, I always thought "Sooner Or Later" was an excellent torch song marred by Madonna's nasally non-singing. The right voice could knock it out of the park.
posted by The Whelk at 2:01 PM on October 23, 2008
Sway
Maybe This Time
and the arch Torch Song ...
Love For Sale
You could have a lot of fun going all Nouvelle Vague on songs, turning favorite songs into the lounge style ...The Killing Moon, The Guns of Brixton
and speaking of Breathless Mahoney, I always thought "Sooner Or Later" was an excellent torch song marred by Madonna's nasally non-singing. The right voice could knock it out of the park.
posted by The Whelk at 2:01 PM on October 23, 2008
Ten Cents a Dance
Live Alone And Like It (Mel Torme does that latter half only, and better to my mind.)
And of course-
Falling in Love Again Try it in German for extra credit
posted by IndigoJones at 2:29 PM on October 23, 2008
Live Alone And Like It (Mel Torme does that latter half only, and better to my mind.)
And of course-
Falling in Love Again Try it in German for extra credit
posted by IndigoJones at 2:29 PM on October 23, 2008
Seconding all the moody German cabaret stuff.
And speaking of moody: "Moody's Mood for Love"! (I'm sentimentally fond of the Georgie Fame version... Amy Winehouse's version has a nice vocal, but I'm not wild about the arrangement.)
posted by scody at 2:33 PM on October 23, 2008
And speaking of moody: "Moody's Mood for Love"! (I'm sentimentally fond of the Georgie Fame version... Amy Winehouse's version has a nice vocal, but I'm not wild about the arrangement.)
posted by scody at 2:33 PM on October 23, 2008
Wow. Great songs posted so far. Here's what I culled from my collection, apologies for duplicates:
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (esp. Ella's racy version)
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?
Besame Mucho
Sophisticated Lady
Lush Life
Stardust
The Man I Love
Blue Moon
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
Summertime
I Cover the Waterfront
That Old Black Magic
My Foolish Heart
I Get A Kick Out of You
I've Got You Under My Skin
Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
posted by sapere aude at 2:34 PM on October 23, 2008
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (esp. Ella's racy version)
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?
Besame Mucho
Sophisticated Lady
Lush Life
Stardust
The Man I Love
Blue Moon
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
Summertime
I Cover the Waterfront
That Old Black Magic
My Foolish Heart
I Get A Kick Out of You
I've Got You Under My Skin
Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
posted by sapere aude at 2:34 PM on October 23, 2008
I Just Want To Make Love To You - I like the version by Etta James, but you can slow it up.
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
The Way You Look Tonight
posted by nooneyouknow at 2:43 PM on October 23, 2008
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
The Way You Look Tonight
posted by nooneyouknow at 2:43 PM on October 23, 2008
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. Or Quizás, Quizás, Quizás if you can pull off the Spanish.
posted by desuetude at 4:55 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by desuetude at 4:55 PM on October 23, 2008
Every cabaret singer needs to know The Great American Songbook. Then you find a band that will play 'em slow and jazzy like.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:28 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:28 PM on October 23, 2008
I don't really know it, but isn't Peal Me a Grape one of those kind of songs?
posted by sully75 at 6:49 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by sully75 at 6:49 PM on October 23, 2008
La Vie En Rose - English, French
Can't Help Falling In Love
Big Spender
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Whatever Lola Wants (starts at 4:00)
posted by nooneyouknow at 7:25 PM on October 23, 2008
Can't Help Falling In Love
Big Spender
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Whatever Lola Wants (starts at 4:00)
posted by nooneyouknow at 7:25 PM on October 23, 2008
Little Things Mean a Lot
Wheel of Fortune
Also, you should look into old-timey country like Kitty Wells. You'd be surprised what scales. "Hillbilly" music was very popular in lounges, which is why there's a cornpone number in "Funny Face."
posted by Lesser Shrew at 8:18 PM on October 23, 2008
Wheel of Fortune
Also, you should look into old-timey country like Kitty Wells. You'd be surprised what scales. "Hillbilly" music was very popular in lounges, which is why there's a cornpone number in "Funny Face."
posted by Lesser Shrew at 8:18 PM on October 23, 2008
ooo, Wheel Of Fortune is a great number and not overplayed.
posted by The Whelk at 8:28 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by The Whelk at 8:28 PM on October 23, 2008
Holy crap, here're three that'll make the set hotter than Satan;
- Comes Love
- Stone Cold Dead in the Market - They should have stopped making music videos after that one, as far as I'm concerned.
- Is That All There Is?
- Fancy - Bobby Gentry's other famous tune.
You may have to do a little arranging with these, but set them up as 'lounge tunes' and they'll kill.
posted by Pecinpah at 8:34 PM on October 23, 2008
- Comes Love
- Stone Cold Dead in the Market - They should have stopped making music videos after that one, as far as I'm concerned.
- Is That All There Is?
- Fancy - Bobby Gentry's other famous tune.
You may have to do a little arranging with these, but set them up as 'lounge tunes' and they'll kill.
posted by Pecinpah at 8:34 PM on October 23, 2008
Mais non! How have we reached something like 43 answers and not yet reached My Melancholy Baby? As this site states:
Originally popularized by Walter Van Brunt, the song was actually introduced under the title "Melancholy" around 1912 and may have been first performed in Colorado. It has been associated with drunken crowds for a couple of reasons. First, an early cabaret performer by the name of Tommy Lyman performed it (typically very late in shows that didn't even begin until midnight) in the 1920s. More to the point, the infamous "Play Melancholy Baby!" line came from the 1954 film "A Star Is Born" and seems to have been associated with the song ever since.
Here it is. Or, conversely, don't do it and wait for folks to slur "shing melancholy baybee".
posted by peagood at 8:43 PM on October 23, 2008
Originally popularized by Walter Van Brunt, the song was actually introduced under the title "Melancholy" around 1912 and may have been first performed in Colorado. It has been associated with drunken crowds for a couple of reasons. First, an early cabaret performer by the name of Tommy Lyman performed it (typically very late in shows that didn't even begin until midnight) in the 1920s. More to the point, the infamous "Play Melancholy Baby!" line came from the 1954 film "A Star Is Born" and seems to have been associated with the song ever since.
Here it is. Or, conversely, don't do it and wait for folks to slur "shing melancholy baybee".
posted by peagood at 8:43 PM on October 23, 2008
this is a fabulous thread. thanks, everyone!
forgive me if it's already been posted, but i'd like to offer "come rain or come shine."
(this is not necessarily a definitive performance, but just the best torch-y version i could find in a quick scan on you tube. mary j. blige does have some pipes, tho. :)
posted by CitizenD at 12:09 AM on October 24, 2008
forgive me if it's already been posted, but i'd like to offer "come rain or come shine."
(this is not necessarily a definitive performance, but just the best torch-y version i could find in a quick scan on you tube. mary j. blige does have some pipes, tho. :)
posted by CitizenD at 12:09 AM on October 24, 2008
Oh, thank you, thank you. You darlings sure do know how to make a lady feel welcome.
This next one is just for you. *winks to the opening tinkle of piano keys*
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:18 AM on October 24, 2008
This next one is just for you. *winks to the opening tinkle of piano keys*
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:18 AM on October 24, 2008
The Look of Love -- Burt Bacharach's, not ABC's.
posted by brain cloud at 10:52 PM on October 24, 2008
posted by brain cloud at 10:52 PM on October 24, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ferociouskitty at 12:24 PM on October 23, 2008