In 2020, a new jazz artist, Laufey, rose from the ashes of the pandemic and brought millions of people into the wonderful world of jazz music. Her most popular songs were From the Start, Falling Behind, Valentine, and Let You Break My Heart Again.
However, vintage jazz music deserves to be revived as well and recognized in the same way. Here are some classic jazz recommendations for people who don’t know where to start.
If you enjoy Laufey’s From the Start, you may enjoy Somethin’ Stupid by Frank Sinatra, a song about infatuation and falling deeply in love. From the Start talks about falling in love with a person, wishing that the person would confess love for her instead. She admits that she liked the person from the start of their relationship, feeling like she needed to get the words desperately off her chest. Sinatra also sings about waiting for a moment where the time is right to confess before admitting that the words feel like they are “somethin’ stupid.”
If you like Laufey’s Falling Behind, you may like the song Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin. But for Martin, there is a unique woman. He says he wishes everyone had her charm because she is a wonderful person and that he is willing to wait for her to love him. Laufey vocalizes about being left behind due to everyone around her finding a person to love while she has no one to engage in those feelings. These two songs connect around the idea being left behind and wanting to have a person to love.
If you are fond of the song I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire by The Ink Spots, you may enjoy the song I’ll Never Smile Again by Tommy Dorsey. Tommy Dorsey sings about loving someone so much to the point they don’t want to smile unless they’re smiling at the person they love dearly. I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire by The Ink Spots is a song about wanting to warm someone specials’ heart due to their desire and longing for that person. Both of these songs are about being attracted to a special person and waiting a long time to show their affection for them.
If you enjoy the song We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn, you may enjoy the song It’s Been A Long, Long Time by Harry James and His Orchestra. It’s Been A Long, Long Time by Harry James and His Orchestra is a song about seeing a loved one once again after an extended period of time, feeling thankful to be around them once more and yearning for their affections. We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn is a song about bidding a farewell to the people you know and comforting them by saying you will return to meet again another day, another time. Both of these songs give voice to the idea of not seeing someone for an extremely long period of time, appreciating that person, and expressing affection towards them. The two of these songs together are like the before and after being apart from the person you love; wishing them goodbye and welcoming them a sweet hello once you return into their arms.
If you like the song What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, you may enjoy his cover of Frim Fram Sauce with Ella Fitzgerald. Frim Fram Sauce by Nat King Cole is a song about wanting to play around and have freedom to do as you please. “Ussin-fay,” a frequent lyric within the song, is a pig latin word for “fussing,” expressing the fuss they have for wanting to be satisfied and free. What A Wonderful World is a song about admiring the world around you and appreciating the people in your life, feeling thankful for what you have. Both of these songs are about freedom, having fun, and making the best of life. Along with this connection, they’re both sung by the great Louis Armstrong.
