Browsing in some of my piano books in the aim to find what to practise these days, I came across this song composed by George Gershwin. The title of the song attracted me because as I am a kind of a perfectionist, I always want to do things well. Often it is not perfect, but in fact, we should always strive to do things well. I am not talking just regarding playing the piano. In every field of life, we should do our best. Writing an article, taking photos, playing, maybe it is not perfect, but you get it, do as best as you can at that moment. You can always improve the way you are working, but it is important to recognize the weak points and work on in.
So, I tried to play a song, and it was an easy one but nice. A light melody, accompanied by chords in the left hand, with a harmonic structure typical of Gershwin.
George Gershwin managed to combine his classical harmonic basics with jazz, and perhaps that is why he is still appreciated today. He composed countless famous compositions, for piano as a solo instrument (Three Preludes, Tango, Blue Monday, Three-Note Waltz,
Piano Transcriptions of Eight Songs...) or in combination with an orchestra (Rhapsody in Blue, Concerto in F, Second Rhapsody, Variation on I got Rhytm...). Also songs for voice and piano, operas, music for movies, broadway shows... This particular song, I was Doing it All Right, had been featured in the 1937 film, Goldwin Follies. The lyrics were written by his older brother, Ira Gershwin, and the song were sung by Ella Logan in that movie.
In the same movie Goldwin Follies, other songs composed by George Gershwin appeared as well, like Love Walked In, Love Is Here To Stay, Just Another Rhumba and I Love to Rhyme.
Here it comes the video of me, playing this song, I Was Doing All Right. I am playing the piano version, but who wants to join and sing it, here are the lyrics
I was doing all right
Nothing but rainbows in my sky
I was doing all right
Till you came by
Had no cause to complain
Life was as sweet as apple pie
Never noticed the rain
Till you came by
But now whenever you're away
Can't sleep nights and suffer all the day
I just sit and wonder
If love isn't one big blunder
But when you hold me tight
Tingling all through, I feel somehow
I was doing all right
But I'm doing better than ever now
But now whenever you're away
Can't sleep nights and suffer all the day
I just sit and wonder
If love isn't one big blunder
But when you hold me tight
Tinglin' all through, I feel somehow
I was doing all right
But I'm doing better
Better than ever now
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