• HOME
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOBBIES
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR SPORT FANS
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR JOBS
No Result
View All Result
Real Fashion Style
  • HOME
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOBBIES
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR SPORT FANS
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR JOBS
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home GIFT IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY

My (Not So) Funny Valentine: A Brief History

Karyn Lynch by Karyn Lynch
March 21, 2022
in GIFT IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY, News
My (Not So) Funny Valentine: A Brief History
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

February is the shortest month of the year, which is merciful, because it is also surely the bleakest. By the time it rolls around, winter has been with us for what seems like an eternity, with still plenty to come. The festivities of Christmas and Hanukkah are a distant memory and the bloom is off the rose of the new year. Of course there’s Valentine’s Day on February 14, but even that special day of celebrating romance is a mixed blessing to some, and many have sworn off it. Those not blessed with a partner, or who have recently lost one, find it lonely and painful. And even many with partners find it an empty and contrived occasion filled with pressure, a cash-in day for florists, candy makers, card companies, swanky restaurants and the like.

Despite these misgivings, I thought it might be interesting to explore the history of the song most associated with the day, My Funny Valentine, one which has become an essential part of jazz history and its repertoire, and also one which has been much misunderstood. It has been recorded over 1,600 times by more than 600 artists, both instrumentally and vocally, and is permanently associated with Frank Sinatra, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Miles Davis, among others. It was written in 1937 by perhaps my favourite songwriting team, Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. Rodgers had the supreme gift of writing simple, pure melodies which stuck in the ear and which he would often flesh out with more interesting chords. And Hart stood alone as a lyricist; his words had great wit and charm, ironic humour, interior rhythm and often plumbed emotional depths worthy of poetry. As a team, they were incomparable; Rodgers’ later songs with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein are far less successful simply because the words don’t work nearly as well. (As an aside, this didn’t stop Cole Porter’s “beard” wife, Linda Lee Thomas, from asking pointedly of Rodgers & Hart after meeting them at a party: “Two guys, to write one song!?”)

My Funny Valentine was written for the musical comedy Babes In Arms, which opened in New York on April 14, 1937 and ran for 289 performances until December of that year. Because of its title, My Funny Valentine has always been associated with Valentine’s Day, but that’s something of a misconception, as its original use in the show is more literal: it is sung by a female character to the male lead whose name is Valentine “Val” La Mar, and it’s only in the closing line – “each day is Valentine’s Day” – that the day itself is mentioned. It’s a love song, yes, but not a typical one. Rather than extolling the virtues of the paramour in typical “moon in June” fashion, the words address the foibles of the object of affection, while leaving no doubt that Valentine is loved in spite of these obvious flaws – “Your looks are laughable, unphotographable. Yet you’re my favourite work of art.” And later, “Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak?” And finally, “Don’t change a hair for me, not if you care for me.” The irony at work here is typical of Lorenz Hart, indeed many have commented that these words are a love song to himself. To put it mildly, Hart suffered from low self-esteem and was a somewhat desperate soul: short, unattractive, a closeted gay who suffered from severe addictions to both drugs and alcohol, given to nasty outbursts yet with the soul of a poet.

Tags: Valentine
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

8 Best First Time Fathers Day Gifts

by Karyn Lynch
April 29, 2022
0
8 Best First Time Fathers Day Gifts

The first Father's Day that you and your baby celebrate is going to be one of the most memorable days in both of your lives. It is definitely...

Read more

Top 10 Funny Fishing Gifts for Fishermen

by Karyn Lynch
April 24, 2022
0
Top 10 Funny Fishing Gifts for Fishermen

Fishermen tend to be a fun-loving and joke-playing bunch. Maybe it's because they spend so much time out in the wilderness that they find humor wherever possible.We all...

Read more

12 Firefighter Gift Ideas That Will Make Your Favorite Firefighter Happy

by Karyn Lynch
April 24, 2022
0
Firefighter Gift Ideas That Will Make Your Favorite Firefighter Happy

Firefighters are a superhero in everyone's eyes. A firefighting hero will do everything to rescue you whenever you find yourself in an emergency situation. As with any other...

Read more

11 Funny New Dad Gifts Guaranteed To Make Him Smile And Giggle

by Karyn Lynch
April 23, 2022
0
11 Funny New Dad Gifts Guaranteed To Make Him Smile And Giggle

Everybody loves a good laugh, especially dads. But being new at being a dad is scary work — you'd think that nature would equip them with the tools...

Read more

First Time Dad Gifts All New Fathers Will Actually Use

by Karyn Lynch
April 29, 2022
0
First Time Dad Gifts All New Fathers Will Actually Use

Being a first time dad is stressful; I know because my wife and I are both first time parents. The joy of becoming a father is quickly followed...

Read more

9 Shower Gift Ideas For First Time Mothers Day Gift

by Karyn Lynch
April 10, 2022
0
First Time Mothers Day Gift

When you become a first time mother, there are loads of gifts you will want to receive but something special from your baby shower list is the best...

Read more
Next Post
12 True Valentine’s Day Horror Stories That We Have No Choice But To Laugh At Now

12 True Valentine’s Day Horror Stories That We Have No Choice But To Laugh At Now

POPULAR NEWS

Nice Mothers Day Gifts 2022

How To Choose Nice Mothers Day Gifts 2022

March 21, 2022
Valentines Day Gift Ideas

Valentines Day Gift Ideas : Presents That Provide Fun For Everyone

March 18, 2022
Bathtub Caddy Tray

5 Mother’s Day Gifts From Daughter in a Personal Sensory Way

April 24, 2022
Great Mothers Day Gift

Great Mothers Day Gift: The Ultimate Gift Guide for Every Mom on Mother’s Day

April 23, 2022
The Best Mothers Day Gifts Ideas for Wife

Gift Set – The Best Mother’s Day Gifts Ideas for Wife

March 18, 2022

EDITOR'S PICK

8 Best First Time Fathers Day Gifts

8 Best First Time Fathers Day Gifts

April 29, 2022
Firefighter Gift Ideas That Will Make Your Favorite Firefighter Happy

12 Firefighter Gift Ideas That Will Make Your Favorite Firefighter Happy

April 24, 2022
Great Gift Ideas For Mom

Great Gift Ideas For Mom – A Blog Around Mothers Day Ideas

March 21, 2022
First Time Mothers Day Gift

9 Shower Gift Ideas For First Time Mothers Day Gift

April 10, 2022

About

RealFashionStyle’s hand curated gift guides are the result of hours of painstaking research, expert input, and insider knowledge. Our goal is to provide the absolute best place on the web for gift giving inspiration in every area.

Categories

  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOBBIES
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR JOBS
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR SPORT FANS
  • News

Recent Posts

  • 8 Best First Time Fathers Day Gifts
  • Top 10 Funny Fishing Gifts for Fishermen
  • 10 Awesome Fishing Gift Ideas for Men
  • 12 Firefighter Gift Ideas That Will Make Your Favorite Firefighter Happy
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 RealFashionStyle

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOBBIES
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR JOBS
  • GIFT IDEAS FOR SPORT FANS

© 2022 RealFashionStyle

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?