19 Comments
User's avatar
Monica Mylod's avatar

One of my favorites! I wonder how many couples had this as “their song”. My parents did💕And they danced to it on their 50th wedding anniversary. A wonderful memory for us.

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

That's a great song! My parents' song was "You Belong to Me," as sung by Jo Stafford!

Expand full comment
Margaret Lindsey's avatar

It’s a lovely song. I was sure I’d heard Fred Astaire singing it to Ginger Rogers…but I guess that is wrong. Maybe I am thinking of Gene Kelly singing to Leslie Caron(?). I do like Frank Sinatra’s version of it and am looking forward to Ella Fitzgerald’s. I hope she sings it straight as she did “People [Who Need People]”—no flourishes, just simply sung as written with her lush voice and sincere expression.

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

My daughter read that Gene Kelly premiered the song in an number with Leslie Caron from "An American in Paris," and that he was nervous about it because his was not a perfect voice. I like Ella's young voice best, because I think she sang "straighter" then. Sinatra was just having fun with this version, but I believe he recorded it again "straight." :)

Expand full comment
Louise (the mother)'s avatar

Another great choice! Two good versions here, though I always prefer Frank. But I also love the version from that Gershwin TV show S’Wonderful, S’Marvelous, S’Gershwin—I think it was a compilation, but I always hear it in my head when I think of this song.

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

This is such a great song that you can hardly go wrong. I prefer Frank, too, mostly, but I think Gene Kelly's version of this song is really quite sweet. :)

Expand full comment
John O'Brien, Jr.'s avatar

Beautiful and timeless and sweet are George Gershwin's music and particularly this song. Considering how American and world history had been, and was to continue, unfolding during the '30s and into the '40s, the lyrics of your selection are wistful, as you say, and bittersweet. Mountains crumbled and were pulverized. Too often human hearts were found to be made of clay. Some love was found, grew stronger, grew stronger in the ravages of economic disaster and war; but those horsemen exacted a heavy price. The love of many grew cold and hardened in the throes of desperate poverty; or perished in unspeakable conflagrations; or became strained, distant, betrayed, and broken in the lives of many who survived the battlefields.

Dad, my heroic survivor of the Depression and The War, often played Rhapsody in Blue on our hi-fi when I was a boy. It was one of the first long pieces of music I listened to. I still play the same LP on the same hi-fi, and still enjoy it as much now, as I did then. Thanks for the memories.

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

John, thank you for that reply and for sharing your family story. Those were hard times, indeed for so many. I was thinking about Ira Gershwin writing those words with his brother in mind, and the sorrow of his loss. The song, melody and lyrics, is deeply touching. What George might have gone on to compose had he lived.

Expand full comment
George M Paxton's avatar

Hello Debra. Thanks for revisiting this wonderful song. Many decades ago, Pearl Bailey was a guest on the “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. She challenged Johnny to sing with her, and sure enough they sang “Our Love is Here To Stay.” Really Pearl did most of the singing. Later, they started singing it in the style of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. It was very funny. I’m

sure it’s on You Tube. All the best. George

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

George, I will have to search for that! It must be delightful! Thank you!

Expand full comment
George M Paxton's avatar

Hi Debra, There is also a silly video of Johnny Carson and Steve Lawrence doing the song and pretending they’re being intimate. One of my (many) favorite Gershwin songs is “I Got Rhythm”. I teach both ESL and SAT/ACT test preparation classes, and I often use the opening: “I Got Rhythm, I Got Music, I Got My Man” as an example of good parallel structure. I hope Tony would approve. Happy Sunday and many blessings to you and Tony. George

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

Haha, George! I have to remember to look these up tonight. We need a good laugh! Forget Tony, I approve of your use of this song as an example for your students! (I taught English to college students for many years.) We sometimes look up clips from Johnny Carson with comedians, so now you have added an extra dimension to our searches! And I love every Gershwin song.

Expand full comment
George M Paxton's avatar

Thank you Debra. Glad you approve. Looking forward to next week’s song.

Expand full comment
Kathleen Hamalainen's avatar

I have loved George Gershwin’s music for as long as I can remember! Thank you for writing about him.

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

Frank Sinatra called the music of the mid-century America' classical music. He was right about that, and George Gershwin proved it. So sad that he died so young.

Expand full comment
Judie Brown's avatar

What an incredible rendition of one of the most meaningful love songs of all time. Bravo!

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

This song is a great favorite of mine, and timeless. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Expand full comment
Amy De Rosa's avatar

Good to be reminded of this beautiful song.

Expand full comment
Debra Esolen's avatar

A great work of beauty really is a joy forever, isn't it?

Expand full comment