The Definitive Version: Cheek to Cheek

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Welcome to Week 5 of The Definitive Version, a new weekly feature of my website. You can read more about the project here.

Song: “Cheek To Cheek”
Composer: Irving Berlin
Lyricist: Irving Berlin
Form: A(16) A(16) B(8) B (8) C (8) A(16)
Standard Key: C Major

“Cheek to Cheek” was originally written for and performed by Fred Astaire in the classic Astaire/Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat in 1935. It was nominated for a 1936 Academy Award, though it lost to “Lullaby of Broadway.” The unusual form – 72 bars! A two-part bridge! – means it’s a lot of song to learn, but the harmony stays pretty much in C Major throughout – the “C” section briefly goes into the parallel minor. The lyric is a celebration of dancing – a perfect reflection of its original use to accompany a pas de deux with the greatest dancing movie couple of all time.

Definitive Version: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (1956) (Album: Ella and Louis)
Form: Intro, Louis (full chorus), Ella (full chorus, with Louis’ trumpet countermelody), Duet recap from “C” section, tag.
Feel: Medium Swing (120 bpm)
Key: A-flat Major / F Major
Instrumentation: Rhythm Section, Trumpet

Ella and Louis is the pinnacle of jazz duet singing, and among the most-listened albums in the collection, and you don’t need to have heard more than this one track to know why. Accompanied by the Oscar Peterson Quartet (including Ray Brown, bass, Herb Ellis, guitar, and Buddy Rich, drum set), the performances are deep in the pocket, subtly swinging. The phrasing is exquisite, the songs are well-chosen to showcase these two legendary artists, and their chemistry as soloists and duet partners is spot-on.

The Grammy Awards didn’t exist in 1956, so let’s just imagine that this album won them all. “Cheek to Cheek”, weird form and all, transcends the wonderful Irving Berlin composition to create something really special and timeless.

A point of order: this song is so unobtrusive and subtle in its genius that it has ended up being popular for the kind of background playlists you’ll hear in Starbucks or a bookstore. Let’s reclaim this for the great art it is: you may be used to hearing it in the background, but try putting it front and center in your listening. (And for a good challenge, put it on repeat and see how well you can phrase along with these two masters….)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtiF01XhkPw

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