Sunday, February 22, 2015

One Enchanted Evening, Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan.

     Don't worry! I'll connect these.

     I would be willing to bet that all my followers are very familiar with the song One Enchanted Evening. Probably all of you have seen the movie South Pacific and some of you have seen it many times. I have an LP (LOL) of the South Pacific soundtrack  that I listen to once in a while. You may be able to name a number of singers who've recorded the song.

     One Enchanted Evening is a show tune from South Pacific. It was written by Rogers and Hammerstein and was popular for it's romanticism and varied musical pattern. Giorgio Tozzi , a bass , sang the  song on the soundtrack of the 1958 movie. This is probably the version that most of us have in our head when we remember this song even if we've never heard of the opera singer Giorgio Tozzi.

   Now many other singers have sung and recorded One Enchanted Evening: Perry Como, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Jay and the Americans, Barbra Streisand, the Temptations, Art Garfunkel, Harry Connick and many more. I have probably heard all of these sung but don't remember any specific version.

    Frank Sinatra sang One Enchanted Evening and is probably one of the better known and recognized versions. Sinatra sang and recorded many many tunes over many decades.  He had his fans. He carefully crafted his image.

    Bob Dylan started out in the folk song genre. Since I liked folk music at the time Dylan came on the scene, I listened to Bob Dylan. I liked the protest songs. I also liked Woodie Guthrie and all the other protest singers. Over the years Bob Dylan went through many different music genres. Sometimes he was quiet for years. His image was hap hazard. His personal life went through many changes. I liked Bob Dylan's songs but his singing and voice weren't that famous. In fact, his singing was weak. 

     Recently Dylan put out a CD of Frank Sinatra's songs and wouldn't you know it one of those songs is One Enchanted Evening. When I heard this I thought well cool I wonder what it would be like. Well, it was underwhelming. I couldn't wait for the song  to end. 

    Well, you probably haven't heard about Dylan's CD . I do wonder who's version of One Enchanted Evening you like best? 

33 comments:

  1. I'm actually more familiar with the South Pacific version- but in a roundabout way; the film is featured in the movie Only You.

    The only Dylan vocals I have are a guest spot he does on the U2 album Rattle and Hum, and a song he did for the soundtrack Gods And Generals.

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    1. You've given me something to look for. I've never seen or heard any of these.

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  2. What a fun post. As I read, I had to wonder what Dylan might sound like in this song.. and Jay and the Americans.. and Art Garfunkel. That prompted me to check around a bit and hear them all... briefly. You might like this link.

    http://www.cbc.ca/player/AudioMobile/Sunday+Edition/ID/2654919882/

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    1. Thanks for the link. I would like to listen to some of these.

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  3. I am not familiar with all the The One Enchanted Evening versions or South Pacific as I don't care for musicals. I am a Bob Dylan fan, and have been for years. A few years ago he put out a Christmas Album...it was pathetic. I do like the long version of Desolation Row but he was a much better song writer than singer:)

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    1. Some of his songs were very long and went on for a long time.

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  4. Bob Dylan can't sing anymore. I heard him lately singing on the radio and it is awfull to listen to.

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    1. It's sad when these guys don't know when to quit. He still tours.

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  5. I haven't heard all the different versions. I didn't even know there were so many. But I do like Harry Connick's. I think he has a great voice.

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    1. It's funny how many things are related. Harry Connick does a good job of the song.

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  6. Frank sings it best - there's just that magic in his voice when he sings. I have heard the others as well, but like Frank's version. I cannot imagine Dylan even attempting the song, his voice just wouldn't work with that melody me thinks. Very interesting post Sir Red :)

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    1. Sinatra's version is way up there. Poor old Bob Dylan should give it up. Dylan is still on tour.

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  7. I tired of Bob but enjoy his tunes others have done.Some of his recent ideas have caught my ear and I was interested what his cabaret voice was like.

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    1. Dylan has gone through many reincarnations.

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  8. I have always been a Dylan fan. He has written some great songs.

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  9. I heard that one on the radio. I didn't really like it! I have the LP, too, and the original sticks in my head!!!

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    1. Since you listen to CBC all the time you probably heard it on CBC.

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  10. I don't want to mess with my memories of that song, and somehow Bob Dylan singing it just doesn't make any sense! :-)

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    1. Most people can't understand why Dylan would do Frank Sinatra stuff.

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  11. dylan's voice was great for cynical takes on society, but a love tune? whew!

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    1. Dylan's voice for protest has even left him. He still tours all the time.

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  12. I like some of Dylan's stuff - can't remember what though right now! lol.

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  13. I'll stick with the movie version. I've never seen the entire movie, but I've seen that song sequence a few times.

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    1. Tozzi sang the song on the soundtrack but didn't act in the movie.

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  14. Do you know what? I have no idea whose version I liked best. it’s such a well known tune that the singer is almost immaterial. But I certainly can’t imagine Dylan doing it justice.

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    1. Many times we listen to the song without consideration of who's singing it.

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  15. All songs that I have really enjoyed.

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  16. I like Sinatra and Dylan. I didn't know about Dylan's new album so I'm going to YouTube and see if I can find some songs. I'll get back to you Red. :)

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  17. I've seen the musical a couple of times and saw it on stage also, but the Giorgi Tozzi version is what's in my head when I think about the song. Bob Dylan? Seriously? Oh dear.

    I loved South Pacific. You Have to Be Carefully Taught is one of my favorites as well as Dites Moi.

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  18. I seem to be the only one who thought the song was Some
    Enchanted Evening. Maybe that's the Down Under version. But yes I did hear a couple of songs from Bob's latest album and it was painful. For me and sounded like he was in pain, too. Frank would be rolling in his grave. And probably would still have sounded better.

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  19. I'm going to have to look up the Art Garfunkel version, but I'll be skipping Dylan's (even if he was born in my state - Minnesota). South Pacific was one of the first movies I ever saw and I was so taken I think I still know the words to every single one of its songs!

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