Composer

:

Cole Porter

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Popular

Publication Date

:

Mar 1929

First Performance

:

Mar 1929

Average_duration

:

4:18

"What is this thing called love" is a popular jazz standard composed by Cole Porter in 1929. The song was first introduced in the musical "Wake Up and Dream" and has since been covered by numerous artists in various genres. The song is composed in the key of E-flat major and has a moderate tempo. It consists of a 32-bar AABA form, with each section consisting of eight bars. The melody is characterized by its syncopated rhythms and chromaticism, which give the song a sense of tension and release. The lyrics of the song explore the theme of love and its mysterious nature. The opening lines of the song, "I was a humdrum person / Leading a life apart / When love flew in through my window wide / And quickened my humdrum heart," set the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics are filled with metaphors and poetic language, such as "It's a crazy world we're living in / And I just can't win" and "It's a mystery how you can make my heart sing / Filled with the joy only you can bring." The song has been covered by many jazz musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Chet Baker. It has also been covered by pop artists such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Costello. The song's popularity has endured over the years, and it remains a beloved jazz standard to this day. In conclusion, "What is this thing called love" is a classic jazz standard composed by Cole Porter in 1929. Its syncopated rhythms, chromaticism, and poetic lyrics make it a timeless classic that has been covered by numerous artists in various genres.

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