30s30d: D19
“The Best Years”
Prompt: the best years of our lives
Submission of Member: Kat DLC
Downloads:
Okay so if you’ve been on a stream at all this summer, you may have heard me talk about my SUMMER 2021 JAM, which is actually a song from 1947… originally appearing in Disney’s film from that year, “Fun and Fancy Free.”
The version above is the one that appears in the film, and the orchestra and choral arrangements on it are just stunning. Also, Dinah Shore’s voice is nothing to scoff at, my goodness.
Shortly after a recent rewatch of this film, I became obsessed with this song (“Lazy Countryside”) in particular, and found this rendition by Margaret Whiting:
There’s something about the feel, swing, and attitude of the Margaret Whiting version that really really intimates that feeling of a lazy afternoon in the summertime, and I’ve been totally infatuated with it for months.
We’ve been talking a bit about finding more direct inspiration from, or even “borrowing” from, other songs for new songs, and after a lazy Sunday of my own (one that I direly needed after the last few weeks), I thought about this one and wondered if I might be able to derive something from it.
Thus “The Best Years” was born - I’m actually pretty fond of it so far and am excited to see how it sits once it’s ironed out.
Many, many times by now have I pushed a midcentury-style swing song as this with an AABA form…
I can’t think of a time when I’ve managed to write a song like this with an ABAC form… just pulling from first thoughts, I’m reminded of “I’m Old Fashioned,” maybe? Or Stardust?
Hope you enjoy.
Tomorrow is Disney Day(!) over on Twitch, and then we’ll be meeting up for the private live debut (for Keyholders only) on Tuesday for Songs 15-21. Hope to see you for one of those ❤️
Thank you so much for your support!
There’s always room for more song prompts in the database - please submit some here.
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