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Friday, April 23, 2010

The Sweetest Sounds

By Richard Rodgers
1962

A rare example of a song Rogers composed by melody and lyrics to on his own, this one was for the musical No Strings. It was introduced by Diahann Carroll, whom Rodgers had hand-picked for the female lead. The melody is reportedly inspired by a phrase in Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2. It's complex tune and minor key gives it a unique, brooding sound.

Lyrics:

The sweetest sounds I'll ever hear
Are still inside my head.
The kindest words I'll ever know
Are waiting to be said.

The most entrancing sight of all
Is yet for me to see....
And the dearest love in all the world
Is waiting somewhere for me,
Is waiting somewhere.... somewhere for me.

Recorded By:

Sarah Vaughan
Barbra Streisand
Eydie Gorme
Brandy
Nancy Wilson

2 comments:

pianosnake said...

Sounds a bit like a theme in the 4th movement of Brahms' 2nd piano concerto.

B-Sol said...

Thanks for pinpointing it Florin, you might be right. I'll have to double-check that.

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