Tibbett sings "It ain't necessarily so" from Porgy and Bess

[ONeirda]

Ups, this record is mixed up of at least two takes, as one can hear clearly by the overlapping cut after 1:28...

Uuuuh, I was living the illusion that at those times everything recorded was the truth, nothing but the true truth (sob...).

Well, nice (operatic!) voice anyway. Thanks for posting.

[caryshelby]

there is so many versions of this song but I can't find peggy lee why not.

[danielledear1]

Huh........ his face kinda reminds me of Jack Black..... xD

Great song! <3 The choir at my school did some Gershwin stuff. I loved the solos and the songs 8D

[theblackcomp111]

Best atheistic song of all time

[LeathanL]

I have to sing this as a solo in about 3 weeks.

Truly, this version is the most instructive on youtube! Ipmoic is right, he nails the verty strange melodic lines at the end perfectly.

[Dillrod90]

One of my favorite songs, and it's a shame that it's so overlooked.

The first line is just amazing, and through Tibbett it's heavenly.

[ossimari]

@Dillrod90

You are so right on both counts. Great, overlooked song, and the 1st line is so right-on! I'll add to this by saying I've never heard of Lawrence Tibbett, his interpretation is one of my faves! He sings it in a non-operatic style, which it should be, like all other Porgy and Bess songs. Not bad for a white guy!

[ipmoic]

Love how he sings the last 4 "ain't nece..." 's.

Right ON pitch. Not easy, but he nails it!

Great aria sung by a great voice and actor.

[SatchmoSings]

Ah, Lawrence Tibbett!

I'd know that dark, rumbling baritone ANYWHERE!

He was as great as they come but hey, let's not forget the man he replaced at the Met, Antonio Scotti.

[damusicgirl]

I do believe that the character Porgy was written for Tibbet and this is one of the most acurate versions of the song.

[vinemp]

I don't think the "accuracy" of Tibbet's portraying Porgy can even be considered as Gershwin intended--from conception to production--this opera to be performed by an ALL Black cast.

[Schpanzi]

the problem here is, that this song isn't porgy singing but the other guy, the crack-dealer, i dnt remembe his name. so if u consider the fact, that tibbet sings this song, u cannot say that PORGY's character has been written for tibbet. But i dnt know the circumstances anyways...so perhaps i might be wrong..

[francotenelli]

the caracter is not Porgy like you said it's "Sporting-life" actualy written for a tenor

[SatchmoSings]

It couldn't have been written for Tibbett; Tibbett was a baritone and the part was originally written for a tenor; it's been transposed down a half-octave to accomodate his particular range as a baritone.

[Ringkichardthethird]

Despite the fact that he's not a tenor...damn, that's good.

[SatchmoSings]

Baritiones, are, in my opinion, generally better singers than tenors; since baritone is the natural range for the male voice obviously the pool of talent that can be drawn upon is therefore that much larger.

For a man to be able to sing at ALL as a tenor is difficult; to not only hit those higher notes but to do it WELL is much harder, and therefore, rarer; that's why tenors are so highly prized.

Still, by any standard, Tibbett was truly magnificent!

[buttons867]

good point : /

[ALALALALAL1]

Gershwin intended the role of Sportin' Life for Cab Calloway and I think that Tibbett's voice is a bit too perfect to sing the part. Cab is the right man for that "wid a grain of salt" stuff I think.

[ALALALALAL1]

Though it is a great performance of course !

[jsbach15]

Yeah, Cab Calloway sings on the Columbia soundtrack of "Porgy & Bess" because Sammy Davis Jr. was under contract elsewhere, which prevented him from singing on the record. I liked Sammy's performance, but I just LOVED Cab's singing and performance as "Sporting Life" seen on a rare Ed Sullivan episode!

[paulostroff99]

Cab Calloway "did it no better"!

[jfield12]

THE BEST OF THE GREATEST!!!