Ella Fitzgerald - "Summertime" (TV Special 1968)

[Nevermore1953]

There is always someone who sets the standard. And Ella was one of those people! She is simply AMAZING!

[Martyemar]

I'm not going to make any comparisons with other singers, nor offer conjecture on what her popularity would be in this day and age. What I can say is that THIS woman singing THIS song is purely magical!

[vkremona]

amazing.......

[sabelsab]

La classe, du grand Art !

[manonkubler]

ANGELICAL. PODEROSA. UNICA. MANON KUBLER

[Witless544]

A glimpse of heaven - thank you Ella, R.I.P.

[Hottieinsavannah]

@Rexicano I totally agree all people want is sex symbols from people who are cheated from their real talent

[foodiste]

This song was made for someone like her to sing it.

[MrNino49]

Beautiful

[mjnsophie]

she really could shatter crystal

[Greo999]

Super!

Summertime is maybe the most impressive thing of the US music - for me!

[SundayBoy72]

Ella makes me love the Blues.

[andredicenna]

I live and die listening to Ella sing ... is chillingly poignant and joyful to hear the sound is clear with his speech, refined, beautiful, and my God is good to have TTiD Ella one day with us .. Unfortunately Ella was singing to the creator and orphaned in their interpretations notorious!

[TheJoola007]

The best jazz singer of the word

[arr4gtr]

String orchestras tarnished some of the best music on the planet. I don't care who wrote it or in what context, this song is for jazz combo.

[veskonikolov]

great

[ginahams2010]

There is no one like Ella. Bravo...

[showkat]

she melts my heart...

[MrNMertens]

Ella just makes my heart happy :)

[roberto62200]

1:03 to 1:11 DAMN the violin in the back ground is just killing me, cannot describe this feeling >_< '

[raccoonjt]

@roberto62200 i cried 20 times

[MarcDeFrancis]

They should place a big, brassy statue of Ella on top of the US Capitol, as far as I'm concerned. This is greatness in the form of a human voice.

[Glambert63]

@MarcDeFrancis Exactly. She is MUSIC personified

[adeniji24]

How are these 7 people that disliked this? I guess they lived in the days of the dinosaurs.

[treehows]

done without editing, splicing, remix, or any type of after work.

[NaNi7VzLa]

Just amazing!

[pardoninterruption]

6 people think Lady Gaga has more talent

[bodiloto]

dal vivo avevo sentito meglio...

[jarrett17566]

Oh wow, it's amazing to see what it was like in the time of my grandparents. My mom was born in 1968. It's nice to see she grew up with decent music and good role models.

[BellaCzar1]

Oh Man... does it get any better than this... Thanks for staying real, At BellaCzar we love that people such as you keep things beautiful and real. Ella is stunning in her vocals.. Kudos

[maisqpoesia9999lcg]

Amazing!!!!

[ProgressivePiano]

watch?v=muRhvKN9rn0

[MysticGypsyWolfGirl]

Queen of song!!! :O

[kandeeapplegirl]

just the most talented jazz singers of all time pass/future!

[hadinothady]

5 people lives in Antarctica.

[jasondsmith69]

@hadinothady *live. I agree.

[kissyface731]

how do you have a voice like this ??? #ridiculous Ella is the queen! her voice is so clear nothing like it dare i say PERFECTION!

[propatria0704]

THIS IS PURE GOLD  !!!

[sunflowerCA77]

Obviously 5 people have no taste..This is pretty amazing!!

[kandeeapplegirl]

@sunflowerCA77 probably cause their like youngsters that have no clue of pure talent!

[bejocy]

wonderful...thanks for posting.

[desastermaster2010]

this is just amazing.........!

[tttok2]

Ella's rendition of this song is the best I've ever heard. Its beauty brings a tear to my eye whenever I listen. Such magnificence! This is the kind of culture that America used to export. Where are we now?

[itonlyhappens]

Is that Paul Gonsalves from the Ellington Band on the tenor solo?

[vetarnadstepom]

She sings, and I can hear cicadas singing, and a little boy crying amidst golden wheat.

[regionboy13]

That first note, it's just like, ohhhh... yeah. Now this is a real kat, here.

[jensian7]

beautiful, uncomplicated tones, just beautiful.

[mca1218]

Wow....A completely different version from the Berlin concert, but amazingly both were done in 1968- a testament to the soul and longing in such a magnificent voice. Ella was nothing less than a musical goddess. Thanks for such a lovely clip.

[Rexicano]

These days she would never get a contract;

you have to look and act like a sex worker to get a gig.

The voice is the last thing anyone cares about now.

People are cheated now out of the best artists.

[MusicLoverBrian1]

@Rexicano

You are right and it's very unfortunate and that is one of the reasons why I really hate the music industry today. And that is also why you don't really get what you pay for when you go see a live performance from these "so-called" singers. They don't even sound the same as they do in the studio but that is because of this autotune that they are using cheating the people. I hate the fact that the talented singers are short-changed, letting these people who have no talent right in.

[littlewomangood12345]

@MusicLoverBrian1 In truth, who's really being cheated? Many jazz artists are down to earth and have no idea of their greatness. They are human, but with a special talent. People are cheated because they want to be.  Those of us who love people like Ella, Frank, Mel, Louis, we're never cheated because we know quality when we hear it!

[Zaebolista]

@Rexicano Yeah I HATE that! I have a lot of good artists on my mp3 player that don't get a lot of recognition because they don't show all of their shit they are just giving you what is imporant which is the music and that makes me sick.

[CaronAplus]

@Rexicano ,, OMG.. I agree with you so much....Amen on that

[PoppyProductions24]

@Rexicano Adele? 

[Rexicano]

@PoppyProductions24

You have a point to make? why not try a full sentence?

Never heard of Adele...is she supposed to be the exception? Wow, you blew a huge hole in my theory....right.

Why not go back to Lee Remick and try thinking about facts...or just stick to Lady Gaga...she makes my point perfectly.

[PoppyProductions24]

@Rexicano I was just saying. Jeez dude! 

[Alexdurrant7]

@Rexicano Why be so rude? The other user pointed out an example of a current artist who doesn't look like a sex worker. There's no need to throw it back in their face. To Adele I would also add Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Jill Scott and Joss Stone as other artists that became famous due to their voices and not sex appeal. Besides, Lady Gaga's duet with Tony Bennett shows she really can sing, and I'm not sure anyone would say she's good looking enough to have got where she is through sex appeal.

[Rexicano]

@Alexdurrant7

Oh, gee gosh...you're right...I was sooooo wrong. Sex is never used to sell girl singers. Usually they are just presented as Nuns and it's really only the rare occasion that they are tarted up. uh huh.

[Alexdurrant7]

@Rexicano Since when has 'it's not true in all cases' meant 'it's not true in any case'? The fact that Adele is famous purely because of her singing voice does not mean that all singers are famous purely for their singing voices, and not for other qualities, like sex appeal.

[LexiHeartDesign]

@Rexicano You're right in that sex is everywhere and it's used to sell talentless pretty faces, but I don't think we're cheated out of anything, I've got too many brilliant singers in my iTunes to even cope with, it's just a question of looking harder. And as others pointed out, the are quite a lot of great singers that are mainstream, and not whores. So lets be positive :)

[sahajad]

@Rexicano

Although your comment is about one year old, every bit of it is true ! Well said ! Naturally who cares about voices now ! You just strip like Lady Gaga and off you move into stardom !

It is bye bye to singers like Ella frizgerald !

[Justasboyz]

Simply unique , a natural never be anyone like her x

[VAVRINECKOPECEK]

Something so special that words can't do justice to it !!!

[tackleberry715]

She is Classic!

[tackleberry715]

All I have to say is CLASSIC!! Leona Lewis does a magnificent version and so does Fantasia, Ella has to get credit for her range, clarity, and being a pioneer.

[ferdinande1]

love it!!

[Lenee76]

absolute genious!!!! LOVE ELLA:)

[Lys1944]

Que linda voz...para sempre!.....

[mohammed75008]

waw

great voice

nice music

good song

simpley beautiful

[dlugiprogres]

Madame Ella, I often come back to you

[rcward88]

Love it, love it yea yea

[ksks69]

It's Summertime every time I hear this song. Thanks Ella.

[molinmusic]

Thank you SO much for posting this inspiring performance of one of the BEST singers EVER! RIP Ms. Ella! More love!

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

A gay icon tremendously!

"Fish are jumpin" ... who sayd it more directly?

your truley

Rab Hines

[Zaebolista]

@andifyouhadtwocoats stop coming to my page leaving me comments if i keep removing them, that means i don't care what you have to say!

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

@Zaebolista its not meaned as a harasment. I love your and your gay taste. your truley, Rab Hines

[Zaebolista]

@andifyouhadtwocoats you're WEIRD how is this gay taste? i know i am NOT the only male that likes Ella, just because you don't does not mean anything.

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

@Zaebolista gay taste is supperior taste, Zaebo! Ella is a fat lady with a warm beat.

Let's stay together, Zaebo! Where do you life?

your truley

Rab Hines

[Zaebolista]

@andifyouhadtwocoats you're just rude, ignorant and weird! i am not going to respond to you anymore.

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

@Zaebolista I love you, Zaebo, and your taste! Please sent yours adress!

your truley

Rab Hines

[online581796]

@andifyouhadtwocoats

Ella was never a gay icon...Judy Garland was the "gay icon"

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

@online581796 Ella is as BIG a gay icon as my Burbuzela! My dahling!!!!!!

[ajack2boys]

@andifyouhadtwocoats Who could possibly care?

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

@ajack2boys YOU do care, my dahling!!!!!!!! Or what is the raeson you write?

Warm kisses

Rab

[durgaaa]

@andifyouhadtwocoats --EVERY powerful woman is a big gay icon.

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

@durgaaa DAT IS TRUE, BROTHER!!!!!

[durgaaa]

@durgaaa  Imma SISTAH, Bruthuh ! !

[MoreOrLessJustMe08]

Absolute sophistication. The most power I've ever heard behind anyone's voice. And she looks as though she could do it in her sleep. This is envy epitomized.

[Zaebolista]

I wonder who the two LOSERS are who don't like this masterpiece

[mac48203]

@Zaebolista ...Right! They must be on crack! This lady was a vocal genius!

[betterway2]

summertime in my heart, lol !

<3<3<3

[miaminor]

woah  class is right...smooth and rich...mmm mmm

[clairetorre2B]

SUBLIMEEEEEEEEE

[grenadian11]

Best of the Best!

[wadothepimp]

who is this song from originally ????

[carol1938ann]

@wadothepimp

George Gershwin wrote it for Porgy and Bess. Originally sung by a high soprano, but ooooh I love Ella's version best.

[lilmsvenus]

Thank you so much for posting this - I thoroughly enjoyed this! Wow, the incomparable queen at her finest, what a pleasure it is to hear her sing!

[Luisa3413]

Pure Class!

[Aleshanewton]

ugh have to learn this song and sing it good for choir tryouts

[motauvaches]

She' s got the rythme in her, and the voice too

[VladaSunlight]

Amazing!!!! She is a real jazz queen!

[vigilceo]

What a voice!!!

[SolaceSoleil]

yessssss....

[neKadmiel]

awesome!!! miss u!!

[UberDeathTurtle]

Best jazz singer.

[anakovacsildiko]

unique and divine

[KriBlackRoson]

awesome!

now listen the opera, the real version *__*

[LeeAnn20008]

She sounds so good that I want to cry.

[ballershanelle]

its so hard for me to see this because we know that she started out on the scene at the tender age of 16 or so... worked, struggled, felt discrimination, exceled and lived a long life with her gift. strength of character and mind. times were hard and the course could have lead this voice away from us!! thank you, whomever, for letting us have a little time to enjoy her. scatwoman...

[whitneylilucious]

Summertime and the livin is easy Fish are jumpin and the cotton is high Oh your daddys rich and your ma is good lookin So hush little baby, don't you cry One of these mornings Youre goin to rise up singing Then you'll spread your wings And you'll take the sky But till that morning There's a nothin can harm you With daddy and mammy standin by

[richs443]

A wonderful voice sings a song written for her.

Rich, Jan 25,2010.

[Thouveninpascal]

Paul Consalves ténor solo?

[iusyrneim]

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brechreizer]

You just have to love Ella! What a beautiful and gifted person. And this song is nothing less than brilliant!!!

Ella, you're greatly missed!

[ElysiaWillandxD]

what a beautiful song

[requiemofspirits]

Si señor!!!!!!!

[rogerioshaiko]

Emocionante e arrepiante gringo!

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

Another great Ella Fitzgerald performance of "Summertime", Germany, 1968:

watch?v=AoPlAe23Ruo

[lilkeiss]

c'est trop bien elle m'impressionne

[Monimalu]

Amazing, one my favorite versions.

[rayje2289]

This is amazing do you hear how her voice seems to like dip under the notes at times....it sounds like a trumpet almost..simply beautiful

[MusicGuru12]

Brilliant. Fantastic singer. I love Ella.

[magiknumber3]

sublime to say the least.......

[VideosfromElle]

Goose bumps ! in '68 no less...her voice is the absolute most expressive, effortless, soul wrenching I have ever heard...she will ALWAYS be my NUMER ONE singer... no one has more depth ! :D

[RangRing68]

My favorite also!

[veganboxer]

@VideosfromElle what do you think about Nina Simone?

[ATMBRUJAH]

Made me cry.

[musicbroad]

Perfect pitch. That's why musicians tuned their instruments to her voice.

[99aanders]

Hello. I want to play a cover of this with my band. Can anybody tell if ella is the actual songwriter, and if not - then who is? :) Its such a beautiful song, and i want to hear the original version. ty.

[VLAichroth]

It's from a musical called Porgy and Bess I believe it's by George and Ira Gershwin

[reinpost]

George Gershwin. Google can help you with these things.

[jaybkeepnitreal]

bass clarinetists and acc. is awesome!

[michael085609]

wow i never knew her now i know and wut she look like she has a very beautiful voice wow!!!!

[champlain9]

No one can touch this wonderful woman's

voice or style. Class Act all the way.

[ellyverkade]

simply the best for ever

[imsweetener]

how did u ppl manage to get stuffs like tat!? AWESOME!!!!

[shroomgurl]

professionalism, class, elegance...a delight to the ears.

[GuinevereDeBaviere]

astonishing voice

[feveroo7]

Her voice is something not human...OMG -- I just can't describe. Goddess of Jazzz! Incredible talented lady!

[atartaglione]

@feveroo7 . I like to think that if angels exists, they might have the voice of Ella, or María Callas or Monserrat Caballé. But i also like to be conscious of the humanity of theese womans and i am, as human been, proud of that.

[feveroo7]

@atartaglione Callas is my fav. in Opera.

[lilrascette]

AMAZING!

[newstart2009]

Here we go again with the 1977 bit again...This is from April 1968.....I have the ENTIRE special. I am going to post it soon here. Ella Look different in 1977 and had glasses by that time.

[Gringoverdeamarelo]

I have corrected it.  We are waiting with excitement for the ENTIRE special :)

[newstart2009]

Thanks will post it as soon as possible.

[Zaebolista]

@newstart2009 you're acting like it was a big deal! it's just a simple mistake

[newstart2009]

@Zaebolista ya that comment was about a year ago. i know it was a simple mistake and so does the person that posted. It's all good.