Ella Fitzgerald - Midnight Sun (1957)
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Uploaded on Mar 8, 2010
MIDNIGHT SUN
"Midnight Sun" (1954) was originally an instrumental composed by Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke in 1947 and is now considered a jazz standard.
Subsequently, Johnny Mercer wrote the words to the song.
One famous recording of the song with the Mercer lyrics is by Ella Fitzgerald on her album "Like Someone in Love" (1957) accompanied by a studio orchestra arranged and conducted by Frank DeVol. This album represents a fine example of Ella's singing from this period, recorded at the same time as her albums with Louis Armstrong.
The album was also recorded in the midst of her epic 'Songbooks' project, celebrating the composers of the 'Great American Songbook' and Broadway. The album features only four songs written by the composers featured in her 'Songbooks', instead concentrating on very famous ballads by lesser known writers. Some songs on the album were also recorded with Armstrong on the albums that they collaborated on from this period. The famous American saxophonist Stan Getz is featured on tenor sax on four tracks, including "Midnight Sun" and "You're Blasé". Ted Nash plays the alto sax and solos. Cover photos are by the great Phil Stern.
(Wikipedia)
LYRICS
Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice, warmer than the summer night
The clouds were like an alabaster palace rising to a snowy height.
Each star its own aurora borealis, suddenly you held me tight
I could see the Midnight Sun.
I can't explain the silver rain that found me--or was that a moonlit veil?
The music of the universe around me, or was that a nightingale?
And then your arms miraculously found me,suddenly the sky turned pale,
I could see the Midnight Sun.
Was there such a night, it's a thrill I still don't quite believe,
But after you were gone, there was still some stardust on my sleeve.
The flame of it may dwindle to an ember, and the stars forget to shine,
And we may see the meadow in December, icy white and crystalline,
But oh my darling always I'll remember when your lips were close to mine,
And we saw the Midnight Sun.
-
Category
-
License
Standard YouTube License
- Buy "Midnight Sun (1964 Version)" on
Google PlayAmazonMP3iTunes -
Artist
Ella Fitzgerald
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
-
50
videos
Play all
YouTube Mix -
7:12
Esperanza Spalding - Midnight Sun (Live in the BIng Lounge)by KINK RadioFeatured
11,690
-
3:07
Ella Fitzgerald - The Shadow Of Your Smileby julia8203
147,525 views
-
2:48
Ella Fitzgerald - In a sentimental moodby ogrotoxico
171,950 views
-
4:00
Esperanza Spalding Performs "Midnight Sun" Live in KPLU Studiosby KPLU FM
66,421 views
-
4:40
Jo Stafford - "Midnight Sun"by vladimirsmartins
12,125 views
-
4:03
Ella fitzgerald - Mack The Knife High qualityby Arnold Beltran
1,966,921 views
-
4:17
1974 - Ella Fitzgerald - It Don't Mean a thingby diegodobini2
1,305,853 views
-
2:55
Ella Fitzgerald Dreamby jazzysclassicjazz2
11,189 views
-
4:55
Ella Fitzgerald ft Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra - Midnight Sun (1957)by RoundMidnightTV
2,476 views
-
3:20
Ella Fitzgerald - Sunshine Of Your Loveby MusicForYourFunk
59,789 views
-
2:59
Ella Fitzgerald - Have yourself a merry little Christmasby oscontareunahistoria
437,639 views
-
4:37
Midnight Sun '66by newstart2009
1,400 views
-
5:42
Midnight Sunby princealbertofb
1,904 views
-
3:32
What Will Tell My Heart / Ella Fitzgeraldby asanoniji
2,966 views
-
2:49
The Very Thought of You - Ella Fitzgeraldby kitsolo9
168,765 views
-
7:20
Ella Fitzgerald British TV 1961 Mr Paganiniby largsfairlie
52,729 views
-
3:08
Ella Fitzgerald - Chew chew chewby pampipulinka
17,221 views
-
5:55
Louis armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald - Cheek to Cheekby Alejandro Enayat
1,628,923 views
-
2:35
"I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" Ella Fitzgeraldby catman916
20,393 views
-
4:56
Ella Fitzgerald - Midnight Sunby Z0rkaz
622 views
- Loading more suggestions...
Top Comments
SapphyreSoul 1 year ago
Ella... one of the many deeply planted roots of the Musical Tree of Life. Where would we possibly be without the incredible talent that has blessed our ears over decades of time? Timeless vocals that still echo through the infinite stretch of universe beyond us. Music will never be the same, but we can never forget what true music is; and Ms. Fitzgerald is a prime example. Dreams are made of lyrics like these, so close your eyes and let Ella's chords take you to them.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
blackmountainboar 2 years ago
beautiful poetry in musical motion that only Ella could capture
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
All Comments (95)
garysaddleback 1 week ago
Well, Ge . . . Thank you . . . after piano, the vibes are truly "Heaven's Instrument."
Gary
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Gé Stegerhoek 1 week ago
Lionel Hampton
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
garysaddleback 2 weeks ago
Well, folks . . . She was truly a Master/Mistress of her craft . . . anybody know who's on the vibraphone?
But---that drawing on the Verve cover is . . . TERRIBLE!
Gary in Arizona
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Armando Corpus 1 month ago
Sweet Happy Birthday to you darling.....best pop song ever....sung here by the best singer ever.....love you forever.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
amany5995 1 month ago
ALWAYS JAZZ QUREEN!
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
mizpahboy 2 months ago
Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice.....Warmer than the summer night. That is one hell of a opening to a song. I remember as kid my mom would hum this song around the and you could just tell that she was in a special place at that time. This song is so beautiful and sensual that when you hear it....no matter who is performing it...it stops you dead in your tracks and makes you say damn!!
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Always1dreamer 4 months ago
MISS ELLA AND HONNY MRCER.WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU ASK FOR?
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Alexis Ovalle 4 months ago
Oh my God! Ella, according distances, the best !!!
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
crossleydd42 4 months ago
Anyone who can think of and link ‘alabaster palace’ and ‘aurora borealis’ is something special! The tune's not bad, either !
Funny how some lines stick in your minnd; they are so clever. I always recall, from "What a difference a day made" the line, 'It's Heaven when you find romance on your menu'!. 
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
MrShunyata 6 months ago
For me, Miss Ella is absolutely 'The First Lady of Song' and "Midnight Sun" happens to be my favorite song -- so, my friend, you are hitting on all cylinders. If you can find it, her 'Ella in Rome - The Birthday Concert' (she was 40) has some of the best live versions I've ever heard of her many masterpieces. Thanks for posting this song.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube