But Not For Me Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt performs "But Not For Me" by George and Ira Gershwin. Orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Linda
• Ronstadt
• Nelson
• Riddle
• But
• Not
• for
• Me
• George
• Gershwin
• Ira
• Ballad
• Love
• song
• pop

[MsLindaKaren]

Linda is my age now! 60! So what if she sang Gershwin songs? She has the voice to be able to carry off any type of msuic! Gifted big time so why no havet used it big time? It was impossible for LInds to have mae a fool out of herself no matter what she sang or where she sang! Anyone with a good ear for music could easly tell she was a rare gem in the music industry. Always loved wherever she sang. Azzenstudent has no idea who Linda was ! May Azz become a fool in order to become wise.

[ceb2633]

@MsLindaKaren

I had the incredible experience of lying on the grass by the River in Portland, Or., years ago while Linda was warming up for an outdoor concert on a beautiful summer evening, many years ago. Her wonderful voice floated over the whole scene; liquid, lovely, dreamy sounds to end a perfect day. I love her.

Thanks for the comments, all.

C.

[thechinadesk]

Ronstadt was proven right when she insisted on making the "What's New?" album.

I remembering buying it at the time. I was so glad to see a younger generation singer acknowledge the value of the "Great American Songbook" standards.

These songs, performed the way Rondstadt and her predecessors have since the 20s, will still be around long after "heavy metal" ad "hip hop" are dead and buried.

[ceb2633]

Thank you for the comment, and I agree with you, 100 percent. C.

[Azzenstudent]

I love Linda Ronstadt (including her politics) but her Nelson Riddle collaborations leave me a bit dissatisfied. I think the problem is partly her relative youthfulness. She's a Valley Girl singing Gershwin and the inflections don't suggest Manhattan so much as the local mall. It's not her fault, of course. Time will do that. For standards, I stick to Ella because I hear the period's nuance in every syllable.

[ceb2633]

Of course, Azzanstudent, as far as I am concerned Ella owns Gershwin and Harold Arlen, too. But I do love Linda's voice. Thanks for the comment. C.

[sentineladosol]

Linda Ronstadt is one of the most beautiful voices of this planet. She's soft, very soft. Nelson Riddle is one of the best arrangers of the musical history. He'll be unforgettable forever and ever. Linda and Nelson togheter was amazing. And still...

[MrListener43]

@sentineladosol I agree that Nelson Riddle was one of the great arrangers along with Billy May and others.

He of course had great musicians in his orchestra. In particular on this arrangement the tenor saxaphone

solo at 3:15 is out of this world.

[david1austin]

a few more standards brought to vibrant life by the incomparable Ronstadt Someone to Watch Over Me (Gershwin, 1926) /watch?v=S0oRfg5RyVA I've Got A Crush On You (Gershwin, 1928) /watch?v=KelraygLn2g I Get Along Without You Very Well (Carmichael, 1939) /watch?v=s4LOb0S5UZ8 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Rodgers & Hart, 1940) /watch?v=-OV9zJdj408 Straighten Up And Fly Right (Cole & Mills, 1944) /watch?v=B7BgLNfs1_0 I Love You for Sentimental Reasons (Best, 1945) /watch?v=KGRWTxOhjEk

[oneborzoi]

It was certaiinly a pleasure to see her in concert with Nelson Riddle. I've had dinner guests wipe tears from their eyes listening to this song, saying that they use to sing when they were with a small band.

[holzpusher]

@MsLindaKaren "Linda is my age now" ???? So she wasn't your age 10 or 20 years ago?

[MsLindaKaren]

I sure must have been tired when I typed from my heart about Linda! Sorry for the spelling mistakes. I am thankful for the good comments from all the others who feel as I do. Thanks to you too C / ceb2633 who contacted me. What a marvelous exprience you had being able to just relax and hear Linda's voice float through the air like that by the river in Portland; eh? Wow!

[Branner]

Actually, Ronstadt was in her late 30s when she recorded the first Riddle album. She had sung Gilbert & Sullivan and Puccini at that point. She was anything but "a Valley Girl." That's a ridiculous claim. Her voice sounds more lyrical doing these standards than it ever had.

[AcousticUplift]

I believe as long as one is using (and not abusing) their God-given talent it's a beautiful thing, regardless of genre or whatever vehicle is chosen to express it. Back to the song @hand :-) 'But not for me' is fabulous, in particular the Chet Baker version. Linda sings like an angel but I adore CB's arrangement and it suits his voice so well.

[AcousticUplift]

Absolutely, artistic merit is key. NWA aren't a very good comparison or dare I say representative of the best Hip Hop has to offer. As I said I'm no expert but there are Hip Hop acts out there both known and relatively obscure who have something timeless to offer too. Of course it's not expressed in the same way as a Cole Porter song but for those who are touched by it it's no less valid. Not all popular music is worth the paper it's written on but we also have to be aware of musical snobbery.