Tag: Cry Me a River

Tune Tuesday

Happy 50th birthday to Michael Buble’!

Michael is often referred to as a crooner. This is because he helped to renew public interest and appreciation for the Great American Songbook and those traditional pop standards.

He readily admits that he is a “great cover artist.” His albums feature him covering the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, and Mel Torme’.  But he is also a great songwriter and the songs he has written have done well on the charts, too.

Bublé has sold over 75 million records worldwide, and won five Grammy Awards. He has also won fifteen Juno Awards.

His first album was released in 2003.  It did well in Canada and the UK. In 2005, his album It’s Time brought him more world wide attention. In total, he’s recorded nine albums.  He’s about due for a new one since his last one was released in 2022.

Right around the time of his first album, he made the rounds at radio stations.  My buddies Tim and Jeff had them on their show in Arkansas.  They said he was a blast.

They said he was very funny and down to earth.  They hung out with him that evening, I think they all went to a hockey game together.  They said he was one of the coolest artists they’d ever met.

He seems like a pretty cool guy.  He has no problem poking fun at himself and always seems to be having fun. I would love to meet him one day.

I have featured his music a few times on this blog.  Feelin’ Good, The Theme From Spiderman, and Cry Me a River are some of my favorites.  Today I picked another one that I like – Call Me Irresponsible.

I was hooked as soon as I heard the opening bass line.  When the drums and band join in, it’s just “smooth.” He has a Dean Martin vibe here – relaxed and effortless.

Let’s swing together and wish Michael a Happy 50th!

Tune Tuesday: Cry Me a River

One of my followers mentioned a few weeks ago that I needed to post more musical posts. I’m hoping to revive Tune Tuesday with a classic.

I remember I used to hear Frank Sinatra talking about “saloon songs” and “torch songs.” This one would be considered a torch song. By definition, a torch song is “a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affected the relationship.” The term comes from the phrase “to carry a torch for someone.”

Arthur Hamilton published Cry Me a River in 1953. He said “I had never heard the phrase. I just liked the combination of words… Instead of ‘Eat your heart out’ or ‘I’ll get even with you,’ it sounded like a good, smart retort to somebody who had hurt your feelings or broken your heart.” The song was originally written for Ella Fitzgerald to sing in the movie “Pete Kelly’s Blues.”

According to Hamilton, he and singer Julie London had been high school classmates, and she contacted him on behalf of her husband, Jack Webb, who was the film’s director and was looking for new songs for its soundtrack. When the song was dropped from the movie soundtrack, Julie London released it in 1955 when she was at Liberty Records.

Julie’s version is a stripped down jazz version with a guitar and bass accompaniment. Her vocal is simple and beautiful. I will share her version here, but it is not her version that I like the best.

The version that I absolutely love is by Michael Buble’. I love the fact that he has brought back so many of the great standards and shared them with today’s audiences. His cover of Cry Me a River can be found on his Crazy Love album from 2009. It is the opening cut on the album and it gets your attention immediately!

He actually wrote the opening music of his version. It has been described as “James Bond-like” and that actually fits. I could hear it being used over the opening credits of a Bond movie. This arrangement paired with Michael’s vocal blow me away every time! Give it a listen!

Cry Me a River

Now, you say you’re lonely
You cried the whole night through
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you

And, now, you say you’re sorry
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you

You drove me
Nearly out of my head
While you never shed a tear, babe
Remember?
I remember all that you said
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me

And now you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Why don’t you cry me a river?
Cry me a river
‘Cause I cried a river over you
Over you

You say you love me, but you lie

Now, you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry me a river
Oh, cry me a river
I cried a river over you
I cried a river
Over you

I cried a river
Now you can, too
Cry me a river

Cry me a river