The Perfect Proposal: with L-O-V-E

I came across this funny video clip with the title "The Perfect Proposal" where a marriage proposal doesn't exactly go according to the plan. The soundtrack to the video clip is the song L-O-V-E that was written by Milt Gabler and Bert Kaempfert for Nat King Cole.

I'm not sure if it's Nat King Cole who sings this version, it doesn't sound like him but I may be wrong. Do you know who sings this version?

I have mostly heard the version of L-O-V-E from Nat King Cole's daughter Natalie Cole's album Unforgetable.

On a side note: I'm putting together a cd with swing music that is going to be played in the band breaks at a friend's wedding next weekend. I would like to include some swing love songs. Do you have any suggestions?

If you're in a fluffy "Oh-sho-be-do-be-oo-oo" state of mind, check out a real "Perfect Proposal". So romantic, say after me: "Aaaww!" :-)

What do you think of the video clip? Got any suggestions for swinging love songs? Please comment.

Monica Zetterlund - Sakta vi gå genom stan

It's time for some late night music again, this time I'd like to present Monica Zetterlund who was one of Sweden's best jazz singers.

Monica Zetterlund sings "Sakta vi gå genom stan" which is the Swedish version of "Walking My Baby Back Home". The Swedish lyrics was written by Beppe Wolgers. The new lyrics stays true to the original but also pays a tribute to Stockholm as a beautiful summer city.

What do you think of Monica Zetterlund singing Sakta vi gå genom stan? Please comment.

Route 66: Bobby Troup + Nat King Cole

Route 66 is one of the classic swing songs. I bet you have sung this one time or another:

"Get your kicks on Route 66"

Many people don't know that the song was written by a man called Bobby Troup. Most people associate Route 66 with Nat King Cole because he was the first artist to record the song in 1946.

I thought it would be interesting to hear how the composer would perform the song, so here is Bobby Troup performing Route 66.

You can then compare it with how Nat King Cole and his trio played Route 66 below.



As I'm often is involved with rigging bands on Swingkatten's dance nights I could help noticing the look of the microphones: so small.

I wonder why they made microphones like that then and also why we don't see such microphones nowadays. It must be techical reasons why they changed the look or could it be astaetics as well?

Nowadays you mostly see Shure SM58s (ok, you non technical types can roll your eyes now... ;-) ). Is there anyone who know the history of microphones?

What do you think of the different versions of Route 66? Please comment.

Bert Kaempfert - Tuxedo Junction

Take a look at this video clip with Bert Kaempfert and his orchestra playing Tuxedo Junction. I really like the soft arrangement.



Wow, that what a call a BIG band. How many people are on the band stand? At least twenty.

Bert Kaempfert isn't very known by the general jazz public but some of his songs are: "L-O-V-E" which was made famous by Nat King Cole and "Strangers in the Night", a hit for Frank Sinatra. In Sweden almost everybody know Bert Kaempfert's song "Swingin' Safari" since it was (and maybe still is) the theme song for the tv quiz show for fifth-graders called "Vi i femman".

Tuxedo junction was written by Erskine Hawkins in 1940.

What do you think of Bert Kaempfert and his orchestra playing Tuxedo Junction? Tell me.