The Song of the Day for September 4, 2012 is Fly Me To The Moon.
About Fly Me To The Moon
Fly Me To the Moon, originally known as In Other Words, was written by Bart Howard in 1954. Recorded first by Kaye Ballard in 1954, it was first introduced by cabaret singer Felicia Sanders. This song has been recorded by more top popular, jazz, and cabaret singers than we can possibly list here, including Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, and, of course, Frank Sinatra. Tony Bennett first recorded the song in 1965 for his If I Ruled The World: Songs of the Jet Set (a much-loved album at The Year of Tony Bennett).
On the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, held July 2009 at the Kennedy Center, Diana Krall performed Fly Me To The Moon.
In her concert on August 26, 2012 at the Hollywood Bowl, she sang it memory of Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut to set foot on the moon, who passed away on August 25, 2012 at the age of 82.
About This Version
Sunday night as I was driving back to Portland after seeing Tony Bennett and the Quartet at the Bumbershoot Festival, the just-past-full blue moon was low in sky and filling the eastern skyscape. I didn’t even need to turn on the iPod to hear him singing this beautiful song as we drove.
Today’s version is from the 1994 MTV Unplugged concert.
According to the wishes of the Armstrong family, as quoted on the Global Post website:
Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.
Driving home last night, I did just that.
