The Saunterer

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the genius of Cole Porter’s lyrics

    One way of becoming a better writer is to read the lyrics of the best composers. We’ve done that for twenty years and agree with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s choice of “The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter” (edited by Robert Kimball) as a good place to begin. He explains:

    Cole Porter was a genius at writing witty, intelligent, whimsical songs that will remain a part of the American culture for centuries to come. Don’t believe me? Read the lyrics to “Night and Day,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.”

    (Quoted from page 11 of the December 25, 2016, The New York Times Book Review.)
    For a brief biography of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, click here. For images of or relating to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, click here.
    For a brief biography of Cole Porter, click here. For images of or relating to Cole Porter, click here.

Tony Bennett on how art keeps greatness of the past alive

    Perhaps it takes a painter like Tony Bennett (Anthony Benedetto) to see a common purpose in painting and singing:

    Today I love to look at portraits by John Singer Sargent of people whom I know only by that portrait, and landscapes and seascapes that have long ago disappeared. Those of us who have to sing for a living have to keep the great songs alive in the same way.

    (Quoted from the article “Tony Bennett,” page C11, November 12 - 13, 2016, The Wall Street Journal.)
    For a brief biography of Tony Bennett, click here. For images of or relating to Tony Bennett, click here.