Carmen McRae "Good Reviews" Lyric from The Real Ambassadors

A brief foray into standard Jazz lyrics, from the last few posts about vocalese - with this Dave & Iola Brubeck tune from The Real Ambassadors (see pervious post).

This tune is designed for and performed by Carmen McRae, and holds it's own as a standard Jazz tune, rather than one with that spoken word interaction which is glaringly indicative of 'a musical' of the early 60s. Even though that's precisely what this album, and it's subsequent performance at the 1962 Monterey Jazz Festival, was all about. Perhaps this one should make a comeback and become an authentic standard, yes?

~~~

"Good Reviews" sung by Carmen McRae (and Louis Armstrong - in parenthesis only)
(music by Dave Brubeck & lyric by Iola Brubeck)

The critics? Who needs 'em?
Who, I wonder, reads 'em?
Besides us.
In the news...

There's nothing like a good review to start a day off right
It's just the thing to make us swing, and jam into the night
Although reviews can phase us, it really does amaze us
When we don't face rejection, in the music section

There's nothing like a good review to make us wanna blow
So, affirmation, never ration - change the con to pro
For every time they praise us, our ego quickly raises
With the views - in the news

(Louis Armstrong trumpet solo)

There's nothing like the good reviews to keep as souvenirs
The other kind we quickly lose and drown 'em out with tears
Although we do regret 'em, we just try to forget 'em
And then defy predictions - come through with our convictions

There's nothing like a good review to make our lives complete
Unfortunately we must take the bitter with the sweet
If good - we just adore 'em, if bad - we just ignore 'em
And their views (we hope they like us) - in the news (did they like us?)
Good reviews - in the news (in the news)!

~~~

Here's a cool pic of her at this session (and more to be found by clicking here)