Favourite rendition of Gershwin's "Summertime"?
 

it's one of the most covered songs in history. there are a lot of really fantastic versions out there.

my favourite version is by either Morcheeba or Angelique Kidjo. both by excellent female vocalists who put their own twist on the song.

i can't post links yet, but you can find both on youtube worth a listen! also, if you google 'summertimeweb' you'll find a list of artists who have covered it - there appear to be thousands (!)

i also remember a version i heard some years ago by a band that, if i recall correctly, were from someplace in central/eastern europe. the beat was electronic, and the lyrics were in french and english. any idea who this was? it's driving me mad!

~ edit - my mad google skillz lead me to them - a Lithuanian band called Skamp. it's not nearly as good as i remember it being all those years ago :( ~

anyway... which is your favourite?

I'm a big fan of Joni Mitchell singing it on Herbie Han****'s "Gershwin's World." It's smoky. Check it out.

:bringit:They censored Han****? herbie and john must get p.o'd Porgy and Bess, who would've thought, George did, i love it, best is the orginal, my opinion, as humbly as can give it. my fav. summertime song is Mungo Jerry's ...the first Beat Box!:bringit: as far as renditions go, A.S.U's Gammage Theater, A night of Gershwin, Canadian Troupe.... i think, maybe it was the accustics or maybe the phenylbarbotol, a great night to just enjoy.:beer:

Janis Joplin. Though I find it ironic that she, not to mention all the people (especialy in the era that Joplin lived) that covered it as well, covered the song at all. Gershwin lived in the time of "establishment" and the Joplin-era (that's what I'm calling it, because I'm tired of calling it the hippy-era, and don't want to be steretypical and call it the doing-mushrooms-era) was almost by definition "anti-establishment". A guy who wrote songs like, "I've got my girl, I've got blue skies, who could ask for anything more..." doesn't seem like the type that all them fun-loving acid-tripping teenagers would like, does it now?

Well first off I think that its just an all together great tune. So for me at least, it basically transcends lyrical content unless it was totally off. As for that last bit in bold there.... you ever done any psychedelic drugs? You sure couldn't ask for anything more than a girl and a blue sky if the mood is right!

Wait - you think Joplin's version of Summertime is a great tune, or the other Gershwin song that I mentioned? *is confused*

Yes... but I'm trying to say. There was a movement in aforementioned era... or there was an alleged, political movement. And those lyrics lack soul to me, lack caliber and substance. Now I completely understand that back when they were originally written that wasn't their purpose at all, and for their day and age, sure, they're fine. So was Guys and Dolls (and Damon Runyon could lick you all at the races :p:). I'm just saying it seems a bit ironic to me that in this "movement", these people would find this guy appealing. Or did they even? Did they just think Summertime (Joplin) was a good tune or what?