The Perfect Valentine’s Day Soundtrack: Ella & Louis for Lovers
Since Valentine’s Day has quickly made its arrival, I figured I would share with you one of my favorite albums all about being in love. This is the album that immediately pops in my head when I am trying to get into a romantic mood or simply want to set the tone for the evening. As a music lover, I love to choose music to set the tone and really create the perfect ambiance for special evenings and this album is a go-to of mine. The album is Ella & Louis for Lovers by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
As part of Verve’s “For Lovers” series, this album is a compilation of love songs recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in the 1950s and released as an album in 2005. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong are some of the most famous names in the jazz world and their duets together are no exception. Known for their many performances together, these two were probably each other’s most popular musical colleagues. With Louis’ trumpet skills and gravelly voice paired with Ella’s rich tone and scat singing, I couldn’t think of a better combination for jazz. The pair performed and recorded numerous songs together during their careers and have other albums of their duets, but this one specifically features the very best of their love songs together.
photo from Pinterest
Now I understand everyone has different vibes for when they are trying to set a romantic mood, but in my experience, one of the most popular genres for that is jazz. So why not select some of the greatest love songs by some of the greatest jazz singers of all time to set the mood? Picture it: you and your partner choose to have a romantic evening in. No wasting time dealing with traffic, waiting at restaurants, or worrying about finding a ride home. So you decide to cook some delicious steak and enjoy it paired with a smooth glass of red wine. The lights are dim, you have a few candles lit, and the both of you are dressed to the nines in your favorite fancy outfits while it’s chilly outside. Now try and tell me that jazz wouldn’t be the perfect musical pairing for that type of evening! Maybe I am a bit too imaginative but every time I put on jazz, specifically this album, I am instantly transported to that type of scene and I start to imagine I am some sultry woman from the 1950s about to sweep my man off his feet.
Not only does jazz just pair perfectly with romance, but the songs themselves tell such beautiful love stories. This album features very popular love songs that have been favorites for decades and have stood the test of time. Songs like “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, “Love is Here to Stay”, “The Nearness of You”, and “Tenderly” are just a few of the iconic hits this album has to offer. And while these songs have been covered by many wonderful artists, when performed by Ella & Louis, they are a match made in heaven. Then when you take into account Louis’ trumpet and Ella’s lovely scat, it doesn’t get much better than that (totally didn’t mean to rhyme). Their many talents plus their chemistry make you almost believe they were lovers themselves, which they surprisingly weren’t.
Since this past year has been a bit different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have obviously had to celebrate holidays a little different than usual. So for this Valentine’s Day, consider spending time with your love all cozied up indoors, enjoying good food, and even better company surrounded by the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Get dressed up just to go to your living room, whip up a delicious home cooked meal, pop open a bottle of your favorite red wine and celebrate the love and connection the two of you have. The last year has been a whirlwind but it has given us the opportunity to really cherish those who love us and who are there throughout hard times. Some people get too wrapped up in all the random nonsense that comes with Valentine’s Day when in reality, just spending quality time together and being appreciative of one another is what it is really all about. And I just happen to think that Ella & Louis for Lovers is the perfect soundtrack for that.
I hope you all have a happy Valentine’s Day and I urge you to give this album at least one listen, you won’t regret it!
