I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) (click on link to hear the song)
Amy Barlow (vocals) and Stuart Watarz (piano)
Music by Duke Ellington; lyrics by Ned Washington (used by permission of their estates)
SINGING STANDARDS
Those well-known, well-worn songs
of Ellington, Gershwin, Mercer
My primer, my guide from childhood
I wanted to make them my own so
I read the lyrics poetically first
before I sang them; I grew them inside
myself, within the deep chambers
of mystery, of smoky romance
and infectious delight
I never sang a song
the same way twice, but
I tried to get it right
Not trite, this advice to
younger singers: Read the song
first, listen to the lyricist
Don’t imitate, it grates
and you will sound over-rehearsed
and you will be dismissed as a poser
Don’t listen to Ella. Ever.
She embeds in your head and
will be artist-in-residence
Sing it. From the sole of your shoes,
from the fire in your heart,
from the orgasmic desire
Though the song was written
before you were born,
know in your heart that
there’s your version waiting
to be sung from your POV
Blow your horn, baby
and give out like there’s
no turning back,
no way out
cuz there isn’t. Once you’re
lost yourself in a classic…
you’re where you need to be
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For dverse Open Mic Night. “Standards” are the jazz tunes every good musician and singer knows before accepting a gig. As Time Goes By, Fly Me To The Moon, Embraceable You, … then there is the second, special tier of songs not on “the list” but that earn a singer points with the band members for knowing them… Lush Life, I Cover the Waterfront, Cottage for Sale.
The song on the media player is a standard; however, this is the complete version with both full verses, so it straddles the two tiers above. This version makes more sense, because it deals with the weekend, THEN “when the weekend’s over.” I cut my teeth on these songs, and I hope you like this version, from my CD, “Jazz Baby Hits Her Stride,” available for download HERE.
Sharp Little Pencil 
claudia
very cool…love listening to you singing and playing… and..
Sing it. From the sole of your shoes,
from the fire in your heart,
from the orgasmic desire… yeah…that’s how it’s done.. also love never to sing the song the same way twice..
Sharp Little Pencil
It’s what I used to do for a living, so it’s sound advice!
vivinfrance
Great stuff, superb advice. It reminds me of a comment I heard about Sinatra: he inhabits each song. Don’t you just hate the shouty style of singing which is encouraged on those reality shows?
Sharp Little Pencil
Unfortunately, from disco and on to Whitney Houston and Michael Bolton, among countless others, the “power ballad” rules. It’s all about running scales with precision, developing a strong vibrato, and showing off. Sorry about that comment re: Whitney, but as beautiful as her voice was, she was best when she sang purely, without all the gizmo folderol. That’s just me!
Daydreamertoo
I’m with you all the way on this. As with my writing. It has to come from somewhere deep within. Has to be felt and then said. I love how you explain it all so well, how to ‘feel’ and then to sing the song. Fabulous, but simple to understand context.
You have a beautiful voice (btw)
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks on both fronts. It is really about the words. Trust me, you would never have heard of George Gershwin if his brother Ira hadn’t written the lyrics to “Embraceable You,” and a thousand more. Ditto DuBose Heyward on Porgy and Bess.
brian miller
I grew them inside
myself, within the deep chambers
of mystery, of smoky romance
and infectious delight
nice….i like this much and this is the way music should be you know…internalized, handled with respect and felt….like your philosophy…
Sharp Little Pencil
IN many ways, music IS my philosophy. Share it freely, sing wherever you are. And, as Judy Garland sang, “If you can’t sing good, sing soft…” (Pardon the grammar but those are the lyrics)
Michelle Wallace
Amy, how are you? It’s been a while… and I’m so excited to return on a “jazz standard” note… 🙂 How’s that for timing?
Some great advice for up-and-coming-singers… sing from your own POV!
Gonna crash your party and throw in my faves: Autumn Leaves (my all-time favourite), Desafinado, Girl From Ipanema, The Look Of Love, Alfie, Georgia On My Mind, Misty, Sway, Watch what Happens, Night And Day, Mas Que Nada…
…and before I overstay my welcome… I’m off again! But I’ll be back!
Cheers!
Sharp Little Pencil
MICHELLE! Oh, yeah, you are writing a playlist from a set at one of my gigs. You are SO bossa nova, it’s great. I love “Dindi” too… but Dusty Springfield and Stan Getz on “The Look of Love” is an absolute aphrodisiac! Glad to hear from you, hon. Amy
El Guapo
I’ll need to find a machine with quicktime so I can listen to this.
Looking forward to it!
Sharp Little Pencil
It’s a free download… sorry folks are having trouble with the mechanism, I’d say about 20% of folks… hope you like it. Amy
Steve E
You ARE talking about ‘my’ songs also, Ma’am.–grin! I have two oldFake books each with 1000 tunes. Takes about 5 minutes to learn a new one (on violin–no words, HA), so literally I have 2,000 songs at my fingertips. Only about half of them do I really ‘know’. And the more I ‘see’ and ‘hear’ the words, the more I become infatuated with these old songs, and admire their composers.
Sharp Little Pencil
Steve, the trick for me was always memorizing them. Fake books. Man, I should write a poem about where they started, because they used to be totally illegal! I’m talking even 30 years ago! So I have maybe 300 standards I used to be able to do, in any key, at the drop of a hat, because it was all about the math in the chords. I don’t read music per se, so I really admire your talents!! A
Steve E
Oh that link for your CD is broken (i believe), maybe you al=ready know this–and maybe it’s a fault on my end. (sigh!)
Sharp Little Pencil
It’s a Quicktime thing, or some other free device you can download.
Bodhirose
Great poem, advising artists to study the standards..yes, a good foundation is smart. I remember my mother singing that song when I was growing up..she had a great voice. And YOU have an amazing voice, Amy..so enjoyed hearing you sing…what a talent you possess!
Bodhirose
A great poem advising a foundation of knowing the old standards. I remember my mother singing this song when I was growing up..she had a wonderful voice. And Amy YOU have a phenomenal voice..I so enjoyed hearing you sing…it’s beautiful.
Sharp Little Pencil
Darlin’ I only respond to one comment or the other, LOL. Bet WordPress was messing with you again… damn. Thanks so much for this, because MY mom was the singer as well, and Grandma Blanche? She could play barrelhouse piano by ear, which I was also given, along with her bipolar disorder! Wouldn’t change a thing on either score. I’m a Laughlin girl through and through…
Debbie
Marvelous, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Deb!
ihatepoetry
This is great Ameleh – I agree, the classics are such for a reason – tap into the universal of the song, then make it your own. Right- loved don’t listen to Ella, and I’d add Ray also! Love, Mosk
Sharp Little Pencil
Brudda, you know it’s true about Ray. Had the damnedest time bringing my own versions of “Georgia” and “You Don’t Know Me” to life, because he was so ingrained. See, you SO get me!! Ameleh
Roger Green
sing it, sister. yes, your cd link is broken.
Sharp Little Pencil
Roger, there are free downloads for players like Quicktime, if that helps, because only a few folks couldn’t hear it. Sorry!
kaykuala
“Never treat me sweet and gentle
The way he should,
I got it bad and that ain’t good”
Beautiful singing, Amy! The opening lines are already mesmerizing. The slow and lingering melody is hypnotic. My, such a sweet voice!
There’s so much the youngsters can learn from your verse. The beauty is in the factual nature giving tips – it’s an education rarely that one gets in many others. Thanks for sharing, Ma’am!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Hank, you can pass this poem to any young person who aspires to singing jazz. It really is the best advice. Singing in the shower is great, too! Thanks so much, Hank. A
Semaphore / Samuel Peralta
The verse has a lyrical flow that is in perfect synchronicity to the standard. Wonderful to be able to compare and contrast the two.
hypercryptical
“I grew them inside
myself, within the deep chambers
of mystery, of smoky romance
and infectious delight”
Wonderful words Amy and you are gifted with a wonderful voice too.
Anna :o]
SaraV
Holy moley! You rocked that song into the next century. Thank you so much for sharing your music–wow
Bodhirose
Sorry for the double comment…I had trouble leaving my first comment and thought it didn’t “take”. But you are truly amazing, Amy…
contemplativemoorings
Groovy 🙂
Renee Espriu
Beautiful! It takes my soulful need to sing and lifts it up.