In my “wild” childhood days, often I could be found watching the old musicals with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Transfixed by the shiny dresses, the often over-the-top beautiful people and the music in these old flicks, “Singing in the Rain” has remained a favorite. I could find something new in the old, with a twist and a tweak of creativity.
Admittedly, that’s what I seem to enjoy about Harry Connick Jr.’s latest album Your Songs — Connick has found something new in the old with a nod to his creativity and song selection. The songs are romantically comfortable and familiar, even tackling the Beatles’ “And I Love Her” and Hal David and Burt Bacharach’s “Close to You.”

Asked to review the album for One2One Network, as always, I played the songs for my kids. My daughter thought the music was “just for mom and dad…too lovey.” But then she listened to it again, as I have, finding layers in the full jazz big band and string orchestra. As always, Connick’s voice is velvety smooth as he introduces Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa” or Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” to another generation and re-introduces the music to me.
Often it is hard to put a creative spin on someone’s version of another’s work. While it is not an album I’ll listen to while I get creative writing (only because I don’t write to music with words), but with its generous orchestration, this is an album I will listen to around the house or for an adult dinner party–and maybe these are songs that can help me get “too lovey” with my husband.

Share on Facebook