"Summertime The Gershwin Version" (or "Summertime") is a song composed by George Gershwin in 1935 and covered by Lana Del Rey, seeing release on November 19, 2020. It was speculated to be the lead single from her folk covers album, which was later scrapped. The released version of the song is inspired by Billie Holiday's 1936 rendition.
Background[]
"Summertime" was written by George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, and Ira Gershwin as an aria for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. It was famously re-recorded by American jazz singer Billie Holiday, whose vocals were sampled in Del Rey's cover.[citation needed] Musically, the song served as inspiration for, and was sampled in, Sublime's "Doin' Time", which Del Rey also covered for her 2019 album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!.
Del Rey announced and released the song on all platforms on November 19, 2020. Del Rey used the song as a fundraiser for the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras, and announced that she would make donations to both in a move to advocate support for struggling artists during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][dead link]
On March 30, 2023, a second cover of the song by Del Rey - inspired by Janis Joplin's 1968 rendition, recorded in 2013 - leaked. This cover of the song was at one point considered for inclusion on Del Rey's third studio album, before it would become Ultraviolence.[S 1] The title of the song can be seen in a January 2013 photo of Del Rey in the studio with her written notes partially visible in the background.[2]
Music video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | November 19, 2020 |
| Length | 3:37 | |
| Director | Constellation Jones | |
| Producer | ||
| Filmed | November 2020 | |
| Location | California | |
| Vevo views | 4+ million views | |
Behind the scenes[]
Official versions[]
- Released version — 3:06
- Janis Joplin version — 4:09
Lyrics[]
Released version[]
Summertime and the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton
The cotton is high
Oh, your daddy, he's rich
And your ma, she's good lookin'
So hush, little baby, don't you cry
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
You gonna spread your wings
And take, and take to the sky
Until that morning
Ain't nothing can harm you
With daddy (Daddy) and mammy (Mammy)
Standing by
Standing by
Standing by, little baby
Standing by
Janis Joplin version[]
Mhm, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh-oh
Ooh-oh, oh, ohhh, ooh-ohhh
Summertime and the living's easy
Fish are jumping out and the cotton
Cotton's high, Lord, so high
Your daddy's rich
And your ma is so good-looking, now
She's looking good now, baby
Hush, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
No, no, no, no, don't you cry
Don't you cry
Ooh-ah, ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, wah
Ah-ha, ha, ha, ha
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
You're gonna spread your wings
Darlin', take, take to the sky
Lord, the sky
Until that morning
Honey, nothing's gonna harm you, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Don't you cry
Don't you cry
Credits[]
Personnel
- DuBose Heyward — songwriting
- George Gershwin — songwriting
- Ira Gershwin — songwriting
- Lana Del Rey — vocals
- Kenna Ramsey — background vocals
- Melodye Perry — background vocals
- Tata Vega — background vocals
- Zach Dawes — production, upright bass
- Gabe Simon — production, acoustic guitar, horn
- Dean Reid — production [additional production], engineering, mixing
- John Sher — engineering
- Charron Elliot — recording engineering assistance
- Carlos Miranda — recording engineering assistance
- Blake Stranathan — electric guitar
- Byron Thomas — keyboard [Hammond B3]
- Drew Erickson — piano, horn
- Benji Lysaght — guitar
- Loren Humphrey — drums
References[]
- ↑ Del Rey, Lana (November 19, 2020). "So happy to have recorded this song to support the wonderful arts institutions that are the LA and NY Philharmonic orchestras that have faced such difficult challenges this year.. I’ll be donating to both to support them and loved making this video I hope you like it". Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHymnuvJOws/.
- ↑ January 2013 photo of Del Rey's notebook in the studio
Notes[]
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official source, but is considered widespread knowledge within the community.