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"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 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. She also revealed the song to be used as a fundraiser for the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras, announcing her decision to 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
Lana_Del_Rey_-_Summertime_The_Gershwin_Version Released November 19, 2020
Length 3:37
Director Constellation Jones
Producer
Filmed November 2020
Location California
Vevo views 4.7 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, ah-ha, ah-ha-ha, ha-ha
Ooh-oh, ahh, ooh-ahh
Summertime and the livin's easy
Fish are jumpin' 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, 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 cry

Credits[]

Personnel[a]

  • DuBose Heyward — composition
  • George Gershwin — composition
  • Ira Gershwin — composition
  • Lana Del Rey — vocals
  • Gabe Simon — production, acoustic guitar, horn
  • Dean Reid — production, additional production, engineering, mixing
  • Zach Dawes — production, double bass
  • Blake Stranathan — electric guitar
  • Drew Erickson — piano, horn
  • Benji Lysaght — guitar
  • Byron Thomas — Hammond B3
  • Loren Humphrey — drums
  • Kenna Ramsey — background vocals
  • Melodye Perry — background vocals
  • Tata Vega — background vocals
  • John Sher — engineering
  • Carlos Miranda — recording assistance
  • Charron Elliot — recording assistance

References[]

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