I know it’s likely that no one will read this post... but so what right. Social Media posting is a selfish sport right...?
About a month a go, I had a meeting with a lawyer in Riverside -- a really cool older man (been practicing law probably for as long as I’ve been born). So we’re talking, having a conversation on business law, going back and forth and such... when his phone rings... and a song plays... and guess who the song was sung by.
He quickly apologies -- struggles a bit (as everyone always does) to silence his phone. Then, he tries to go back to the conversation. But not before I call him out on it.
“Oh... is that Ella Fitzgerald...?” I knew it was, I just needed confirmation. I would’ve never forgiven myself if I didn’t.
He answers “yes,” quickly while trying to regain his frame of mind, as the conversation had been interrupted by the call. As he collects himself, I see him start to think, and then he bluntly asks the question that, out-of-nowhere, starts to roll in his mind: “What the heck does a 24 year old know about Ella Fitzgerald...?”
Oh buddy... “you don’t even know. I love Ella Fitzgerald.”
Now, Ella had one of those voices that if you heard her you would know, but could be confused someone else, such as a Dusty Springfield, to the unfamiliar ear. But I knew the voice of Ella Fitzgerald very well and for that I have my grandpa... my Apa to thank.
See he EDUCATED on the era... on this genre of music that is so... lovely, that is so heartfelt and lyrically poetic. I was listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima with Keely Smith, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole (just to name a few), long before I knew they weren’t making new music.
Instantly, I liked Louis Prima and Duke Ellington, and Sinatra of course. But Ella... I don’t know. I wasn’t too sure. She was too upbeat. I remember she was one of my grandpa’s favorite. He used to call her Ella Fitzerland because he wasn’t to keen on her last name for what ever reason. Although her music was one of if the his favorite, she wasn’t on my top list by any means.
Listening to her now -- I seem to having a different stance on her music. Her voice, at it’s core, was optimistic, was lively, despite whatever she was singing about... likely: the blues. It was as though she, in her voice, took an optimistic view of a pessimistic lyric.... and I’ll be damned if I can’t appreciate that point-of-view at this point in my life.
Now I find myself listening to her and just letting her play. And although I may know consciously realize it that I’m doing it, I’m tapping my foot, I’m bobbing my head to the lively and optimistic voice of Ella. Doing so, subconsciously, I get a positive feeling that everything is going to be alright. I honestly get lost in it.
And all of this, I have no one but my grandpa... but my Apa, to thank. For him educating me on this music gave me so much more now than he’ll ever now.
And, full disclosure here -- the way he educated me was the old school way of educating someone... he gave me his headset, HIS HEADSET, and he said listen to this. I would listen to the music and he, with no music, with no headset, would bob his head and tap his fingers and foot to the music that I was listening too. It was as though he put me on a bike and pushed me.... and told me to peddle.
I couldn’t have asked for a better way to take it all in.
So now... to you you, Reader, I ask that you give Ella a chance. That you give her a listen. And trust me, don’t try and JUST watch the video. Nothing amazing about it at all. She is there, and she is just singing... there’s a good chance that you’ll bore yourself.
But push play, minimize this window and go do whatever work you might have to do, or browse whatever sites you usually do... and let her make her way lightly into your ear. If it bugs you, put the volume a little lower. If it doesn’t, bump it up a little higher. I’ve been listening to this the entire time I’ve been writing.
Point is - give it shot... but give it a real shot if you’re going to. By the way, no one knows, except you, if you gave it a shot.
This music to me though, will always have a special place in my heart because of what genuine way that it’s presented and the way it was introduced to me in my life and who introduced it to me.
Ella is good vibe music. Truly, I hope you enjoy it and appreciate it as much as I do.
