Swing Dancing Anniversary & Vote for Your Favorite - Monday Music Review
Swing dancing holds a very special place in my life. It was through Swing dancing that I met my husband. He started taking beginner lessons at the place I had been taking lessons. We got paired up during a class one day and we struck up a friendship. Over the next several months we would dance together and then walk out to the parking lot to talk. We often closed the place down. When we started dating, our dance teacher said “finally!” Swing dancing was a huge part of our courtship and engagement. Our first dance was, of course – a swing dance!
Two days ago was our 11 year anniversary and we’ve been dancing together ever since! We may not always be able to go out to dance, but sometimes a living room dance session is just as much fun.
I’ve been reminiscing a lot about swing dancing including the music. One of my favorite swing dance songs is Love Me or Leave Me by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn. I personally have danced to this song many times and there is much fun to be had, playing around with stylings, syncopations, bass lines, and lyrics. There have been many recordings of this – Doris Day, Lena Horne, Nina Simone, Sammy Davis Jr. to name a few.
I have never been able to pick my favorite rendition of the song, but I think I have it narrowed down to two. It’s not just the recordings themselves but how they are used in the video.
The first is Nina Simone singing and playing on the piano. Not only is her voice out of this world – her piano playing is phenomenal. She actually incorporated a Bach influenced fugue into the song. Take a listen…
The second is Sammy Davis Jr.’s version. I love his arrangmenet – the big band, the drum beats, the stops and starts but what I really love about this video is the dancing. It’s two guys doing a lindy hop style swing dance to Sammy’s song and. I. Love. It. So. Much. Their styling is perfect. Give it a watch….
Now that you have listened/watched both videos, which one is your favorite? Help me pick a favorite – Nina or Sammy. Leave your vote in the comments below!