This week, I’ve had Chet Baker’s version of “My Funny Valentine” #OnRepeat. I started listening to this song again after I had a conversation with a fellow musician about Chet’s musicality, and I just can’t get enough of his version of this song.
Chet Baker is a Jazz trumpeter, flugelhorn player, and vocalist from Yale, Oklahoma. He gained attention by performing with tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, and as a member of Gerry Mulligan’s Quartet. Chet Baker has been associated with West Coast Jazz, BeBop, and the Cool Jazz genres, and his versatility on his instrument, along with his unique vocal sound gained him a lot of recognition throughout his career. Some of his most well-known songs are “Chetty’s Lullaby,” “Il Mio Domani (My Tomorrow),” and “Anticipated Blues.” Had it not been for Baker’s drug addiction issues and subsequent overdose, he most likely would have still been creating and re-creating great music.
Although Chet Baker does have an instrumental version of “My Funny Valentine,” I find the vocal version much more interesting because of how he interprets the words and his delivery of the melody. The lyrics are already intimate enough–loving someone despite all of their little quirks and physical flaws–but when Chet starts to sing the words, you feel as though you’re sitting on the floor of a quiet, dark room with only his voice. Chet has an incredible way of expressing vulnerability and depth at the same time with his performance style. “My Funny Valentine” has and always will be a great standard, but Chet’s performance makes his version of this song the first that comes to mind when you think of this title.
Take a listen below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvXywhJpOKs
Are there any versions of a particular song that you can’t get enough of? Let us know in the comments below!