My Funny Valentine

For the album by Miles Davis, see My Funny Valentine (album).

"My Funny Valentine"
Song

"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. The song became a popular jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists, including Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams, Shirley Bassey, Miles Davis, Etta James, Harry James, Nico, Chaka Khan, Elvis Costello, Melanie C, and Rickie Lee Jones. In 2015 it was announced that the Gerry Mulligan quartet featuring Chet Baker's version of the song will be inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for the song's "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation’s audio legacy".

Structure

The song is usually performed in C Minor, although for vocalists the key of B Minor is fairly common. Frank Sinatra recorded the song in B Minor, and the theatrical version was also in B Minor. Ella Fitzgerald recorded the song in G Minor.

The song follows the following chord progression (in the key of C Minor):

• C-, C-maj7, C-7, C-6, A♭maj7, F-7, D-7(♭5), G7(♭9)
• ditto thru to the F-7, then D♭9, B♭7(♭9)
• (bridge) E♭maj7, F-7, G-7, F-7, E♭maj7, F-7, G-7, F-7, E♭maj7, G7(♯5),C-,(B♭7,A7) A♭maj7, D-7(♭5) G7,
• C-, C-maj7, C-7, C-6, A♭maj7, D-7(♭5) G7(♭9), C-, B♭-7 A7, A♭maj7, F-7, B♭7(♭9), C-7 (preferred, or E♭maj7)

This simple and classic structure makes it easy to adapt to other genres and for jazz musicians to improvise over the established chords.

History

Babes in Arms opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, in New York City on April 14, 1937 and ran for 289 performances. In the original play, a character named Billie Smith (played by Mitzi Green) sings the song to Valentine "Val" LaMar (played by Ray Heatherton). In the song, Billie pokes fun at some of Valentine's characteristics, but ultimately affirms that she makes him smile and that he doesn't want her to change. The song first hit the charts in 1945, performed by Hal McIntyre with vocals by Ruth Gaylor. It only appeared for one week and hit #16. Was a number in the 1955 romantic musical comedy film, Gentlemen Marry Brunettes film sung by Jeanne Crain (dubbed by Anita Ellis) and Alan Young. then in 1957 was sung (in the film) by Kim Novak in Pal Joey.

The song is part of the Great American Songbook and has had many notable recordings (see talk page).

See also

• List of 1930s jazz standards

External links

• Chet Baker Sings 'My Funny Valentine'
• 'My Funny Valentine' performed by Nuala Honan and Jools Scott on YouTube