Songwriter’s Anatomy Class: “My Funny Valentine”
An ironic and powerful love song not just for a holiday
On this April weekend in 1937, the Rodgers & Hart musical BABES IN ARMS premiered on Broadway. The plot centers on a group of small-town Long Island teenagers who put on a show to avoid being sent to a work farm by the town sheriff—the original 1937 version of the musical had political overtones and subplots about Communism and racism.
Those overtones were sanitized out of later versions as well as in the hit 1939 film starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, but recent revivals have restored those thornier subplots. The musical included “Johnny One Note,” “The Lady is a Tramp,” and other works that are now in The Great American Songbook.
What endured through all the remakes is the character named Billie Smith having her car break down on the road, then meeting a world wise showbiz kid named Valentine "Val" LaMar. Together they sing “Where or When” because it feels like they already knew each other in another life. Later she sings “My Funny Valentine” to him, describing his characteristics in unflattering terms (at one point Billie describes Valentine's looks as "laughable," in keeping with the title), but she ultimately affirms that he makes her smile, and she doesn't want him to change. The description of Valentine was consistent with lyricist Lorenz Hart's own insecurities and belief that he was too short and ugly to be loved.
A melancholy descending chord pattern carries the verse, underlining an arching melody that grows in drama. The refrain converts to major chords for “is your figure less than Greek,” allowing a moment of levity before the chords return to the darker verse mode for the heart-rending coda—one of the all-time “big endings” of songwriting lore. In the years since “My Funny Valentine” has been popularized as a Valentine’s Day piece, which may or may not detract from the original meaning (much like the commercialization of Valentine’s Day is far removed from the real story of St. Valentine). It’s usually performed in a vaguely rubato rhythm, and it’s been remade countless times in varying time signatures and styles (I’m waiting to hear a tango version).
My first exposure to the song was Elvis Costello’s 1979 solo version, performed quietly on just electric guitar and voice.
Chet Baker and Miles Davis also did signature arrangements.
However, it was Ella Fitzgerald’s expansive and elegant version (with the rarely performed prelude) that inspired me to try it.
I perform it in E minor and it’s one of my favorites to let my voice break out in timbre and heart. “Stay funny valentine, stay...make each day Valentine’s Day.” No matter how unloved one might feel, there is someone willing to love from an unexpected place.
#Valentine #ValentinesDay #babesinarms #longisland #teenagers #myfunnyvalentine #billiesmith #valentinelamar #rodgersandhart #richardrodgers #lorenzhart #whereorwhen #greatamericansongbook #musical #ellafitzgerald #chetbaker #elviscostello #milesdavis #johnnyjblair #singeratlarge #williamsportpa #bullfrogbrewery #jeremiahs