((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
This is Faith Lapidus.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Steve Ember with People in America in VOA SpecialEnglish. Today we tell about the life and music of Americansongwriter Cole Porter.
((MUSIC))
VOICE ONE:
That was “Begin the Beguine” played by Artie Shaw’s orchestra innineteen-thirty-eight.
It is one of almost one-thousand songs Cole Porter wrote. In hisseventy-three years, more than five-hundred of those songs werepublished. Porter wrote most of his songs in the nineteen-twenties,thirties and forties. Yet they remain as fresh as when he wrotethem.
Cole Porter’s songs are still being sung and played today. Theyare performed at musical theaters, jazz clubs, even rock-and-rollconcerts. A movie about his life, called “De-Lovely,” was releasedin two-thousand-four. Kevin Kline stars in the movie as Cole Porter.Ashley Judd plays his wife, Linda Porter. Popular young performersof today sing his songs in the movie. We will play some songs fromthat movie later in this program.
VOICE TWO:
Cole Porter was born June ninth, eighteen-ninety-one, in themiddle western state of Indiana. His family was wealthy andeducated. His mother, Kate, guided him to music at an early age. Hewrote his first song at the age of ten.
As a young man, he was sent east to study at Yale University inNew Haven, Connecticut. In his extra time, he continued to writesongs. Two were for the university: the “Yale Bulldog” song and”Bingo Eli Yale.” They are still sung there today.
After finishing his studies at Yale, Cole Porter went to HarvardUniversity in Cambridge, Massachusetts to study law. That planlasted only a year. At a party one night, he played some of hissongs for the students and professors. The head of the law schoolspoke to him. “Why are you studying law?” he asked. “You are no goodat it. Why don’t you go to Harvard’s Music School and then write forthe musical theater?” Later, Porter said, “That idea had neverentered my head before. “
VOICE ONE:
At the time, musical theater was extremely popular in America.This is because there were few music records. And radio programswere still being developed. So, songwriters had to work in themusical theater to be successful. Cole Porter wrote his firstmusical show in nineteen-sixteen. He was still a student at Harvard.The show
was called “See America First.” It was produced in the Broadwaytheater area of New York City.
The show was a complete failure. Porter wanted to leave townuntil people forgot it. So, he went to Europe. He stayed there formost of the next thirteen years.
VOICE TWO:
During this time, Cole Porter became famous for his parties. Hisguests were wealthy, pleasure-loving people from all over Europe.They liked him because he was smart and funny and knew how to enjoylife. And they loved his songs, which he played at his parties. HereCole Porter sings his song, “You’re the Top.”
((MUSIC))
VOICE ONE:
In France, Cole Porter met the woman who became his wife. She wasa beautiful and rich American named Linda Lee Thomas. They weremarried in nineteen-nineteen. The Porters gave parties that lastedfor days. They had so much money they could do anything they wanted.And they did. Their life together was a search for excitement,adventure and pleasure.
Still, Cole Porter remained a serious, hard-working songwriter.He wrote both the words and the music for his songs. The words andmusic always fit together perfectly. His songs were funny, sexy andintelligent. They were playful — full of little jokes and hiddenmeanings.
One of his earliest big hits is called “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fallin Love).” It was written in nineteen-twenty-eight for a show called”Paris.” Alanis Morrissette sings the song in the movie about ColePorter called “De-Lovely.”
((MUSIC))
VOICE TWO:
Some of Porter’s friends thought he might not be a success. Onefriend, Elsa Maxwell, told him: “You are too good. The humor andpoetry of your words are far beyond the people. One day, however,”she added, “you will bring the public up to your own level. Then theworld will be yours.”
VOICE ONE:
Most of Cole Porter’s songs are about love and desire. When theywere written, they stretched the limits of what was sociallyacceptable. The words were often unexpected, sometimes evenshocking. They spoke both directly and indirectly about sex, aboutdrug use. Some songs he sang only for his friends.
Critics consider “Love for Sale” to be one of Porter’s finestsongs. He wrote it in nineteen-thirty for a Broadway musical called”The New Yorkers.” For years, the song was banned on American radio.Here is a new version by Vivian Green.
((MUSIC))
VOICE TWO:
Many of Porter’s songs were written in a minor musical key. Thisgives them a feeling of sadness and longing. Yet they also can havea feeling of great excitement. American songwriter Alan J. Lernersaid only Cole Porter could really “write” passion. One example is”Night and Day.” It is considered perhaps the finest song ColePorter ever wrote. It is about the kind of romantic love that isalmost a form of insanity.
Porter got the idea for the song while traveling in Morocco. Heheard drums and a man singing a prayer. The song has a sound thatbeats endlessly, over and over. It is like a lover who thinks ofnothing but his love, over and over, night and day.
The song “Night and Day” was introduced in a nineteen-thirty-twoBroadway musical comedy called “The Gay Divorcee.” The great dancerand singer Fred Astaire played the leading male character and sangthe song.
“Night and Day” became famous around the world. And Cole Porterwas becoming one of the greatest songwriters America had everproduced. Today there are many recordings of the song by differentsingers and musicians. Here is “Night and Day” from the movie aboutCole Porter called “De-Lovely.” John Barrowman and Kevin Kline singit.
((MUSIC))
VOICE ONE:
On our program next week, we will tell more about Cole Porter’slife, and bring you more of his music.
((MUSIC))
This program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was produced byLawan Davis. This is Faith Lapidus.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Steve Ember. Join us again next week for People inAmerica in VOA Special English.