All That Chat - re: Did Johnny Mathis specifically avoid lyrics with "he", she", "his" or "her" to avoid outing himself?

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re: Did Johnny Mathis specifically avoid lyrics with "he", she", "his" or "her" to avoid outing himself?

Posted by:	Chromolume 03:53 pm EDT 09/08/14
In reply to:	re: Did Johnny Mathis specifically avoid lyrics with "he", she", "his" or & ... - Michael_Portantiere 03:43 pm EDT 09/08/14

Being the phrase with the highest tessitura in the song, it can be tricky for many people to sing in one breath. (It also depends on tempo, of course.) I actually don't mind when people breathe between "man" and "some" - I think the rhyme still plays, especially if the singer is careful to keep the energy in the phrase going (so that the breath feels more like a slight lift than a huge interruption). Another option would be to breathe between "think of" and "as handsome." We also have to remember that this tune was written as an uptempo dance piece first, then made into a slow ballad and lyrics added. So, marvelous a song as it is, the lyrics seem to be more of an afterthought than in other Gershwin brothers' songs.

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