(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)
Ella Fitzgerald
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Mister Paganini, please play my rhapsody And if you cannot play it, won't you sing it And if you can't sing it, you simply have to Swing it I said swing it Oh-oh-oh swing it And don't ding it Oh mister Paganini, we breathlessly await Your masterful d?tente, go-o on and sling it And if you can't sling it You'll simply have to swing it I said swing it And scattywahwah And wahdyscatla We've heard your repertoire and At the final bar We've greeted you with wild applause But what a great ovation Your interpretation Pat-scoodle-atty-doody yeah yeah yeah Oh Mister Paganini, now don't you be a meanie What have you up your sleeve, go on and spring it And if you can't spring it, you'll simply have to Swing it
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Written by: SAM COSLOW
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
5 facts about this song
Creation"(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)" is a jazz song composed by Sam Coslow. It was first performed by Ella Fitzgerald in the 1936 film "Rhythm on the Range".
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Ella Fitzgerald's VersionThe song is widely associated with Ella Fitzgerald as she gave a memorable performance of it in her live album "Ella in Hollywood" recorded in 1961.
- Fitzgerald's version is notable for its energetic scat improvisation, a vocal form that imitates the sounds and rhythms of instruments.
- It became one of her signature songs and she sang it often in her live performances throughout her career.
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Patti Austin's VersionPatti Austin is an American R&B and jazz singer. She also covered "(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)" in her 2002 album "For Ella".
- Austin's version is a tribute to Fitzgerald, paying homage to her scat singing and bringing her own unique style to the song.
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TriviaThe song's title and lyrics are a playful reference to violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, implying that jazz musicians who can't "sing" (i.e., play) a composition will "swing" it instead.
- The song showcases the flexibility and improvisational style common in jazz, demonstrating the genre's culture of interpretation and variation.
- Despite its age and classic status, the song has been covered by many artists over the years, indicating its enduring popularity.
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ImpactThe "Mr. Paganini" part of the title has forever tied this song to the master violinist, linking the worlds of classical and jazz music.
- Ella Fitzgerald's recording of the song remains one of the most popular jazz songs today, showcasing her unparalleled talent as a vocal improviser.
- The song is often used as a benchmark by aspiring jazz singers to master the art of scat singing.
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"(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/18633074/Ella+Fitzgerald/%28If+You+Can%27t+Sing+It%29+You%27ll+Have+to+Swing+It+%28Mr.+Paganini%29>.
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