When Frank Sinatra went home to relax after a gig, the singer he would listen to, all the time was Nat King Cole, that says it all. Thank you so much Fil.
I am 73 years old so was privileged to watch/hear Nat King Cole on television. His voice was like velvet, satin, just so rich. I still love him to this day!
Yeah, but that wonderful voice was forged while he was a heavy smoker, which ultimately shortened his life with lung cancer. It is not officially Christmas in my mind, until I hear "The Christmas Song" for the first time.
@@jeromemercurio5407 Wow. I'm always shocked when I learn that a singer "back in the day" (as Fil would say) smoked. There's a picture of Tony Rice (maybe on an album cover?) with a cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth in probably the early 70's or so. Eeek! I doubt many singers today would risk it. But look at Willie Nelson and pot..... he was a cigarette smoker who chose to continue smoking pot after developing COPD from smoking cigarettes ! double Eeeek.
Nat King Cole could take the most mediocre of tunes and spin it into refined gold. I can thank my parents for introducing me to Nat's wondrous voice, piano and arrangements. Moreover, I've always thought that Nat's daughter (Natalie) should have received a lot more credit for her work. Just a thought. If I may, I'd like to dedicate Nat's superb "Unforgettable" to my parents and Nat's rendition of "Stardust" to my wife. Somehow, I know that my aforementioned loved ones and Nat Cole are singing those tunes in Heaven. Thank you, FIL!
Mentioning his daughter, Natalie, I love the duo of this song with them singing together. It is more than beautiful. He is dead, and she sings with him on a screen. Same as Lisa Marie Presley sings with her father Elvis. I will usually go to the duo Unforgettable over this one.
@@jeffgaumond4250 -- It's my favorite, as well. Nat's velvety-smooth voice and the orchestration make that particular version of "Stardust" something worthy of Heaven. I wonder what Hoagy Carmichael thought of it. Take care -- W
I think too many people made the mistake of dismissing Natalie, thinking it was a nepotism thing and didn't give her credit for herself, instead of Nat King Cole's daughter. I know I made that mistake myself.. BUT in all fairness to myself, I was a literal kid, something like 12 or 13??? It took me about 10 years to really appreciate her voice as the smooth powerhouse it is.
Fil, for me Nat King Cole is like the male version of Karen Carpenter. So smooooooth, so warm. And the way he uses rests and pauses are stunning. No one can "not sing" as well as Nat King Cole.
Nat King Cole was a part of my childhood and I adored him. Along with his singing I was drawn to him because of his gentle persona. He was the first African American to host a TV show. His singing was smooth as silk and unhurried. He left spaces and seemed to treat each note as something special.
@April S my mom had videotaped The Nat King Show when PBS aired them unfortunately, I don't have them anymore. nice to hear from you again my friend😊🧡✌
On PBS' "Piano Blues" with Clint Eastwood, Ray Charles said EVERYBODY wanted to play piano like Nat King Cole. Seeing Nat at piano, my jaw dropped. King's talent on piano IS INSANE!
His earlier trio recordings SWING! His voice is lovely, but his playing was even better. He was Oscar Peterson’s favorite piano player (that’s saying something, as OP was himself a virtuoso to begin with), and you can hear that evolve in his playing …OP’s vocals also sounded quite a bit like Cole… 🙂
Such a legend. Love his smooth silky voice. He was an American singer, jazz pianist & actor. He recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. He is best known for "Mona Lisa" & "Unforgettable" but he had so many great hits such as "Smile", "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", "There! I've Said It Again", "Nature Boy", "Ramblin' Rose", "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" etc.
i still have a record player, and i have several of his records - and i do mean actual vinyl 🙂 - and i actually have every single song you listed lol. and i absolutely love him. i also have a natalie cole cd where she sings a "duet" with her dad on 'unforgetable'.
Yes! Thanks Fil. I'm a rocker but model my ballads (requests) on Nat's phrasing. Singers like Nat and Frank made the performance about the song - let the song shine. No ridiculous runs or whistle registers.
The wonderful thing to me about his singing is that he doesn't go yodeling all over the place the way singers now do. It sounds so intentional, but also it allows you to really enjoy the quality of his voice as well as the beauty of the unaltered melody. Thanks for presenting him. 👍
Finally, my favorite male singer of all time! Three things about him that I found interesting: 1) He told his daughter, regarding the importance of diction and being clear, of which he was a master, that for a singer, for people to like you, they must first understand you. Nobody was more crisp. 2) Some of his jazz contemporaries believed he was simply singing pop songs later in his career, and that his real talent as a jazz pianist was overlooked and got buried by his fame as a singer. I suppose it's been that way for a long time, though. Many of the all-time great composers, like Mozart, made most of their money playing, not writing/creating. 3) Lots of Southern stations refused to air his show, for the reasons you might suspect. P.S.: I was hoping for Mona Lisa! So enigmatic ...
By isolating his vocal like this, the spaces he leaves between the notes seem to create suspense. It's very gratifying to hear the next note arrive! Ohhh, I thought that hum was an echo of some sort! Delightful analysis.
@@larrywalter6476 ?? Why do you keep cropping up in Fil's comments - and always saying Hello to women? I've yet to see you say Hi to any of the guys? Are you some sort of cyber stalker?
Nat King Cole is one of my dad’s favorite singers. It’s sad that within a few years after he died, many people didn’t remember him. My dad went to the records department at Woolworth’s in Manhattan, and asked the sales girl if they had any Nat King Cole records and the girl said she didn’t know who he was. This was in 1972, seven years after Nat died. The sales girl was black and in her early twenties, so she would have been a teenager when Nat died. There was an elderly black couple standing nearby who heard the conversation, and they nodded their heads at my dad, to acknowledge they knew who Nat was. Thank you, Fil, for drawing attention to this great singer.
As a study in contrasts, I would be interested in your analysis of Nat King Cole singing “Orange Colored Sky” with Stan Kenton and his famously dissonant orchestra. Fun trivia: Earl Hines, who lost the jazz piano contest to Nat Cole, giving him the “King” title, taught Stan Kenton jazz piano, using a purely visual method.
My Mom's favorite singer. I grew up listening to this great man. (Know he also "broke" the neighborhood when he bought an LA home in Hancock Park.) His jazz piano background (and he really was an incredible pianist) really informed his singing too. Natalie's tone was just incredible as well.
Nat King Cole, one of my all-time favorites. I love the way he never rushed a song. My favorite is L-O-V-E, but all of his songs are amazing. Thank you again for a super analysis!
Yes, his great secret was his approach to a song, phrase by phrase. He didn't ever rush. Add to that his incredible vocal talent and impeccable musicianship, and you have the reasons why Nat Cole is one of the greats of all time in pop music.
I just stumbled onto your channel and what a wonderful surprise. As I watched Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, and Barbra , I was thinking of Nat King Cole. My husband was a chief engineer for a radio station. We would be out at the transmitter and Nat King Cole would come on, the oscilloscope would be in a beautiful wave. Unlike other singers.
Nat King Cole could sing the slow ballads and toe tapping ones with such ease not to mention his gift at the piano. my mom had videotaped The Nat King Cole Show when it was shown on PBS he and his gust where very entertaining. thanks Fil
His voice is soft, smooth, rich, clean, and powerful. It sticks with you because of just how beautifully articulated the delivery is. All of the greats have that quality of resonating with this part of you that makes you want to keep listening. It's like hearing Joshua Bell play pieces on his Stradivarius. You just KNOW when his bow touches the strings you're going to enjoy the performance, that you'll be trying to hold onto that moment for as long as you can. You not only hear it, you FEEL it, it's visceral, and stays with you long after that last note fades in e air. A great voice is exactly like that. You remember it forever. These days, it's so hard to get into music when so much of it is synthetic and mechanical, and I don't mean the instruments! Smooth, clean, clear, rich voices like say, Josh Groban are few and far between. His would be a good voice to hear your thoughts on. I miss the days of turning on the radio and hearing voices like this, oPatsy Cline, Freddie Mercury, or Bobbie Hatfield, which you so elegantly broke down in previous analyses. It gets more irritating when you watch a show, you hear...just this incredible voice singing something that hits you in the sweet spot, makes you FEEL, you go to find them again, and hear song after song that is just so WRONG, and you just cannot put a finger on what exactly is wrong with it. So much so that it spoils the pure joy of hearing them as you did that first time, and makes you second-guess, makes you wonder if that first time was just a fluke. Learning what that wrongness is, prepares the brain for it, but it's still jarring, especially when you've heard the real deal without the garbage.
Brought back such wonderful memories of listening to him growing up. He made me swoon and still does. What a velvet voice. So warm. Thanks for this analysis Fil.
One of the greatest voices of his era and every era. He broke barriers. He was incredible, and his daughter, Natalie was also pretty good. If we only had singers like him in this modern age of music.
His is the voice that's been in the background track of so much of my whole life, (I was singing "Straighten Up & Fly Right" when I was three😊) and has gotten me through so much. "Mona Lisa" was released about six months before I was born, so it was always there, along with way too many others to name. I loved his show and reveled in all his guest appearances on Ed Sullivan, Jack Benny, and the rest. Cat Ballou is right up with Some Like It Hot as my most watched and favorite funny movies that have transitioned with me from theater to VHS to DVDs! And, speaking of "Straighten Up & Fly Right" - that's the tune that cinched my love for Diana Krall with her fun arrangement in the early 90s. I've so much to thank Nat King Cole for throughout my time here. 🌎💖 edit: Ooh, you know what would just be so cool?! If you could do a comparison analysis of his and Johnny Mathis' renditions of "Stardust" ✨
I love how his entire face lights up when he's singing. Even his eyebrows are smiling. And his talking voice is as beautiful and smooth as his singing voice. Pure class.
Nat was highly regarded as a jazz pianist. He was one of the first to get that 'modern sound' and yet it never seemed jarring or discordant to the average listener. His ballads with his own trio were exquisite, but so was his work with large non-jazz orchestras.
The duet version with Nat and Natalie King Cole was played at my daughter's wedding reception for the "Daddy-Daughter" dance. I had come up with a lot of suggestions for that song, but my daughter finally suggested this one -- and it was perfect. I don't think I have ever heard a Nat King Cole song that I didn't love.
That duet was also used for the "Daddy-Daughter" dance at my Daughter's wedding. I had come up with a lot of suggestions, but my Daughter came up with this one. As a parent, I'm happy to know my Daughter is smarter than I am.
Thanks for adding Nat Cole to your analysis videos. I love to listen to that smooth, beautiful voice. I'd like make a recommendation for another video - Tony Bennett. There's a version of "Maybe This Time" that he did where it seems like he sings the entire song without taking a second breath. Thanks again and I so enjoy all of your videos about the great old singers.
I was born in 1948 so my main music was late 50s-early 60s. But when I was in my early teens a friend of my mother’s gave me a stack of 45s that was music of the 40s and 50s, including several of Nat Coles. I fell in love with his voice and to this day he’s one of my all-time favorite vocalists.
Nat King Cole is what we used to call a "Crooner". One of my all time favorites of his, is "The Christmas Song". There are many "talk singers" that used to be in music. Translated, these were "Story Songs". Johnny Cash, Chris Ledoux, even Frank Sinatra & Ed Sheeran- (mainly when it's just him and his guitar). I see FAR too many out there, who try to "push the envelope", when all they do is push their vocal chords past their limits. Sure, they may be able to hit the note? But the long-term damage they're causing themselves.. could be extremely costly. And most times? It really doesn't sound all that good. I can think of two vocalists I know, right now, who've done this fairly recently. You don't really hear them doing those songs anymore. I think I can figure out why. One of this is a truly great singer, too. But the note she carried, in the song, "All By myself"? Lacked HER. Sure, she hit it, but her vibrato evaporated, and it was more like one loud scream, not singing. Storytelling songs are their own part of artistry- and a great way to build your vocal ability, imo.
Flew to Vegas years ago to see Celine. What a voice. I think a very different young singer you’d enjoy is Angelina Jordan. She just did My Funny Valentine better than any singer dead or alive. It’s on You Tube released two weeks ago. She won Norways Got Talent at 8 years old doing Summertime. She is 16 now and unbelievable
@@ronjones1077 I will- not feeling well of late, so, soon as I can- Check this out. I've asked Fil to do a bit on her some time if he feel like it- See what you think: th-cam.com/video/opbXYEUXfNM/w-d-xo.html
She is a fantastic singer from a young girl right to today. I have several of her old cd’s and if I had any extra $$$ after buying food and gas to I’d go see her again. Angelina also sang this song at 10 -11years old and was outstanding. I hope I’m still on not in the earth in another 10 years to hear her re-do that song like Celine did at that age. Thank you for the suggestion.
Nat King Cole's voice envelopes you like a warm blanket on a cold night. He will forever be my favorite crooner style singer and his version of The Christmas Song will always be my favorite holiday song. Wonderful analysis, Fil! Thank you!
I remember the day Nat died. No matter where I was, Nat was in the air. Radio stations and jukeboxes were filled with his voice. Thank you, FIL, for all of your analyses. Love the channel.
Fil, I really hope you do an analysis video of Nat tickling the ivories. So many know him only as a singer, yet his skill on the piano was wonderful. Another great video!
As a small child I had several albums (yes, vinyl, lol) I listened to a lot, including one that just had a sleeve instead of a cover. Played it so often that I can still remember where individual scratches could be heard on different tracks. It wasn't until I hit university that I had access to the internet and lyric searches, and that's how I discovered that the album was called A Blossom Fell (1973 release, which explained why it was worn before I got it some years later) and the artist was Nat King Cole. To this day I know the words to every song on the A side, recognize the songs on the B side by the opening bars, and remember the utter thrill of discovering the rest of his catalogue as an adult. Hearing Unforgettable and When I Fall in Love was a revelation. Great video, and I'm relieved his legend lives on. 🙂
One Christmas I helped rise money for a charity for kids, and what we did was go into the Toronto subway system to sell fancy candy canes. Beside us was an older black man who was busking. This man had a voice exactly like Nat King Cole. We spend about 2-4 hours listening this guy singing, it was like hearing a live concert by Nat King Cole. He would sing a few songs then come over and talk with me for 5-10 minutes then sing a couple more song. The acoustics were incredible and his singing was bang on. It was one of those things you never forget.
I love the story of when he had to fill in as a singer, he was the piano player, he was surprised as he didn't see himself as a singer. Huh! And what a singer 💕
He was a hella piano player as well. THAT SAID, he was a fabulous singer. My mother turned me on to him and I turned my daughter on. My favorite is I Remember You
He was such an incredible singer. I wondered about that "hum" it almost sounds like his tongue is on the roof of his mouth, or he was singing with his jaw clenched. I became fascinated with it, hah, glad you addressed it.
From my early teens forward Nat King Cole recorded so many beautiful songs, I remember them all and all the words. He had an "unforgettable" voice and has always been my favorite singer.
I listen to Nat or Donny Hathaway...A song for you and truthfully...Wonder where are singers like that today? I know it's a different time and place but today's music leaves me wanting. Thank you Fil, once again , for your outstanding analysis. 👏
So smooth and so warm and delivered with such charm and wit. Nat King Cole’s voice was unforgettable, indeed. I think Nature Boy is my favourite. Thanks for letting us “see” his beautiful voice with you. I love this series.
Oh what a voice. If there was ever proof that great voices don't need ruddy autotune, this has to be it. And also, he was a superb piano player, a genuine world-class jazz player and super lyrical with it. You almost don't need to isolate his voice, it elevates itself above any background accompaniment. One of the absolute and authentic greats ❤❤❤
Fil you are fantastic! Your understanding of and appreciation for great music is unmatched. The way you dissect a performance and also demonstrate is outstanding. You’ve already done so many of my most favorite performers. At 72 I’ve seen a bunch and Nat, Frank, Mathis and Andy are tops in my book. Johnny Mathis singing Misty and Andy singing Danny Boy both make my eyes leak. I’d like to also include the best singer today, Angelina Jordan. She just did My Funny Valentine two weeks ago that is the finest rendition I’ve ever heard. Jazz is her foundation but emotion is her strength. Won Norways Got Talent at 8 and signed with Republic Records now at 16. You’ll love her.
Phil, It’s as much a pleasure to watch you smile and enjoy these artists as it is to listen to your analysis of, and commentary on, their vocals. Great work.
My favorite male singer. Great to see this analysis of that great singing. Just the other day I saw a video of him playing a jazz piano solo from the Ed Sullivan Show. An incredible pianist too.
Thank you Fil for making my night better.. So many memories of good times with my parents.. My dad died when I was 17, "Unforgettable" reminds me of him...
My dad died when I was 19. When I first heard the duet with Nat and Natalie I sobbed. I always wondered how she did it without crying. It is beautiful!
Another great analysis by Fantastic Fil. Nat had such a smooth rich tone, people forget that he was an amazing jazz pianist. He started singing out of necessity when a club owner asked why there were no vocals. He played some awesome piano licks with the King Cole Trio. Straighten up and fly right, Route 66, etc. Having said that, I absolutely love the man's singing also. Mona Lisa, Answer me my love, and Too young, are among my favorites. Nat "King" Cole ♥️
Iconic. Can't avoid loving the smooth voice of Nat King Cole. It's like he is just not only singing it to you.. he is telling a story. My favourite song from him is Stardust. Also have an old vinyl (greatest hits). Just realized I don't have a player to even listen to it if I wanted to now. But I have YT to listen to his music again.
The video along with the analytics show a singer can learn from Nat and improve their own delivery. Any singer devoted to their craft can get better. That said, you can’t help but smile throughout listening to this singer do what makes his voice a one of a kind miracle.
As a youngster I listened to grandads' 'radiogram' (record player and speakers all built in one big wooden cabinet), it made his voice so rich, luxuriant even, it was wasted on a nipper but stayed with me.
As a wee kid in the 70's I used to listen to Lou Rawls. his "You'll Never Find" was my favourite; his deep voice followed by that low piano was mesmerising to my 4yo self. I still listen to it when I need a pick-me-up.
My very favourite male vocalist of all time. He was just the best. When I was three, one of my earliest memories is singing with Nat’s recording of Hello Dolly. My dad would play it over and over for me. So I had good taste from a very young age. Thanks for this video Fil, it reminded me of my dad, who was a Nat King Cole Trio fan.
When this popped up on my recommended list I couldn't click it fast enough. I know my parents listened to him in my younger years. I had listened to several songs of his but really didn't know his background. I went to Wiki and read his bio. There were several things that hit me. One was him dying at the very young age of 45. Another was several of his children died from lung cancer, heart failure, aids. Cole dealt with a lot of racism even though early on he wasn't an advocate for anything. There was a comment that really stuck out. The Ku Klux Klan, which was active in Los Angeles in the 1950s, responded by placing a burning cross on his front lawn. Members of the property-owners association told Cole they did not want any "undesirables" moving into the neighborhood. Cole responded, "Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain.". Great job Fil for selecting some of the early pioneers of music. Sorry for the lengthy post.
Johnny Mathis said as a young singer he always listened to Nat King Cole. And learned from him.
When Frank Sinatra went home to relax after a gig, the singer he would listen to, all the time was Nat King Cole, that says it all. Thank you so much Fil.
How can anyone not listen to Nat King Cole?! So fluid, so smoothe, so elegant!
@@elizabethlinsay9193 In the South they wanted to ban him. It was hard for him to get on Southern TV stations.
Coming from Frank Sinatra, that was a high compliment indeed!
Frank wanted to be Nat when he grew up. 🤣
@@mikewrasman5103 Hey! That's one hell of a comment there! You really are something special, man!
when Nat sings, the world is all of a sudden a beautiful place
Unless it's your inane spouting!
@@mikewrasman5103 what aches you?
@@mikewrasman5103 I get it, you must be one of those pootin fans I offended, or maybe a pearl jam fan.
@@mikewrasman5103 how you doing today?
Smooth transition from talking voice to singing voice. . . Absolutely no effort; smooth like butter!
Nat King Cole is Unforgettable
I am 73 years old so was privileged to watch/hear Nat King Cole on television. His voice was like velvet, satin, just so rich. I still love him to this day!
I am 76. My mother played his records and watched his show. So I was introduced to his magic at a young age. Thank you mom for the Nat experience.
@@lilamuzik3385 That was a special time, and music wasn't just noise.
@@kathleenmckeithen118 you are so correct. Never will forget Nat King Cole.
Wow amazing!!! Such a treasure!
@@peachykeen7634 Yes!
Nat King Cole is one of the singers that makes me say "Man, I wish I could sing like that." A gentle soul too.
Yeah, but that wonderful voice was forged while he was a heavy smoker, which ultimately shortened his life with lung cancer.
It is not officially Christmas in my mind, until I hear "The Christmas Song" for the first time.
@@jeromemercurio5407 Wow. I'm always shocked when I learn that a singer "back in the day" (as Fil would say) smoked. There's a picture of Tony Rice (maybe on an album cover?) with a cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth in probably the early 70's or so. Eeek! I doubt many singers today would risk it. But look at Willie Nelson and pot..... he was a cigarette smoker who chose to continue smoking pot after developing COPD from smoking cigarettes ! double Eeeek.
@@Sheila-cm4jya lot of singers still smoke today, its rarer but still happens more often than you'd think
Nat King Cole could take the most mediocre of tunes and spin it into refined gold. I can thank my parents for introducing me to Nat's wondrous voice, piano and arrangements. Moreover, I've always thought that Nat's daughter (Natalie) should have received a lot more credit for her work. Just a thought. If I may, I'd like to dedicate Nat's superb "Unforgettable" to my parents and Nat's rendition of "Stardust" to my wife. Somehow, I know that my aforementioned loved ones and Nat Cole are singing those tunes in Heaven. Thank you, FIL!
So true
Mentioning his daughter, Natalie, I love the duo of this song with them singing together. It is more than beautiful. He is dead, and she sings with him on a screen. Same as Lisa Marie Presley sings with her father Elvis. I will usually go to the duo Unforgettable over this one.
Nat's rendition of "Stardust" is my all time favorite version of this classic Hoagie Carmichael song from 1928.
@@jeffgaumond4250 -- It's my favorite, as well. Nat's velvety-smooth voice and the orchestration make that particular version of "Stardust" something worthy of Heaven. I wonder what Hoagy Carmichael thought of it. Take care -- W
I think too many people made the mistake of dismissing Natalie, thinking it was a nepotism thing and didn't give her credit for herself, instead of Nat King Cole's daughter.
I know I made that mistake myself.. BUT in all fairness to myself, I was a literal kid, something like 12 or 13??? It took me about 10 years to really appreciate her voice as the smooth powerhouse it is.
I'm a simple man, I see a thumbnail with Phil smiling I click as I know I'm about to see some gold.
🙂👍
Fil, for me Nat King Cole is like the male version of Karen Carpenter. So smooooooth, so warm. And the way he uses rests and pauses are stunning. No one can "not sing" as well as Nat King Cole.
Fil, would also you consider reviewing the marvellous Dionne Warwick?
Nat King Cole was a part of my childhood and I adored him. Along with his singing I was drawn to him because of his gentle persona. He was the first African American to host a TV show.
His singing was smooth as silk and unhurried. He left spaces and seemed to treat each note as something special.
@April S my mom had videotaped The Nat King Show when PBS aired them unfortunately, I don't have them anymore. nice to hear from you again my friend😊🧡✌
My parents LOVED Nat King Cole. I grew up on Nat King Cole.
The Nat King Cole show was wonderful and one my family watched regularly.
@@mikewrasman5103 Wow! That's a very special comment! You might win something with this one.
@@mikewrasman5103 hi there, dude!
FIL, I love how your smile shows your total enjoyment!
His voice was smooth as silk. 👍🏼
Cannot listen to NKC without getting goose bumps. When his daughter came out singing, she had me too. Both so gifted.
On PBS' "Piano Blues" with Clint Eastwood, Ray Charles said EVERYBODY wanted to play piano like Nat King Cole. Seeing Nat at piano, my jaw dropped. King's talent on piano IS INSANE!
Real jazz fans (I'm not) say it's a shame he could sing. His piano work was nothing less than genius.
His Nat King Cole Trio was a fantastic cool jazz band.
His earlier trio recordings SWING! His voice is lovely, but his playing was even better.
He was Oscar Peterson’s favorite piano player (that’s saying something, as OP was himself a virtuoso to begin with), and you can hear that evolve in his playing …OP’s vocals also sounded quite a bit like Cole… 🙂
@@mikewrasman5103 Wow! That's a very cool comment. You may become famous with this one!
Such a legend. Love his smooth silky voice. He was an American singer, jazz pianist & actor. He recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. He is best known for "Mona Lisa" & "Unforgettable" but he had so many great hits such as "Smile", "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", "There! I've Said It Again", "Nature Boy", "Ramblin' Rose", "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" etc.
i still have a record player, and i have several of his records - and i do mean actual vinyl 🙂 - and i actually have every single song you listed lol. and i absolutely love him. i also have a natalie cole cd where she sings a "duet" with her dad on 'unforgetable'.
I loved nature boy… so different
Don't forget tenderly!
I love your smile appreciating these wonderful talents.
His voice is like velvet. Rich in tone and texture. He was also an excellent jazz pianist. He's one of my favorite singers from this era.
Yes! Thanks Fil. I'm a rocker but model my ballads (requests) on Nat's phrasing. Singers like Nat and Frank made the performance about the song - let the song shine. No ridiculous runs or whistle registers.
Yes, pure talent, no gimmicks needed. I know whistle registers are a talent in and of themselves but some take it to the point of annoyance.
The wonderful thing to me about his singing is that he doesn't go yodeling all over the place the way singers now do. It sounds so intentional, but also it allows you to really enjoy the quality of his voice as well as the beauty of the unaltered melody.
Thanks for presenting him. 👍
Finally, my favorite male singer of all time! Three things about him that I found interesting: 1) He told his daughter, regarding the importance of diction and being clear, of which he was a master, that for a singer, for people to like you, they must first understand you. Nobody was more crisp. 2) Some of his jazz contemporaries believed he was simply singing pop songs later in his career, and that his real talent as a jazz pianist was overlooked and got buried by his fame as a singer. I suppose it's been that way for a long time, though. Many of the all-time great composers, like Mozart, made most of their money playing, not writing/creating. 3) Lots of Southern stations refused to air his show, for the reasons you might suspect.
P.S.: I was hoping for Mona Lisa! So enigmatic ...
Or that Christmas favorite "The Christmas Song."
By isolating his vocal like this, the spaces he leaves between the notes seem to create suspense. It's very gratifying to hear the next note arrive! Ohhh, I thought that hum was an echo of some sort! Delightful analysis.
As are all Fil's analyses! Delightful and spot-on.
Hello Lynn Dow how are you doing?
@@larrywalter6476 ?? Why do you keep cropping up in Fil's comments - and always saying Hello to women?
I've yet to see you say Hi to any of the guys?
Are you some sort of cyber stalker?
Nat King Cole is one of my dad’s favorite singers. It’s sad that within a few years after he died, many people didn’t remember him. My dad went to the records department at Woolworth’s in Manhattan, and asked the sales girl if they had any Nat King Cole records and the girl said she didn’t know who he was. This was in 1972, seven years after Nat died. The sales girl was black and in her early twenties, so she would have been a teenager when Nat died. There was an elderly black couple standing nearby who heard the conversation, and they nodded their heads at my dad, to acknowledge they knew who Nat was. Thank you, Fil, for drawing attention to this great singer.
I can add it to the list, but the list is long!
@Wings of Pegasus You mean the list of singers that you brought to people’s attention?
One of Mel Torme's nicknames was the "Velvet Fog" because his vocals were so smooth, so then what can we call Nate King Cole? "The King of Smooth"?
As a study in contrasts, I would be interested in your analysis of Nat King Cole singing “Orange Colored Sky” with Stan Kenton and his famously dissonant orchestra. Fun trivia: Earl Hines, who lost the jazz piano contest to Nat Cole, giving him the “King” title, taught Stan Kenton jazz piano, using a purely visual method.
Fourteen years old when I heard him sing Nature Boy . Pretty much a Beatles fan but this broadened my appreciation of music on the spot .
And that's why Nat King Cole is Unforgettable
Absolutely ❤❤❤
My Mom's favorite singer. I grew up listening to this great man. (Know he also "broke" the neighborhood when he bought an LA home in Hancock Park.) His jazz piano background (and he really was an incredible pianist) really informed his singing too. Natalie's tone was just incredible as well.
Yeah, Nat King Cole Trio was how he started in show biz.
Nat King Cole, one of my all-time favorites. I love the way he never rushed a song. My favorite is L-O-V-E, but all of his songs are amazing. Thank you again for a super analysis!
Hello Rhonda how are you doing
Yes, his great secret was his approach to a song, phrase by phrase. He didn't ever rush. Add to that his incredible vocal talent and impeccable musicianship, and you have the reasons why Nat Cole is one of the greats of all time in pop music.
My father use to say..you’ll never hear another voice as beautiful as Nat King Cole. I agree, such a beautiful, smooth sound. Thanks Fil.😊
I just stumbled onto your channel and what a wonderful surprise. As I watched Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, and Barbra , I was thinking of Nat King Cole. My husband was a chief engineer for a radio station. We would be out at the transmitter and Nat King Cole would come on, the oscilloscope would be in a beautiful wave. Unlike other singers.
Even Nat's speaking voice sounds like singing! One of those immediately recognizable voices.
Nat King Cole could sing the slow ballads and toe tapping ones with such ease not to mention his gift at the piano. my mom had videotaped The Nat King Cole Show when it was shown on PBS he and his gust where very entertaining. thanks Fil
Not just a great artist….a true gentleman. He deserved to live much longer.
His voice is soft, smooth, rich, clean, and powerful. It sticks with you because of just how beautifully articulated the delivery is.
All of the greats have that quality of resonating with this part of you that makes you want to keep listening.
It's like hearing Joshua Bell play pieces on his Stradivarius. You just KNOW when his bow touches the strings you're going to enjoy the performance, that you'll be trying to hold onto that moment for as long as you can. You not only hear it, you FEEL it, it's visceral, and stays with you long after that last note fades in e air.
A great voice is exactly like that. You remember it forever.
These days, it's so hard to get into music when so much of it is synthetic and mechanical, and I don't mean the instruments!
Smooth, clean, clear, rich voices like say, Josh Groban are few and far between. His would be a good voice to hear your thoughts on.
I miss the days of turning on the radio and hearing voices like this, oPatsy Cline, Freddie Mercury, or Bobbie Hatfield, which you so elegantly broke down in previous analyses.
It gets more irritating when you watch a show, you hear...just this incredible voice singing something that hits you in the sweet spot, makes you FEEL, you go to find them again, and hear song after song that is just so WRONG, and you just cannot put a finger on what exactly is wrong with it. So much so that it spoils the pure joy of hearing them as you did that first time, and makes you second-guess, makes you wonder if that first time was just a fluke.
Learning what that wrongness is, prepares the brain for it, but it's still jarring, especially when you've heard the real deal without the garbage.
Love Nat thank you
Nat King Cole was a gift from Heaven. Thank you Fil for the gift that you are to us.
Brought back such wonderful memories of listening to him growing up. He made me swoon and still does. What a velvet voice. So warm. Thanks for this analysis Fil.
One of the greatest voices of his era and every era. He broke barriers. He was incredible, and his daughter, Natalie was also pretty good. If we only had singers like him in this modern age of music.
What a voice! Unlike any other. My favourite male singer. The tone of his voice was so silky.
The unforgettable Nat King Cole! So unique!
His is the voice that's been in the background track of so much of my whole life, (I was singing "Straighten Up & Fly Right" when I was three😊) and has gotten me through so much. "Mona Lisa" was released about six months before I was born, so it was always there, along with way too many others to name. I loved his show and reveled in all his guest appearances on Ed Sullivan, Jack Benny, and the rest. Cat Ballou is right up with Some Like It Hot as my most watched and favorite funny movies that have transitioned with me from theater to VHS to DVDs! And, speaking of "Straighten Up & Fly Right" - that's the tune that cinched my love for Diana Krall with her fun arrangement in the early 90s. I've so much to thank Nat King Cole for throughout my time here. 🌎💖 edit: Ooh, you know what would just be so cool?! If you could do a comparison analysis of his and Johnny Mathis' renditions of "Stardust" ✨
I love how his entire face lights up when he's singing. Even his eyebrows are smiling. And his talking voice is as beautiful and smooth as his singing voice. Pure class.
"Sing where you talk," is an absolute brilliant piece of advice for a beginning singer.
Nat was highly regarded as a jazz pianist. He was one of the first to get that 'modern sound' and yet it never seemed jarring or discordant to the average listener. His ballads with his own trio were exquisite, but so was his work with large non-jazz orchestras.
A true legend.🌹
So classic! Just perfection.
Hello Carol how are you doing
Ray Charles is my favorite male singer, but Nat has the most beautiful male voice I've ever heard. It is just butter.
I love his voice. So smooth. And his piano playing. Effortless.
The duet version with Nat and Natalie King Cole was played at my daughter's wedding reception for the "Daddy-Daughter" dance. I had come up with a lot of suggestions for that song, but my daughter finally suggested this one -- and it was perfect. I don't think I have ever heard a Nat King Cole song that I didn't love.
That duet was also used for the "Daddy-Daughter" dance at my Daughter's wedding. I had come up with a lot of suggestions, but my Daughter came up with this one. As a parent, I'm happy to know my Daughter is smarter than I am.
Thanks for adding Nat Cole to your analysis videos. I love to listen to that smooth, beautiful voice. I'd like make a recommendation for another video - Tony Bennett. There's a version of "Maybe This Time" that he did where it seems like he sings the entire song without taking a second breath. Thanks again and I so enjoy all of your videos about the great old singers.
Agreed
Nat King Cole..this made me smile. Thank you. His voice. 😍
I was born in 1948 so my main music was late 50s-early 60s. But when I was in my early teens a friend of my mother’s gave me a stack of 45s that was music of the 40s and 50s, including several of Nat Coles. I fell in love with his voice and to this day he’s one of my all-time favorite vocalists.
Any excuse to listen to the great voice of Nat King Cole, indeed!
Thanks Fil!
Nat King Cole is what we used to call a "Crooner". One of my all time favorites of his, is "The Christmas Song".
There are many "talk singers" that used to be in music. Translated, these were "Story Songs". Johnny Cash, Chris Ledoux, even Frank Sinatra & Ed Sheeran- (mainly when it's just him and his guitar).
I see FAR too many out there, who try to "push the envelope", when all they do is push their vocal chords past their limits. Sure, they may be able to hit the note? But the long-term damage they're causing themselves.. could be extremely costly.
And most times? It really doesn't sound all that good. I can think of two vocalists I know, right now, who've done this fairly recently. You don't really hear them doing those songs anymore. I think I can figure out why. One of this is a truly great singer, too. But the note she carried, in the song, "All By myself"? Lacked HER. Sure, she hit it, but her vibrato evaporated, and it was more like one loud scream, not singing.
Storytelling songs are their own part of artistry- and a great way to build your vocal ability, imo.
Flew to Vegas years ago to see Celine. What a voice. I think a very different young singer you’d enjoy is Angelina Jordan. She just did My Funny Valentine better than any singer dead or alive. It’s on You Tube released two weeks ago. She won Norways Got Talent at 8 years old doing Summertime. She is 16 now and unbelievable
That note is supposed to be a scream. It's kind of a symbolic note for longing for someone. She is practically giving up everything
@@ronjones1077
Look up Celine doing "the first time ever I saw your face" from 25 years ago.
It's the best vocals you'll ever ever hear.
Period.
@@ronjones1077 I will- not feeling well of late, so, soon as I can-
Check this out. I've asked Fil to do a bit on her some time if he feel like it- See what you think: th-cam.com/video/opbXYEUXfNM/w-d-xo.html
She is a fantastic singer from a young girl right to today. I have several of her old cd’s and if I had any extra $$$ after buying food and gas to I’d go see her again.
Angelina also sang this song at 10 -11years old and was outstanding. I hope I’m still on not in the earth in another 10 years to hear her re-do that song like Celine did at that age.
Thank you for the suggestion.
Yes. Nat King Cole’s Christmas album is the first one we listen to on Christmas! His voice is magnificent - so expressive.
Nat King Cole's voice envelopes you like a warm blanket on a cold night. He will forever be my favorite crooner style singer and his version of The Christmas Song will always be my favorite holiday song. Wonderful analysis, Fil! Thank you!
I remember the day Nat died. No matter where I was, Nat was in the air. Radio stations and jukeboxes were filled with his voice. Thank you, FIL, for all of your analyses.
Love the channel.
Fil, I really hope you do an analysis video of Nat tickling the ivories. So many know him only as a singer, yet his skill on the piano was wonderful. Another great video!
Love learning what makes my favorite singers so great - Nat is the King!
As a small child I had several albums (yes, vinyl, lol) I listened to a lot, including one that just had a sleeve instead of a cover. Played it so often that I can still remember where individual scratches could be heard on different tracks. It wasn't until I hit university that I had access to the internet and lyric searches, and that's how I discovered that the album was called A Blossom Fell (1973 release, which explained why it was worn before I got it some years later) and the artist was Nat King Cole. To this day I know the words to every song on the A side, recognize the songs on the B side by the opening bars, and remember the utter thrill of discovering the rest of his catalogue as an adult. Hearing Unforgettable and When I Fall in Love was a revelation. Great video, and I'm relieved his legend lives on. 🙂
One Christmas I helped rise money for a charity for kids, and what we did was go into the Toronto subway system to sell fancy candy canes. Beside us was an older black man who was busking. This man had a voice exactly like Nat King Cole. We spend about 2-4 hours listening this guy singing, it was like hearing a live concert by Nat King Cole. He would sing a few songs then come over and talk with me for 5-10 minutes then sing a couple more song. The acoustics were incredible and his singing was bang on. It was one of those things you never forget.
My dad used to dance me around the living room while singing along with Nat. So many happy memories. 💖💖💖
I just love to look at him, he just seems so happy to sing
And changed the words to do justice to the melody, fabulous
I love the story of when he had to fill in as a singer, he was the piano player, he was surprised as he didn't see himself as a singer. Huh! And what a singer 💕
He was a hella piano player as well. THAT SAID, he was a fabulous singer. My mother turned me on to him and I turned my daughter on. My favorite is I Remember You
NKC was not about range, power or perfection. He was about smooth, naturalness and ease.
He was such an incredible singer. I wondered about that "hum" it almost sounds like his tongue is on the roof of his mouth, or he was singing with his jaw clenched. I became fascinated with it, hah, glad you addressed it.
Hello Valorie how are you doing
From my early teens forward Nat King Cole recorded so many beautiful songs, I remember them all and all the words. He had an "unforgettable" voice and has always been my favorite singer.
Thank you for analyzing the great Nat King Cole. He was one of my mom's very favorite singers.
I loved your analysis! Nat King Cole’s voice was truly like no other. I learn so much every time I watch your videos. Always a joy! Thank you Fil!!
I listen to Nat or Donny Hathaway...A song for you and truthfully...Wonder where are singers like that today? I know it's a different time and place but today's music leaves me wanting. Thank you Fil, once again , for your outstanding analysis. 👏
You always have to have one or two Nate King Cole songs on your playlist.
Is that the alternate-dimension Nat King Cole?
@@jamesmcinnis208 yup, Nate!
As always great analysis of Nat King Cole his voice.
So loving these series.
Thanks, Fil ❤️
Me, too!
They played this at my dad's funeral 21 years ago. Nice song and dad's favorite
So smooth and so warm and delivered with such charm and wit. Nat King Cole’s voice was unforgettable, indeed. I think Nature Boy is my favourite.
Thanks for letting us “see” his beautiful voice with you. I love this series.
Nat had a wonderful voice and his early trio days were quite amazing.
Oh what a voice. If there was ever proof that great voices don't need ruddy autotune, this has to be it. And also, he was a superb piano player, a genuine world-class jazz player and super lyrical with it. You almost don't need to isolate his voice, it elevates itself above any background accompaniment. One of the absolute and authentic greats ❤❤❤
Love looking at Fil's face as he savours the talent and voices of his featured "guests."
This is a awesome view! So much appreciated! Amazing job! Cheers Fil! !
Fil you are fantastic! Your understanding of and appreciation for great music is unmatched. The way you dissect a performance and also demonstrate is outstanding.
You’ve already done so many of my most favorite performers. At 72 I’ve seen a bunch and Nat, Frank, Mathis and Andy are tops in my book. Johnny Mathis singing Misty and Andy singing Danny Boy both make my eyes leak. I’d like to also include the best singer today, Angelina Jordan. She just did My Funny Valentine two weeks ago that is the finest rendition I’ve ever heard. Jazz is her foundation but emotion is her strength. Won Norways Got Talent at 8 and signed with Republic Records now at 16. You’ll love her.
Here is a link to My Funny Valentine. th-cam.com/video/ETGLbsGDAI0/w-d-xo.html
Nat King Cole is an amazing singer. Thanks for sharing this analysis video. Cheers, Fil! ✌️
What can I say? His voice was just so comforting and goes straight to your soul. Loved your analysis.
Nat King Cole was my father's favorite singer. Every time I hear him I remember my dad. Thanks for the memory Fil.
Phil,
It’s as much a pleasure to watch you smile and enjoy these artists as it is to listen to your analysis of, and commentary on, their vocals. Great work.
Thanks!
Agreed. Exactly the comment I was planning to give.
Hearing Nat King Cole singing "Nature Boy", is pure pleasure.
Nat King Cole is wonderful to listen to. It's like his voice just pours over you.
My favorite male singer. Great to see this analysis of that great singing. Just the other day I saw a video of him playing a jazz piano solo from the Ed Sullivan Show. An incredible pianist too.
Thank you Fil for making my night better.. So many memories of good times with my parents.. My dad died when I was 17, "Unforgettable" reminds me of him...
My dad died when I was 19. When I first heard the duet with Nat and Natalie I sobbed. I always wondered how she did it without crying. It is beautiful!
@@barbaraburton8914 Yes it is... I bet she cried a lot when she was making the video.. Nat died at a young age..
Nat King Cole made love to the song as he was singing it. Impossible not to feel it.
Nat and his daughter Natalie’s voices were to me so similar. I wish you would play the duet Unforgettable.
Another great analysis by Fantastic Fil. Nat had such a smooth rich tone, people forget that he was an amazing jazz pianist. He started singing out of necessity when a club owner asked why there were no vocals. He played some awesome piano licks with the King Cole Trio. Straighten up and fly right, Route 66, etc.
Having said that, I absolutely love the man's singing also. Mona Lisa, Answer me my love, and Too young, are among my favorites. Nat "King" Cole ♥️
Iconic. Can't avoid loving the smooth voice of Nat King Cole. It's like he is just not only singing it to you.. he is telling a story.
My favourite song from him is Stardust. Also have an old vinyl (greatest hits).
Just realized I don't have a player to even listen to it if I wanted to now. But I have YT to listen to his music again.
Well, you have a computer, if it's a Mac, download Apple Music, a Pc there is Pandora, Spotify, etc.
The video along with the analytics show a singer can learn from Nat and improve their own delivery. Any singer devoted to their craft can get better. That said, you can’t help but smile throughout listening to this singer do what makes his voice a one of a kind miracle.
As a youngster I listened to grandads' 'radiogram' (record player and speakers all built in one big wooden cabinet), it made his voice so rich, luxuriant even, it was wasted on a nipper but stayed with me.
That silky, soothing voice and that easy charm just made you feel like all would be right with the world. Another master class by Fil.
As a wee kid in the 70's I used to listen to Lou Rawls. his "You'll Never Find" was my favourite; his deep voice followed by that low piano was mesmerising to my 4yo self. I still listen to it when I need a pick-me-up.
My very favourite male vocalist of all time. He was just the best. When I was three, one of my earliest memories is singing with Nat’s recording of Hello Dolly. My dad would play it over and over for me. So I had good taste from a very young age. Thanks for this video Fil, it reminded me of my dad, who was a Nat King Cole Trio fan.
I love how Nat King Cole took his time and kept it smooth, relaxing and warm.
When this popped up on my recommended list I couldn't click it fast enough. I know my parents listened to him in my younger years. I had listened to several songs of his but really didn't know his background. I went to Wiki and read his bio. There were several things that hit me. One was him dying at the very young age of 45. Another was several of his children died from lung cancer, heart failure, aids. Cole dealt with a lot of racism even though early on he wasn't an advocate for anything. There was a comment that really stuck out.
The Ku Klux Klan, which was active in Los Angeles in the 1950s, responded by placing a burning cross on his front lawn. Members of the property-owners association told Cole they did not want any "undesirables" moving into the neighborhood. Cole responded, "Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain.". Great job Fil for selecting some of the early pioneers of music. Sorry for the lengthy post.