MUSIC ACROSS THE OLYMPIADS. Today: 1936-44. Continues tomorrow.

As the world’s elite athletes compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Caffè Lattè will focus on the best music that emerged during each Olympiad. Each period considers songs from the years prior to the new Games.

SONGS ACROSS THE OLYMPIADS

When Berlin hosted The Olympic Games in 1936, Adolf Hitler took the opportunity to display his perception of German superiority. The triumph of African-American athlete Jesse Owens made him the most successful competitor and displeased the German ruler. At the time, the globe was approaching the Second World War. This conflict led to the cancellation of the 1940 Games scheduled for Tokyo, Japan and then Helsinki, Finland. As the war raged on, the 1944 Olympics planned for London were also shelved.

Popular music trends were influenced by WWII. This was the era of singers such as Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters.

1936

🥇 THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT Fred Astaire 

🥈 SUMMERTIME Billie Holiday

🥉 CROSSROAD BLUES Robert Johnson

🏅

🥇 FRED ASTAIRE

🥈 BILLIE HOLIDAY

🥉 BING CROSBY

 

1940

🥇 IN THE MOOD Glenn Miller

🥈 OVER THE RAINBOW Judy Garland

🥉 STRANGE FRUIT Billie Holiday

🏅

🥇 BILLIE HOLIDAY

🥈 GLENN MILLER

🥉 ELLA FITZGERALD

 

1944

 

🥇 BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY

The Andrews Sisters

🥈 THE TROLLEY SONG Judy Garland

🥉 SWINGING ON A STAR Bing Crosby

🏅

🥇 THE ANDREWS SISTERS

🥈 BING CROSBY

🥉 JUDY GARLAND

 

🏊🏾🏋️ LEADERBOARD 🚵‍♀️🏃‍♀️

COUNTRY:	G	S	B
U.S.A.	22	13	15
ITALY	3	1
UNITED KINGDOM		1

 

THE COOLEST SONGS EVER! #1. (Conclusion).

Caffè Lattè presents…

 

THE 200

COOLEST

SONGS OF ALL-TIME

 

Spanning decades of popular music and many genres, Caffè Lattè has compiled a list of the 200 coolest songs of all-time.

Hear the songs as the countdown continues on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5D4KAP4AyebdFAcKsnFnkP?si=2bd21d1f848e4e13&pt=8138f555a0265b1f7f3929d814534f45

 

1

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

Marvin Gaye

 

Other Motown acts had recorded versions of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” before Marvin Gaye. The Miracles and Gladys Knight & The Pips’ takes preceded his. The latter group even reached #2 on the Pop chart with the song in 1967. By the time Gaye’s version was issued, expectations were low for its success.

Producer Norman Whitfield produced the new interpretation. He had penned the hit with Barrett Strong. Gaye had faith in the song and his new approach to it. Motown chief Berry Gordy Jr. failed to recognize its potential and the track was shelved. Eventually, he relented and released the disc in 1968.

Gaye delivered one of his most exquisite vocals on the cut. There’s pain and anguish in the way he sings the lyrics of the song. With his rendition, Gaye established himself as one of the most influential soul singers.

The single proved Gaye was right: it topped the US Pop and R&B charts. In Britain, the disc also reached #1. Gaye was vindicated as his version became Motown’s best-selling single to date.

 

 

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

MS. JACKSON

Outkast

2000

U.K. - #2; U.S.A. - #1

 

Trivia:

"Ms, Jackson" was recorded by the duo Outkast in a studio they renamed Stankonia. It had previously been owned by Bobby Brown. The studio became the name of the parent album from which the worldwide hit was lifted.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track. A new song is added every day!

 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6eoIqbxYY8Ci1EGpc6e1QM?si=128e68c4eac14db9

 

MUSIC ACROSS THE OLYMPIADS. Today: 1924-32. Continues tomorrow.

As the world’s elite athletes compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Caffè Lattè will focus on the best music that emerged during each Olympiad. Each period considers songs from the years prior to the new Games.

SONGS ACROSS THE OLYMPIADS

The Olympic Games returned to Paris a century ago. Four years later, Amsterdam played host city. In 1932, The Games returned to the United States, this time to Los Angeles

Musical genres diversified during this period. Broadway musicals served many of the popular songs of the time and jazz was in vogue.

1924

🥇 MY MAN Fanny Brice 

🥈 SECOND HAND ROSE Fanny Brice

🥉 TOOT, TOOT, TOOTSIE! (GOOD ‘BYE)

Al Jolson

🏅

FANNY BRICE

 

1928

🥇 OL’ MAN RIVER

Paul Robeson & Paul Whiteman

🥈 SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

Gertrude Lawrence

🥉 I’M SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD

 Al Jolson

🏅

GEORGE GERSHWIN

1932

🥇 PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ

Harry Richman

🥈 MINNIE THE MOOCHER Cab Calloway

🥉 IT DON’T MEAN A THING

(IF IT AIN’T GOT THAT SWING) Duke Ellington

🏅

DUKE ELLINGTON

 

🏊🏾🏋️ LEADERBOARD 🚵‍♀️🏃‍♀️

COUNTRY:	G	S	B
U.S.A.	16	7	9
ITALY	3	1
UNITED KINGDOM		1