How To Play the Musical “Guess that YOU-tune” Game:
The host will want a copy of Debbie Denke’s album, It’s All About YOU!*
Additionally the host will want a pencil for each guest, a fun dessert to serve for intermission, a prize for the winner (I suggest something musical like an album or a music book as an award), and have copies of the list of clues for each guest (or a page with blank lines numbered 1-16), plus a copies of the lyrics to #16 It Had To Be You. Clues and lyrics are found in this site under the Downloads tab above. Allow about 90 minutes to play this game.
Host will read aloud the tune number and it’s clue, but not the title. Remind guests that every tune has the word ‘You‘ somewhere in its title. Then play the track for your guests. Be ready to hit ‘pause’ between all tracks so guests have time to think about and write down each YOU-tune’s title. Give the clues, play and pause after numbers 1 – 8.
After number 8 is played, host can serve dessert and guests may talk about the tunes and learn the correct titles (keeping track of which ones they originally got right.) Take about a half hour for this intermission.
Resume the “guess that YOU-tune game” for tune numbers 9 – 15. Have everyone sing along with the band to the second half of #16, It Had To Be You. Tally up the most correct guesses, and award a prize to the winner!
*You can, of course hire a live pianist to play YOU-tunes at your party, but remember YOU got the idea here first!
A note from pianist Debbie Denke about this special selection of tunes:
People often wonder what goes on in a jazz musician’s mind during improvisation. Even though these tunes are performed solo piano style, the lyrics played an important part inside my head and out of my fingers. I feel each of these songs has a wonderful melody to bounce off of, inspirational harmony to play around with, and clever lyrics by some of the greatest teams of composers and songwriters in history. I encourage you to check out the complete lyrics to these timeless tunes!
Okay, ready to play?
The following is the list of tune titles with clues for the host to read aloud. The track number and the clue are in bold. The answers are below each question.
Track 1
Stevland Morris wrote this popular hit in 1973 – this is the most recent tune on this album – it was covered by Ella Fitzgerald (who took the line “apple of my eye” and segued into another tune about apples.)
Answer:
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevland Morris 1973
Track 2
’I recall’ this song (and the next) make a nice romantic medley – both end with the word ‘You’. This tune plays immediately into track #3…
Answer:
I Remember You… – Victor Schertzinger/Johnny Mercer 1941
Track 3
These lyrics speak about being in close proximity to you.
Answer:
The Nearness Of You – Hoagy Carmichael/Ned Washington 1938
Track 4
You’ll always be unique to me – even though there will be more lovers!
Answer:
There Will Never Be Another You – Harry Warren/Mack Gordon 1942
Track 5
Passionate love song from the Gershwin Brothers’ opera (Pianist Debbie Denke’s personal favorite tune on this album.)
Answer:
I Loves You Porgy– George & Ira Gershwin/Dubose Heyward 1935
Track 6
This song gives advice like, “Don’t count stars or you might stumble” -Watch out or else…
Answer:
It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke 1944
Track 7
A tragic ballad about the dark side of love, this tune debuted in a show with comedians Abbott & Costello called, “Keep ‘Em Flying”. This was one of Billie Holiday’s many tunes about love lost.
Answer:
You Don’t Know What Love Is – Gene de Paul/Don Raye 1941
Track 8
Originally sung by Ethel Merman, this Cole Porter show tune had an alternate set of non-drug reference lyrics. (During the first half of this tune Ms. Denke envisioned Liberace on too much caffeine.) Sesame Street featured puppet “Ethel Mermaid” singing this to help to teach the letter “U.”
Answer:
I Get A Kick Out Of You – Cole Porter 1934
INTERMISSION TIME
Track 9
The oldest tune on this album – its verse may be unfamiliar, but the chorus to this waltz is well known in barbershop quartet circles.
Answer:
Let Me Call You Sweetheart – Leo Friedman/Beth Slater Whitson 1910
Track 10
Jiminy Cricket sang this during Walt Disney’s Pinocchio – (See if you can catch a few other twinkling references tossed in.)
Answer:
When You Wish Upon A Star – Leigh Harline/Ned Washington 1940
Track 11
Hugs go to the Gershwins for another lovely tune. This is Debbie Denke’s salute to both her father Frank Denke and Erroll Garner. Frank’s handwritten transcription of Erroll’s arrangement is featured on the CD artwork. She says, “This rich ballad style sends me back in time to hearing my dad’s piano flowing through The St. Francis Hotel.” For more about The St. Francis Hotel read under Insights the article titled “Make The People Happy.”
Answer:
Embraceable You – George & Ira Gershwin 1928
Track 12
This one starts with a chorus of improvisation before you get into this Jimmy Van Heusen tune – The story behind it is Jimmy Van Heusen gave this catchy melody to lyricist Johnny Mercer, who decided to work on the lyrics while taking a train trip. Instantly, the method of transportation gave birth to the first line of the lyrics, “I took a trip on a train, and…”
Answer:
I Thought About You – Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Mercer 1939
Track 13
A bartender’s dream tune – “Like a summer with a thousand Julys – you intoxicate my soul with your eyes” & other lyrics describing the buzz both love and drinks may do to a person.
Answer:
You Go To My Head – J. Fred Coots 1938
Track 14
Cole Porter wrote the following romantic ‘stalker’ lyrics: “I’d love to gain complete control of you, and handle even the heart and soul of you” for this tune from the musical Silk Stockings.
Answer:
All Of You – Cole Porter 1954
Track 15
Most common thing said on Valentine’s Cards– Clever Cole Porter purposefully wrote satirically banal lyrics (and apologized for them) during the set-up for this tune from the stage musical, Mexican Hayride.
Answer:
I Love You – Cole Porter 1944
Track 16
It Had To Be You – Isham Jones/Gus Kahn 1924) z
Debbie Denke – vocals, Robert Kim Collins – bass, Bones Howe – drums
Now’s the time to get out the lyric sheets and sing along with us the second time through, It Had To Be You – This one goes out to my hubby/bassist RKC! And many thanks to my dear drummer (also a well loved music producer) friend Bones Howe for his tasty brushwork!
For more than a year Robert Kim Collins, Bones Howe, and Debbie Denke had a First Thursday of the Month gig in singer/owner Christy Martin’s clothing store – The Blue Moon Quartet made many fun musical memories playing tunes like these in Studio Encanto Santa Barbara!
Wow Debbie! I’m your long lost school friend Annette. Who doesn’t remember middle school oatmeal facials. My husband and I are at the Sant Francis and it’s sad that beautiful space we listened to your dad play so beautifully is closed except weekends. What a crime. I did not know till now you recorded albums. We’d love to hear them. We’re here in SF for a Concert tonight.
Hey Annette nice to hear from you! Yes, the St. Francis has really changed. Thanks for remembering my Dad playing there (5 nights a week for 16 years). Happy Holidays to you and your husband!