💿 The world sings for those who listen — will you? In this new monthly section of the Weekend Edition, we will be shining the spotlight on an album or artist who has shaped or enriched the musical landscape as we know it. From pop and soul to blues and rock, Now Playing will explore global tunes to recommend the next soundtrack to your weekend. For this week’s edition, we’re diving into one of the most famous jazz staples to date; one that has transcended time, language, and cultural borders: Autumn Leaves.

It all started with a one-hit-wonder tune: In 1945, Hungarian composer Joseph Kosma could not have predicted that his musical arrangement, designed for a one-act ballet, Le Rendezvous, would end up being the melody to unite humanity across eras. It was the French poet Jacques Prévert who wrote the ballet, and after hearing Kosma’s arrangement, he endeavored to complement it with lyrics in what has now become one of the most beautiful songs to be associated with autumn.

The language of music: Initially written under the title Les Fueuilles Mortes — The Dead Leaves — the piece was recorded by French artist Yves Montand in 1949, with an emphasis on lyrics and emotion. Montand’s song sold nearly a mn copies, but it was not this version that propelled the melody to global fame. The song was later translated into English as Autumn Leaves, sung by Jo Stafford in 1950. Later that year, the iconic Edith Piaf released her own editions in both English and French. Nat King Cole followed suit in 1957, releasing what would become one of the most famous versions of the song in English, later releasing French and Japanese versions.

Since then, the song has become one of the most re-recorded jazz staples throughout the world, with over 1.4k versions by household names such as Frank Sinatra, Eric Clapton, Louis Armstrong, and Eddie Higgins, each infusing the song with their own unique touch.

Love, loss, and life: Conveying an emotional state that is inherently human, the song’s lyrics tell of a lover who has lost his love, the sorrow of days past, and the ache of never letting go. Autumn Leaves achieves this through a contrast of the passing seasons — summer turns to Autumn, and all that is vibrant turns grey. The leaves wither and fall, so do loves found and lost. Yearning hearts around the world, then, are left to reminisce and relive memories never to be forgotten.

Life goes on, seasons change, faces blur. Yet, longing persists. Lebanese icon Fairuz captures this essence in a manner no other renditions could. Adding lyrical depth that burrowed its way into the hearts of every Arab listener through the words and composition of Ziad Rahbani, her late son and composer. Fairuz did not merely adapt the song, she re-envisioned it entirely.

In Fairuz’s rendition, the lover does not simply accept the reality of lost love, she yearns for a return; for reciprocated feelings so many years later, regardless of consequence. Fairuz sings of a heart that can only be comforted with knowledge that what was lost still exists somehow, in some form. “So long as there is autumn every year, nothing may stop me from missing you.” Rahbani’s 2002 version follows a faster pace, masterfully employing piano notes that vitalized the jazz classic.

Some songs age gracefully, Autumn Leaves is one such masterpiece. This is a tune to be hummed walking down the street, danced to at night with a lover or a friend, and felt, perhaps most deeply, when one is self-reflecting in solitude. Autumn Leaves is one of the few songs instantly recognizable worldwide, regardless of language, singer, or place. It’s a deeply personal melody, and one that resonates with us all — therein lies its beauty.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can tune in on Apple Music | Anghami | Spotify | Deezer | Soundcloud | YouTube Music.

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