George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin originally created the song “The Man I Love” in 1924. George was responsible for composing the music while Ira wrote the lyrics. The song performed in AABA form became increasingly popular and was added to the Great American Songbook. Major and minor chords alternate throughout the song, helping reflect opposing emotions: doubt and uncertainty, hope and despair. The vocal range of the performer is only an octave, accompanied by the light varieties of wind instruments and a well-written trumpet solo. The instrumental arrangement and the elevated vocal pitches of a singer help create a cheerful atmosphere and a sense of hope. The piano plays a central role in the formation of the song’s tone – it makes the lyrics sound hopeful. This track is a classic of jazz even though it does not incorporate much saxophone sound.
Billie Holiday, the American jazz singer, issued her own ballad version of “The Man I Love” in 1938. The artist’s performance differed from the original because of the incorporation of jazz tones. Holiday’s vocal style is rough but very slow, adding charm to the performance. It seems like the singer has managed to integrate the dynamic elements making the song more sorrowful. When she sings, “I will do my best to make him stay,” it seems as if her voice drags down and echoes, creating the notes of desperation. The use of trumpets at the beginning of the song provides a misconception about the cheerfulness of the music. The original melody gets smoothened by the saxophone solo and the piano filters. In general, Holiday’s version is more woeful for the saxophone use and her voice tone.