After You’ve Gone
There’s this old standard, “After You’ve Gone”, that is one of my most favorite songs in the world. Its definitely my fave breakup song, (although props to Kelly Clarkson for “Since You’ve Been Gone”, which is frigging awesome and runs a close second), perfect to growl along to while tearing up your ex’s photo or getting drunk and weeping and eating cheese.
I’m not totally sure when I first heard it, but once I did, it got in my gut so good I started collecting various versions. Nina Simone has a slow burn badass version. Bessie Smith does a stop you in your tracks big mama version which even on a scratchy old recording from the 20′s has a super satisfying Fuck You quality. Ella Fitzgerald sings it smooth and jazzy. And Dinah Washington does an incredible version that crackles sweet and dark like the top of a creme brulee.
But my absolute most favoritest version is by Fiona Apple. Ah, Fiona. Beautiful little weirdo genius. The best way I can explain it is, she completely, truly, deeply gets this tune. I don’t know who she’s thinking about when she sings it, but he screwed her over and she Will Not Ever Forget. She captures every angle of the little narrative- the sweet beginning, which essentially is a “please, please don’t go” then moves on to the part that basically says, “I’m so upset with you - how could you do this?”; but the most hair raising stomach flipping moment is when she gets to the line, “You’ll feel blue, you’ll feel sad, you’ll miss the bestest pal you ever had“ and delivers a musical right hook, a perfect pissed off punch that’s both wounded shout and accusatory hiss. The acoustic version of giving this straying bastard the finger.
Thanks to the wonders of our best friend Youtube, you can see her perform it right HERE. The song alone would be a joy, but watching her face (although it is occasionally obscured by some audience member’s crew cut) as she translates all the emotions is so beautiful and moving it makes me nuts.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:29 am
You’ve got Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgereld and Bessie Smith, and the greatest person to sing it is Fiona Apple? Could you be any whiter? (This is not an insult, mind you, just a question.) No, no, I get it, she probably puts some styles upon styles on it but still, I mean, geez, I wouldn’t get put Apple in the same ballpark as these ladies. But, then again, haven’t heard all the covers, so I won’t open my big mouth any further. Still, tho, still.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Yeah, I was kinda shocked when I read “Fiona Apple” as well, but that’s the thing about music…. it is by far the most subjective artform. But Jessi, have you ever heard the most bizarre version, Frank Sinatra’s upbeat version from his disco-ey, Quincy Jones-produced 1984 album, L.A. IS MY LADY which contains lines such as “after you’ve split; after you’ve flown the coop”? Ah, genius. Or not.