Audra McDonald "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing"

Audra McDonald sings "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing" (Ellington) on the Carnegie Hall's 120th Anniversary
120th Anniversary Gala Performers:
Audra McDonald, Vocalist
Emanuel Ax, Piano
Gil Shaham, Violin
New York Philharmonic
Alan Gilbert, Music Director and Conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Complete video here: video.pbs.org/video/1944846095/

[@JoanBette]

So in the span of about 15 mins I have watched Audra McDonald go from singing modern bway, to classic Sondheim, to opera, to Billie Holliday and now this. She is perfect in every single one of them...one voice that can literally DO IT ALL! It’s just too much talent in one person, WOW!

[@FosterBass]

I am following you down that rabbit hole and completely agree. Every time I hear her I wonder why I don't hear her even more!

[@williamlrobinson6293]

Audra is one of the best vocalists ever. Even the orchestra have smiles with this rendition.

[@carolmcmackin2504]

Flawless in so many ways - Audra is the empress of vocals - the most versatile singer in history - and you can tell she’s having fun with the dynamite orchestra - not to mention highlighting one of the greatest songs ever. Ahhh...

[@zackparsons3937]

God gave her enormous talent and she added hard work and professionalism and that created magic.

[@p0lyxena]

That was one of the best and most liveliest renditions of this song I've ever heard! I'm convinced Audra is an angel on this earth with that voice and that smile

[@Rebecca_0602]

Holy crap what a voice!!!!

[@ultimatecouponlady]

WOW! CHILLS AND GOOSEBUMPS!!! I wish I could have been in that audience that evening!

[@rachelpasley1965]

The band is killin it though!!

[@pattimuse1]

Audra is phenomenal!!!🎶🎶🎶🥰

[@thediamondrosebush]

There was so much energy and class in this performance. I loved it.

[@dannysimion]

Damn, the band is killing it live and Audrea is one versatile cat!! Love this!! Swing baby swing!! The orchestra swinging with her is so friggen fun!! I enjoyed it! I want this particular performance on my iPod!

[@andreal6696]

She's magic!

[@flavioscorner]

So perfect, so elegant, impeccable....

[@applesidertea]

She. Is. Stunning. Period.

[@thomasgarbe8354]

this piece got that swing

[@mihaelamars]

I mean, come the f on!!! She is THE BEST!!! I love seeing how much fun she seems to be having!

[@abhigyanganguly4720]

This is the best rendition of the piece I've heard so far. Duke Ellington is proud

[@peterholwill1170]

Well suggest you listen to Ella with Count Basie, her performance is on another level. Ella was a jazz singer, devoted her life to jazz, huge respect for Audra but she is not a jazz singer and it shows, this is an opera singer trying to sing jazz.

[@wolf1750]

Both, solo and orchestral arrangement, are super !

[@provostjacques5374]

Audra Mc Donald, a very pretty woman! what a wonderful song! I love' It don't mean a thing!'

[@mariarosablanco]

A great voice!!! The best of this time!!!!

[@gmd-starboy07-88]

Wow! I Amazed at How much energy and enthusiasm this class has. Well Done!!

[@imannfletcher1795]

God I love her.

[@BonaventureDjamie]

Awasome !

[@JakiE812]

LOVED it completely from the beginning to the end!!!

[@hektor_schmidt]

Impeccable

[@chateauxmargaux2414]

Flawless performance. Happy Spring, Miss Audra!

[@chateauxmargaux2414]

Bravo, l'ami.

[@jeanchristopherigaud3093]

DIVINE

[@RyanBrodersen]

Why is this not more popular??

[@valinapolka]

start sharing!!! I want tickets to her concert if she ever comes to Houston!!

[@watercolorsoda]

I DON'T KNOW! I've been noticing that the most outrageously talented contemporary performers are the most overlooked.

[@ChicagoSouthDan]

I think it has to do with the youtube audience. Although there are older folks like me (62) who listen to songs on youtube, it is primarily a younger person's medium. Younger people tend to like a different type of music. Yes, there are definitely younger people who listen to this type of music, but they are more the exception than the rule. That is why something like this has less than 10,000 views but something that is not as good (in my opinion) can have millions of views.

[@tntbandit5]

Ryan Brodersen People can't handle such greatness!

[@valinapolka]

Belle Tutor you're so right!

[@arvinreuben5455]

I love her voice!

[@webrambler88]

it does mean a thing... when it has that swing!

[@barryrosen405]

so good she is

[@rorymarie32]

Another fabulous performance by Audra!

[@stephaniejutt1]

Goddess

[@sheilabloom6735]

Been a fan since her first cd, "Way Back to Paradise."

[@tntbandit5]

Sheila Bloom A Marie Christine fan! whoop whoop! her singin I will love you to the boys before she...you know..always got me!

[@asnalelo.165]

@@tntbandit5 they were talking about her solo album

[@rochellewarren6219]

💜

[@HeroeAIrwan]

Beautiful!

[@jzis1]

omg i love this song!!!

[@cnoize314]

Amazing! So much fun!

[@lolilololo6516]

I love that I chancon known at college I love the music

[@valinapolka]

WOW!!!

[@EHYEHasherEHYEH1]

Excellent

[@CamdenAndrew128]

Now that’s a performance

[@trespassenger_w]

Оркестр офигенный

[@rochellewarren6219]

💥

[@denisejohnson3578]

wow!

[@sebgascon]

Wow!!!

[@chelsiecoleman7901]

Amazing.!!

[@jillianjohn6873]

Lovely.

[@trespassenger_w]

Синтез джазового и актерского вокала, оркестр какой надо, блеск!

[@user-os5vs1bt7w]

😍😍😍

[@khabasahure9840]

wow and in her play about billi holliday she sounded just like her- but this is her own voice nice performance

[@mariolagrasta9606]

questo motivo di Irving Mills e Duke Ellington è riportato nella pagina bianca del mio libro Hox-genes. Neurocristopatie. Gli ho attribuito questo significato: non vali nulla se non hai ironia...NON VALI NULLA SE NON HAI SWING. Questa versione è una delle più belle per il suo ritmo aggressivo e incalzante

[@tomorrow-dz7kq]

オードラ・マクドナルドってーのね…。上手い、素晴らしい！！！

[@trespassenger_w]

Впервые слышу свингующие валторны и струнные!

[@TheGentleUncle]

What did the orchrestra play at that anniversary? Does anyone know the full list of works?

[@TheHeatherCharnee]

brava

[@mariolagrasta9606]

la musica non ha confini...uno standart jazz eseguita da un soprano e orchestra sclassica

[@trespassenger_w]

Люди без чувства юмора, далёкие от джаза, а значит и любой другой музыки, в недоумении.

[@mga2899]

Love Audra but she misses here.

[@douglaswdb1335]

Man you're right, that orchestra is just rocking out poppin zapping it all over the place! Too bad Audra is just faking It, It shows. But she is trying real hard to feel it, in fact it looks like she's trying too hard, but it just doesn't work. And I just watched her destroy Summertime with some kind of Opera calisthenics, which I guess the Opera people like because it made them feel cool but God. She's no Ricky Lee Jones nor Diana Krall. The irony is, she acts like a White girl trying to act Black. But I admit it, I just don't understand Opera. I kind of wish I did, seems like there might be something valuable there. But what I see is too much bouncing around with the notes just for the sake of bouncing around the notes, kind of like showing off. Don't misunderstand me she did good, but what I don't understand is all these people over-shining the Apple. The band did really good! I thought the band leader was going to vibrate right out of his tux! Same with the clarinet.