Ella Fitzgerald's isolated voice exposes her TRUE depth of expression!

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

And keep in mind, 1968 was about 15 years past her prime. I'm convinced Miss Ella is the greatest singer ever. Period. Great analysis!

[@mdarrenu]

Frank thought so too.

[@peter53k]

"Past her prime" ... hm, maybe. But I was lucky enough to see her live in concert even 12 years later in 1980 in Hamburg, Germany. It was absolutely amazing. For a little special she put the mic away and sang softly without the mic before an audience of approx. 3000 people. Any falling needle would have been like a gunshot.

[@Nicksonian]

Hard to say that Ella ever wavered from her prime.

[@Shelley550]

🌟Agreed🌟

[@GreenTea7oh7]

@@peter53k what a gift im envious

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Finally we get see her artistry through the pitch monitoring software. Nobody had such a magnificent vocal instrument.

[@ellie698]

I've learned so many new techniques to try out from the short video. I'm having fun with them, really making the song so rich compared to how I used to sing it. I'm not ashamed to say I'm perfectly prepared to steal ideas from the best! And in my opinion she is the best

[@johnandmarie7250]

I would offer Sarah Vaughn to that statement.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

@@johnandmarie7250 and I would raise you Ella❤️

[@filmmekker]

I agree about Sarah Vaughan!

[@jimmybalantyne5545]

@@catherinelynnfraser2001 You'd lose your money.

[@keepgrindingup7661]

And with a Voice like Ella's ringin' out, There's no way the Band can Lose!

[@robbymonaco3738]

You can feel it all over!

[@h.calvert3165]

I'm so glad that she was alive to hear Stevie's tribute blasting from every radio that summer. She so merited the respect of her juniors. To me, she is peerless. No female singer can approach her. My sister's daughter, who is half Caucasian & half Chinese, named her eldest daughter after Ella. The little girl is part Chinese, English, French, German, Irish, Italian, & Scottish. . .& her heart will be raised to be all Ella's. Our entire family worships her. 😍

[@dmcarp2807]

That was sheer vocal artistry. Control and improv within performance.

[@theelderskatesman4417]

the recordings of Ella and Sachmo are among the most wonderful things that have ever happened.

[@kylecompton3305]

She is considered one of the GOATS! In her lifetime she recorded over 200 albums and won 14 Grammys!!! I could listen to her all day long!

[@musicosasas]

She makes my heart bleed with sorrow and joy. An absolute master.

[@eleni8920]

One of my favorite vocalists of all time. Her phrasing and scatting have yet to be topped to this day. In her live version of Lullaby of Birdland, she sounds like a rock singer.

[@1Moonchild]

Love it when she went loud and high, singing "one of these mornings", and the pianist turns towards her and smiles. Going to take a while for the chills I got from this to fade away. Thanks, Fil, this one is special.

[@ThereseMurphy-q3t]

Yes, she's improvising, leading the musicians according to how she feels

[@ellie698]

Her vibrato covers a wider area than one seen on all the other people's pitch monitors? Shows how rich her voice is. She was a queen

[@TorToroPorco]

I love the way Fil looks so admiringly as she sings. It’s rather appropriate that Ella’s performance is admired subjectively by Fil and objectively by the analysis software on either side of Ella’s video.

[@rosachristopherson4309]

So enjoyable to hear Ella in your analyses. As a toddler, my grandson either fell asleep listening to Ella’s soft sounds or enjoyed her upbeat singing while awake. Great pick, Fil!

[@tracyzimmerman7912]

Just memorizing....Fil The push and pull of the voice... The notes moving where she puts them...she commands this performance... Keep on rocking Fil 🤘❤️

[@dianecourtney2724]

The notes moving where she puts them …Awesome comment 💕

[@ellie698]

I absolutely love Ella Fitzgerald

[@corilia9529]

She had brass, she had sass ,she had class. A world class singer. She makes people like billie eliish sound like a three year old. Ella was a real gem of the old guard.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

A ✨of any era and a constellation of excellence around her

[@celestearellano3720]

You're sassy too, loved your comment your a poet.

[@corilia9529]

@@celestearellano3720 well i have to be on my best behavior on the livestream but yeah i can be quite sassy . And these little poems just come to me. Thanks Celeste!

[@stuffnuns]

Ella had been singing professionally for more than 30 years at this point. Billie E has some time before I’d make a comparison with the Queen. I mean, this is Ella we’re talking about here.

[@borncritical4801]

Yes to this!

[@shirleybowers7251]

Thanks! Sooo love Ella. ❤

[@alanna8983]

Thank you, Fil! No one today compares to Ella. These non-singers today can never do what this lady did.

[@Krullmatic]

Of course I've heard of her, but I never heard her. All I can say is, DAMN! She was freakin' phenomenal! I can't believe that range she had. Your voice is kickass as well Fil! Thanks for showing this, otherwise I would've never looked her up. Now I'm gonna go and check out some more of her songs.

[@jeffking4176]

Listen to her Scat, and listen to her with Louis Armstrong. 📻🙂

[@Krullmatic]

@@jeffking4176 Thanks Jeff! Will do! I like Armstrong a as well.

[@jeffking4176]

“How High The Moon” is a favorite of mine. 📻🙂

[@davidburgess3882]

"Cry Me a River".

[@dianecourtney2724]

Yes on Fil’s “ kick ass voice” as well 🔥♥️

[@stuffnuns]

Ella was a Goddess of Song. No one could do it like Ella. She was at the height of powers in the late ‘50’s thru the ‘60’s. This performance: wow.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

Both Crosby & Sinatra agree w/ you. FWIW, I always find her voice amazing.

[@musiccreationn]

A voice like melted butter

[@SP_33333]

One of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. Such control. Here she was no longer young either. Perfect pitch always. Just gorgeous.

[@mookiepook7808]

It felt like the world stopped for a few minutes listening to that vocal, I adore that woman ❤️

[@tom_olofsson]

I saw her in person in Chicago back in 1975 or 76. She was terrific.

[@aimee5259]

This takes me back. She was Dad's favorite singer, & I fell asleep listening to her (on reel-to-reel tapes) so many nights as a child. What a voice!

[@dinahlee3793]

I'm always soooo impressed that you appreciate the great singers of the past....unlike the crap of today's singers. You have an incredible ear. I love how you dissect a great vocal. I also love how you reveal and confirm auto-tune...the dead give-away of a poor vocalist. ❤🎼🎶

[@jounisyrjanen2226]

Before I watched and listened to your analysis I had to look up Ella's Berlin appearances but I don't have any idea why Berlin was so important to her. So smooth - no words needed, all you have to do is close your eyes, open your heart and listen... Thank you so much! ❤

[@denverdubois5835]

I think that performing in Europe generally, but especially France and Germany, was really important to a lot of brilliant Black performers back in the day, because there was no segregation there, and a lot less racism in general. They were better treated and way more widely respected than in the USA, sadly. This may've been particularly so for Ella, because she was very shy, sweet and sensitive, and had endured a lot of abuse and unhappiness earlier in her life.

[@margeanblake4356]

So glad to see you evaluate Ella's vocals! I have always loved her voice and performance! Just beautiful!

[@rabrab3]

Thank you for this review. Ella is a Master Class. I feel the best vocalist to have ever performed.

[@genemaurillo4162]

Ella possibly the best ever. Thanks for featuring her.

[@Buzzcook]

This song is less ornamented than many of the songs she was famous for. Its a lullaby so if you want to keep that it can't get too gymnastic. I did see Ella live and she got three standing ovations for sing Old MacDonald Hard a Farm. Few musicians had her virtuosity with an instrument.

[@natlisan]

This really shows how AMAZING Ella really was! To think this performance was also later in her career too!!!!!!

[@katevalentine7075]

Love Ella and as always you're astute anaylsis ... "Uses her voice as an instrument " "Dynamic subtely " "Applying vibrato to the soft notes " "Delaying the vocal lines " So much going on ,Thanks again Fil 😎Rock🤟

[@TheoMichaels]

I first caught this performance over 20 years ago and was just blown away. I still think it is the greatest vocal performance I have ever heard. Thanks for the analysis.

[@inkiriamerasul5005]

Bloody hell. Amazing. My dad got to meet Ella Fitzgerald. The bastard.

[@anthonyshelton1626]

Voice of an angel . The smile of a greek god . Keep Up the good work pegasus !

[@HungarianMeringue]

❤️❤️🔥🔥 My father's favorite singer, been listening to her my entire life. Thank you 🙏

[@GFBisons1]

I love the smile on your face as you are listening to Ella. You don't want to talk as much as you want to listen to her. Her breath and tone and pitch were magnificent. Thank you for playing it all the way before analyzing.

[@johnj2763]

When I see/hear a performance like this, I cry. Ella would make most people's top five list of the greatest female vocalists of all time, and a performance like this would only cement that estimation. Artists of that era needed no autotune to be masters of the vocal arts. She used her voice like an instrument, akin to how the Mills Brothers utilized their voices to do the same. Fil you really should bookend this excellent analysis with one sampling the "Divine One' Sarah Vaughan's performance of "Misty' in Stockholm circa 1964, a performance of equal majesty, and considering she was ill at the time, one of the greatest performances ever committed to video.

[@hannealbrechtsen461]

Brilliant brilliant Ella! Thank you Fil for including her here… she was an extraordinary coloratura mezzo soprano, with her virtuost scat singing. Beautiful sound here in lyrical Summertime

[@Antaios632]

Wow, Fil, listening to Ella and your appreciation of her makes me both happy and sad. Happy because of her stratospheric talent and because you're spotlighting her in 2022, but sad because I feel like the modern music industry has almost completely crushed this kind of artistry. I don't know, maybe I'm being a sad old guy pining for the past, but I feel like the vibe these days is that singers can just do whatever and it's "fixed" in production. So many monumental talents of the past would never get past the gate today, or they have to kill what's special about their voices to even get airplay. Ugh. It's depressing!

[@denverdubois5835]

Agree. Especially if, like Ella, they're not "hot" or beautiful physically. Take Susan Boyle, that Scottish singer who made such an impression on Britain's Got Talent. I wouldn't put her in Ella's category talentwise, but she does have a splendid, beautiful voice which needs no autotune to perform wonderfully, and moreover, she has great stage presence and interpretive ability. In another era she would've had a chance to achieve a solid career in pop music based on her genuine talent, but nowadays, nothing she did for years gave her even a single leg up. That's just sad.

[@janegardener1662]

Gives me goosebumps! An incredible performance.

[@richardlevasseur6771]

In the early 70s, my older brother took me to Baker's Keyboard Saloon in Detroit to see Ella who was accompanied by Joe Pass. I knew it was something special, but too young to know why. Too young to appreciate each greatness! Thanks for this analysis!

[@theresahoward7216]

Ella...total class. Love her so much. I really enjoy her duets with Louise Armstrong...but alone she is hauntingly beautiful. Really nice to see her vocals isolated and with the software. It is cool to see technology kind of explain (with your help Fil) why we are drawn to an artist.

[@BOOMNERD51]

Such a voice and feeling, like perfect! ❤️

[@TeePetersen]

Pure perfection in delivery of voice and emotion combined.

[@InfoArtistJK]

Masterpiece of singing. Thanks for this video.

[@Redheadedlady55]

~Thank you for the explanation of these wonderful singers. ...there is a lot of talent....here.

[@dianecourtney2724]

Ella was a One Off 🌹 No one compares. TY for showing her off ☺️

[@alicerose8057]

She’s always been my favorite singer. My parents took me to her concert when I was a 2 or 3 weeks old. I was very quiet and just enjoyed the concert. My first introduction to live music.

[@debbeborders5762]

I was a young child when Ella's was on TV fairly frequently. I love hearing this now and your analysis helps me appreciate her greatness. Thank you Fil.

[@Britgirl58]

I was introduced to Ella, Sarah Vaughn, the inimitable Nat King Cole, and many others from birth, (1958), by my Uncle Les. He loved jazz, amongst many other genres, but I never did latch on, especially to the really loose jazz. But I did love songs and performances such as this one. Ella was always Les' favorite. We moved to the US in 1988 and I was away from Les' music for a few years - then the internet brought them back to me!! Les passed away 18 months ago at age 92. He never grew tired of playing the same songs over and over again, much to my Mum's chagrin!! Lol.

[@lynndow3185]

Oh wow. Look at how even those lines are!! Really awesome analysis. There's something so comforting about being in such skilled hands. Well, also my dad would sing this song to me as a lullaby. Comfort City.

[@mariaday712]

I love Ella. What a great voice she had. Too bad we don't have music like this anymore. I hope you will do more. Thank you Fil. Take care and see you Tuesday night.

[@duncan9058]

Love Ella, so much feeling in her voice. Highly recommend her Songbook CD collection box-set. So many standout performances. Thanks Fil for highlighting this American treasure.

[@dmbalsam]

Just before this I listened to Ella and Louie Armstrong, with his trumpet, preform Summertime. Beautiful!

[@kasiehill7937]

You, sir, are amazing. Thank you for doing this. This is one of my favorites. Ella was absolutely amazing….you sound amazing, too!

[@ivetoldyouonce]

The greatest female singer of all time.

[@DonnaleaSpencer]

Ella really is enchanting! Thank you for the video of the "First Lady Of Song". What a beautiful voice - no one sang like Ella Fitzgerald.

[@perrymalcolm3802]

There’s no one like Ella! As much as I LOVE Judy, Barbra, n Aretha…I gotta give the nod to Ella! Bing Crosby said “Man, Woman or child, Ella is IT!” Fully agree with NO denigration of my other favorites. She never made mega millions n ground out countless shows over decades from young until close to death. No one like her.

[@mdarrenu]

Yeah, Frank was in awe of her.

[@williamb4335]

Well said

[@paulnagle7017]

great analysis of my all time favorite singer. Thanks

[@tamifaulkner4103]

I was so fortunate to have seen Ella in 1987 near the end of her life. She had lost some if her range but was still such a fantastic showman and still had so much technique it was wonderful! Thank for analyzing her!.

[@alanblock7099]

Such grace, class and control, amazing singer and woman

[@zenawarrior7442]

She certainly tells a story with her voice; holds those notes & caresses them or raises them. Thanks Fil😊💚💚

[@severma22]

Her voice is incomparable. She easily sings from low to high and back. I was amazed at how even her vibrato is -high or low range. How would her range be classified? Contralto? However she sings through almost every register. Thanks for another analysis.

[@nagagab9224]

some say mezzo, some light soprano...

[@FionaEm]

My god! I always thought she had a voice like honey, but this was a whole other dimension ☺ Incredible range and control. Thanks for another detailed & appreciative analysis. I always learn something from your videos!

[@NashvilleKat1]

Ella is in a class all of her own and just puts me on the floor. Thank you for this analysis of true genius.

[@wandagrayson646]

Voice of a century.

[@janetf23]

I've always loved her album from 1956, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book. I was listening to it this morning in celebration of her birthday and then, when I saw this notification, I thought wow, that was pretty artful timing on your part. She's another pure voice from my childhood that always makes me smile.😊 edit: I almost forgot to say how much fun listening to her and Louis Armstrong was for me back then too. I was 5 when both of those albums came out and we still had just a small box type phono, it wasn't even Hi-Fi but it didn't matter. 💖🤘

[@PaulWallis]

Wow! Fil! Thank you for doing this. Isolating Ella's vocal track really shows her phernomenal subtlety, tone, artistry and skill. As a very young child the music I had access to was my parents' music. I certainly did not click with all of it! Ella's voice absolutely stood out and arrested my very young attention. What she does in this song reveals a profound grounding in jazz and gospel sensibility. When Ella recorded this in 1968 we really only had micropohone and recording contexts which lent themselves to quietness and subtlety for a relatively short time. So Ella's mastery in dynamic range was really pioneering and masterful. Love what you do, Fil! Thank you!

[@ricosalomar]

In the early '80s, I saw her sing the US National Anthem before a football game. It was outside, freezing cold, she was an old lady, and she sang it a cappella. I've been a musician and fan of music my whole life, and I have never witnessed a feat of musical excellence and precision to match that one November morning so many years ago. Brava, Ms Fitzgerald.

[@David_A._Ream]

great analysis & from a young man & English. me, a 73 year old, American saw Louis in '57 & in the '60's Ella! YES, THE GOOD OLD DAYS! thanks

[@lynnelovesroses4485]

Been waiting to see Ella's voice on the pitch monitor, wow. Great analysis Fil.

[@amaru4029]

Thank you. So nice to learn about the greats. So interesting. As a singer, I just find Ella's work so perfect. Singing along with her to The Lady Is A Tramp is just a workout. The breath control is unbelievable. She makes it seem so effortless. She has been, without a doubt, the biggest influence on me.

[@hiyahandsome]

Fantastic song to showcase Ella's magnificent voice, Fil, thank you so very much! Hearing you hit those same notes demonstrates what a great singer you are, coupled with your amazing ability to teach us about the intricacies of such a great artist's performance which is truly enlightening and why we keep coming back for more. Cheers~

[@davidcatalano3781]

I saw Ella Fitzgerald I think when she was in her 60's I believe. She sounded like she was 20 years old. It was amazing. Thanks again Fil. Be well and blessings to you.

[@dalebaker9109]

She was great. She was still only 50 here, but appears much older. Ella was fantastic, she understood a song, and just what to do, to make it sound incredible. I love your video,s Fil you always hit the nail on the head.

[@chf9514]

Her ‘gift’ (voice) is truly amazing! None like her since. 🎤❤️

[@scottvermillion1426]

Years ago, I had the good fortune to hear Ella perform in concert while sitting in the lawn of Chicago area outdoor venue, but way before I started appreciating her as one of the finest vocalists who ever lived. If I had a time machine, I wish I could have a concert redo. I now treasure the quintessential Songbooks that she recorded in the fifties and sixties. Her voice had amazing range...like an instrument, her diction was crystal clear, and her phrasing always brought each song to life. Ella was simply an amazing vocal artist. Thank you for this analysis, Fil!

[@catherinecrow5662]

This was just fantastic Fil ! I'm a lifelong fan, and to see the isolated track is stunning. I never understood why she held the mic up so high, and you explained it so well. I sing, and took to heart Ella's intention of using her voice like a trumpet. Great video, and I truly thank you for your work.

[@Goddybag4Lee]

She truly was and still is even after she passed away a Queen! A master of her art.

[@buggyboogle9]

Thank you so much Fil. I had no idea that you had done this analysis on Miz Ella and was wonderfully surprised. One of the most incredible performers of all time, bar none.

[@matthewmurphy8872]

Incredible, timeless voice. Excellent pick and excellent review.

[@nh5083]

Thank you for analyzing Ella. Always loved Billie Holiday's rendition of Summertime...until I heard Ella's version! Loved her voice and everything she sang. When I was a kid Memorex cassette tapes did a commercial featuring Ella's voice hitting a high note and breaking a wine glass and the quality of their cassette to capture the quality! Loved her scatting and duet with Louie Armstrong singing Cheek to Cheek and Dream a Little Dtram. Thanks again Fil!

[@constancemerwin8171]

Ella is as good as it gets in music, thanks for covering her Fil. I am back from trip and will be in touch to see where our place in line is with David analysis! And I'll catch up on missed videos. thank you for Ella! Stancy

[@rubytarbox1]

Ella's voice was liquid Gold, none better.

[@terriashby1285]

Agreed

[@OmniphonProductions]

On, "...high," (...and the cotton is high), she's not closing off to a hum. She closing the diphthong gradually. Essentially instead of two vowel sounds (AH and EE), she's slowly transitioning from the former to the latter...technically generating every vowel sound in between. In classical training, this is actually frowned upon; one is "supposed to" hold the first vowel sound until the very end, and _then_ close to the second. In _very_ untrained singers (or people intentionally stylizing their vocals, like Adele), one occasionally hears people going to the second vowel sound almost immediately. In Ella's case, the slow transition creates a change so smooth, you almost forget that the word _is_ a diphthong. She truly was a master of her instrument.

[@carmel1631]

Fabulous voice so full of style and emotion❤

[@bcazz5202]

Love these, especially of the great old time singers. I learn to appreciate them more. Looking forward to the next one.

[@michelem189]

That just took me home to New Orleans. My oh my . . . what a sentimental journey 💖My Mama loved Ella . . .

[@NikkiSoFar]

Thank you - thank you - thank you !!!!! I’ve been hoping and waiting for you do Ella and I love your insight & interpretation of this amazing musician.

[@dangray]

Gotta love Ella. I heard her when I was a kid and even then knew she was something special.

[@raskinblog]

My grandma had to be one of her biggest fans. I still have many of her vinyls! lol. This analyses was great!

[@Sonia-xyz]

Masterpiece! My dad's favorite music. I inhereted it from him. But I lean more to blues. 💜

[@runefagereng6023]

A superb vocal performance! Summertime supreme.

[@ArtTheSinger]

When she did the word “high” which is the AH-Ee vowel. She added a slight hum with the Ee vowel. The Ee is compressed. The Ah vowel is open.

[@gaymichaelis7581]

I think Ella Fitzgerald was one of the best female vocalist ever!!! Yes, as your video here proves this!!! And thank you so much for breaking that down for us!!! You did a fabulous job on that!!! Yes, the queen of jazz, the queen of the blues perhaps, and what else?! I’m so impressed with you, Fil, you’re being into hard rock and all, but you can and are willing to and seem to like to look at all kinds of music and artists!!!!

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Fascinating look at Miss Fitzgerald & her abilities. I learned new things today, while I wiped tears away at the sound of her voice.

[@sarastromseth-troy3323]

This may be my favorite vocal performance video by anyone on KZbin. When I first heard this performance of 'Summertime', I was transfixed! I am happy to see you analyze it here. I read somewhere that Ella Fitzgerald's band used to tune to her voice, because her pitch was so accurate.

[@jakecomstock3732]

Found it and enjoyed it. Actually I told my daughter (an opera student in university) about your channel last night which she then checked out. We then tonight watched this and the Julie Andrew’s episode together simultaneously. Tons of fun. And the secondary benefit to young performers is that imperfections make us unique!!

[@CornbreadOracle]

I discovered Ella when I was in college in the early 90s. Can’t exactly remember how I found her music, but I have been a fan ever since. I was Nirvana on the streets and Ella in the sheets. 😂

[@williamb4335]

Huh? I don't know what that means but I like it. Lol