Greatest Love Songs Ever: #15 “I Get a Kick Out of You”

By Tom Quiner, Board President, Pulse Life Advocates

We’re down to the top 15 songs in our countdown of the 52 Greatest Love Songs Ever! This week’s entrant is Cole Porter’s 1934 classic, “I Get a Kick Out of You,” featured in his 1934 hit musical, “Anything Goes.”

Porter’s lyrics aren’t the usual fodder for a love song. The verse drips with melancholy:

“My story is much too sad to be told,

But practically everything leaves me totally cold.

The only exception I know is the case,

When I’m out on a quiet spree, fighting vainly the old ennui,

And I suddenly turn and see your fabulous face.”

And then the song turns on a dime. The tempo picks up, propelling the formerly pensive lyrics into an assessment on what’s really important in life, couched in terms the culture understands: “I get a kick out of you.”

In other words, YOU make me happy. YOU are the true source of my life’s joy. YOU thrill me, not temporal trifles.

Sinatra, as usual, is the man to make this song soar, backed by an exceptionally fine arrangement by Neal Hefti (above).

Cole Porter brings wit to his lyrics in ways contemporary lyricists seem incapable of. Sometimes he gets too witty, as exemplified in one of his original lyrics for this song:

“Some get a kick from cocaine,

I’m sure that if 

I took even one sniff,

That would bore me terrif-

icilly, too.

Yet, I get a kick out of you.”

Hollywood slapped him down for this line (remember, this was 1934!) and Porter changed the line to read, “Some like the perfume from Spain.”

Much better.

Mel Tormé sings this song beautifully, but he leaves off the critical opening verse, so I’m not including his version.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett sing “I Get a Kick Out of You”

On the other hand, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett give the song the full treatment (above). Well done, even though Bennett is somewhat diminished in this take. The great jazz interpreter was hampered by Alzheimers at this late stage of his storied career. Ms. Gaga carries the song with aplomb. 

In two weeks, we will explore Porter’s greatest song with a timeless performance by Sinatra. In the meantime, we’ll be back next week with a song so incredibly good that it was a #1 hit it not once, not twice, but three times. I dare you to keep a dry eye.

Pulse Life Advocates promotes a culture of life through an amazing multi-pronged educational outreach. This series is one example. Love is the antidote to abortion. So spread the love. Subscribe to our blog and donate to the pro-life cause today.