Greatest love songs ever: #44 “In a Sentimental Mood”

By Tom Quiner

Critics tend to disparage sentiment. They prefer Stephen Sondheim’s cynical take on love over Oscar Hammerstein’s sentimental outlook. Duke Ellington falls into a different category completely, as demonstrated by a haunting melody he knocked out on the fly at a party in 1935.

“In a Sentimental Mood” is a love song that requires no words. In fact, it is a staple for jazz artists who lose themselves in the mysterious recesses of its multi-textured chord changes in smoke-filled clubs at two o’clock in the morning. 

The Duke and Coltrane

Think John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins.

But an Ellington melody is just too good to deny a lyric. Lyricist Manny Kurtz rose to the occasion with the words that fit the melody like a glove. This critic appreciates a well-crafted verse, and Mr. Kurtz delivered, as you can see in verse two:

“On the wings off every kiss,

Drifts a melody so strange and sweet,

In this sentimental bliss,

You make my paradise complete.”

Indeed, Ellington’s melody is ‘strange and sweet’ and is best-appreciated late at night.

This song ranks #44 on my list of the “52 Greatest Love Songs Ever.” Contemporary songwriters don’t fuss over the words the way their forebears did. Think Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, or Ira Gershwin.

Today’s biggest star, Taylor Swift, writes catchy songs which target teen age girls and young women. Writing in Buzzfeed, Hope Lasater was effusive in her praise of Ms. Swift’s handiwork:

“Taylor Swift is, without exaggerating, a love genius. Who else has lyrics that range from romantic to heartbreaking to both at the same time?”

Actually, I can think of quite a few. Many are included in this list of the 52 Greatest Love Songs Ever.

Ms. Lasatar considers Swift’s 2019 song, “Peace” (from her Folklore album), her most romantic lyrics of all time. Here’s the refrain:

“But I’m a fire and I’ll keep your brittle heart warm

If your cascade, ocean wave blues come.

All these people think love’s for show,

But I would die for you in secret,

The devil’s in the details, but you got a friend in me.

Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?”

The closest thing to a rhyme is ‘me’ and ‘peace,’ and that wouldn’t be close enough for the likes of a Dorothy Fields or Hal David.

Ms. Swift throws in occasional rhymes in the verses, but their use is scattershot. She uses profanity, a great way to get someone out of a ‘sentimental mood.’ Her melody is uninteresting and the beat frantic.

Will great artists be singing “Peace” 89 years from now? I doubt it. Great artists still perform “In a Sentimental Mood” today, 89 years since it was written, and they’ll continue doing so another 89 years from now.

Ella sings “In a Sentimental Mood”

Listen to Ella sing these lovely lyrics:

“In a sentimental mood,

I can see the stars come through my room,

While you loving attitude,

Is like a flame that lights the gloom.”

This critic would vote the ‘love genius’ award to the writing team of Duke Ellington and Manny Kurtz over Ms. Swift. No offense, but her song’s ‘attitude isn’t like a flame that lights the gloom.’ Listen to this stripped down arrangement:

A vocalist and a guitar

Looking ahead, you’re going to love next week’s entry to our list. Every Baby Boomer and their kids will know the song and start singing along. It was written by a Jewish songwriter from Brooklyn who has the honor of making my list not once, but twice! 

Thanks for checking in to this week’s installment of the 52 Greatest Love Songs ever. We’re counting down these songs a week at a time to spread a little love. Love is the greatest antidote to abortion, so be sure to encourage your friends to subscribe to our blog.

[If you like this blogpost, be sure to share it. Then donate to help spread pro-life love.]