# Best Covers of "Someone to Watch Over Me?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939 "2003-11-29T18:52:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/1 "2003-11-29T18:52:50Z")
Frank Sinatra’s is probably the most famous. George Gershwin composed it. The latest cover I noticed published was by Rickie Lee Jones, and a mighty good one at that. For me and **ladybug** , it’s “our song.” (OK, so it’s a lot of couples’ songs, but it spoke to us.) I did a freedb search to find other versions, and got a list of hundreds… I don’t have the time to review all of them, but I’m looking for one that’s not as down tempo as Frank Sinatra’s version, preferably by a male vocalist. Any leads for me? (Yes, it’s going to go on our [wedding CD](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=226134).) ---
**Author:** ![merrily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@merrily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrily)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/2 "2003-11-29T20:23:54Z")
Try Willie Nelson’s. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/3 "2003-11-29T20:51:24Z")
Just based on the thread title, I was going to vote for Willie Nelson’s (from his standards album, **Stardust** , which is all-around wonderful). Jazz vocalist Joe Williams does another lovely version if you want to stay away from the distinctive twang of Willie’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/4 "2003-11-29T21:02:53Z")
ohhh willies stardust album - bottle of beer +my broken heart =fine times i love that guy ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/5 "2003-11-29T21:20:10Z")
. . . Go back to the source and find Gertie Lawrence’s version . . . She was one of the first to record it, and one of the best. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/6 "2003-11-30T01:36:21Z")
Ella Fitzgerald. Period End of discussion. (moderator please feel free to lock this thread) ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/7 "2003-11-30T01:58:49Z")
Eva Cassidy Mods, feel free to close. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/8 "2003-11-30T04:18:26Z")
Well, I jumped onto Rhapsody. Eva Cassidy’s and Gertie Lawrence’s versions weren’t available, so, I’ve nothing to say about them. But from all the others I’ve sampled, Ella’s is the undeniably best. Linda Rondstadt’s version comes in a very close second. Ella’s version is a bit more bluesy and jazzy, with vocals dominating over the piano accompaniment. Linda’s is smoother and cooler with a full Nelson Riddle orchestration backing her up. Ella’s you listen to and cry to. Linda’s you dance to with that special someone. As for the others: Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Lee Jones, Michael Feinstein, Sarrah Vaughan, Elton John… they all suck in comparison. Their voices are thin and warbly and not as full as Linda’s or Ella’s. (IMO, of course.) There are very few men who cover this song since it was written for a female singer. If you must go with a man, go with Sinatra in his younger years (in his later years he sings flat and glissandos into the last note of every phrase – yuck.) Peace. ---
**Author:** ![leafrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@leafrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leafrog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/9 "2003-11-30T05:04:11Z")
Blossom Dearie did a very nice version…I heard it on the Red Hot and Ira compilation…damn, that is a great CD. But yeah, Ella is a fantastic one. ---
**Author:** ![peterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bb73d2/32.png) [@peterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peterW)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/10 "2003-11-30T06:01:42Z")
I like Sting’s version. But I was always a fan of Sting’s voice. I recently listened to Rod Stewart’s version. Blech. Never cared for his singing, but his version of “Someone To Watch Over Me” is simply unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/11 "2003-11-30T08:16:54Z")
Another vote for Blossom Dearie here. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/12 "2003-12-01T17:15:50Z")
**twickster** , I looked over all 993 hits on Amazon for “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and did not see one Joe Williams cover. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there… I had to slog thru about 80 “various artists” attributions. Do you have an album title, or some better lead? I’m still looking for a better male vocalist version. And I did listen to about 20 seconds of Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition, and I have to agree, it’s the most powerful. But **ladybug** said “I thought you were going to find another male version.” You see, we’re playing one of each. But not back to back. Other versions found: Instrumental (orchestra) Instrumental (piano) Instrumental (violin) Instrumental (string guitar) Klesmer (!!) Bluegrass Country Hip hop I was really looking forward to Sting’s version, from a recent Grammys Awards, but the clip on Amazon didn’t sound anything like STWOM, so either he took enormous liberties with it, or they linked to the wrong clip. Thanks for the Sinatra tip, **moriah** , I’ll look for a younger version of “Young at Heart,” too, since we’re also playing that. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/13 "2003-12-01T17:42:57Z")
Chet Baker did a nice version, though it violates your “not downtempo” condition. You can listen to a sound clip [here](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000005GWQ/qid=1070300561/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/103-9897657-4375838). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/14 "2003-12-01T17:46:55Z")
According to [www.eur.com/musicals](http://www.eur.com/musicals) there was also a Japanese version. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/15 "2003-12-01T17:47:11Z")
Mama Carlson. Or maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/16 "2003-12-01T19:11:40Z")
Jimmy Scott. Very well known jazz/blues singer, especially in San Francisco circles. The guy does a knockout version of this tune as well as others. ---
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/17 "2003-12-01T19:39:07Z")
Helloooo. How could you forget Linda Rondstadt? She did an album with. . . I think it was the Nelson Rielly Orchestra? In any case her version also appeared on the “Moonlighting” TV series soundtrack album. Fan-freakin-tastic. Its the only song on the cd I even listen to anymore. Shes _dreamy_. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/18 "2003-12-01T19:47:13Z")
Nelson Riddle, not Charles Nelson Reilly. Here’s another vote for Willie. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/19 "2003-12-01T20:35:23Z")
Ever since we played it in my high school jazz band, I’ve thought the song works best as an instrumental. On that basis, I really like Sam Pilafian’s version, where the main line is carried by Pilafian’s tuba. The tuba produces such a nice full sound that it’s exactly the right instrument for that song (if it’s played by someone who can maintain tone high in the instrument’s range – which I can’t but Pilafian certainly can). –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![justplainDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@justplainDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justplainDave)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939/20 "2003-12-02T04:39:53Z")
There is a CD called “London Trombone Sound” which is a recording of sixteen trombones from various London performing groups, and they do a version of the tune with a soloist playing the vocal melody. Being a trombone player myself, I am morally obligated to give my vote to this song. It is VERY beautiful, and the accompaniment is nothing but a choir of trombones, which is a sound to behold in itself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-covers-of-someone-to-watch-over-me/215939.md?page=2)