Bess, You Is My Woman Now

Last updated

"Bess, You Is My Woman Now" is a duet with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. This song comes from the Gershwins' opera Porgy and Bess (1935) where it is sung by the main character Porgy and his beloved Bess. They express their love for each other and say that they now belong together.

The song has been covered a number of times by many artists (Porgy and Bess (Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong album), 1958). In 1959, Harry Belafonte recorded a duet with Lena Horne on their album Porgy and Bess . In 1954 Harry James released a version on his album Trumpet After Midnight (Columbia CL-553). Neil Sedaka sang a cover of this song for his 1961 album Circulate . Barbra Streisand recorded this song on her The Broadway Album from 1985, named "I Loves You, Porgy/Porgy, I's Your Woman Now (Bess, You Is My Woman Now)".

Related Research Articles

<i>Porgy and Bess</i> Opera by George Gershwin

Porgy and Bess is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play Porgy, itself an adaptation of DuBose Heyward's 1925 novel of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Brown</span> American soprano

Anne Brown was an American lyric soprano for whom George Gershwin rewrote the part of "Bess" into a leading role in the original production of his opera Porgy and Bess in 1935.

<i>Highlights from Porgy and Bess</i> 1940 studio album by various

Highlights from Porgy and Bess, the 1935 album of George Gershwin's opera, was recorded just days after Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway on October 10, 1935. While the opera was performed by an all-African American singing cast, the 1935 album featured mostly white opera singers. Gershwin's involvement is clearly stated on the album cover, which reads "Recorded under the supervision of the composer."

"It Ain't Necessarily So" is a popular song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin. The song comes from the Gershwins' opera Porgy and Bess (1935) where it is sung by the character Sportin' Life, a drug dealer, who expresses his doubt about several statements in the Bible. The song's melody also functions as a theme for Sportin' Life's character.

<i>Nina Simone with Strings</i> 1966 studio album by Nina Simone

Nina Simone with Strings is an album by Nina Simone. The album was released after she had left Colpix Records. The tracks on the album were assembled by combining unreleased material with recordings of strings.

"I Loves You, Porgy" is a duet from the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was performed in the opera's premiere in 1935 and on Broadway the same year by Anne Brown and Todd Duncan. They recorded the song on volume 2 of the album Selections from George Gershwin's Folk Opera Porgy and Bess in 1942. The duet occurs in act 2, scene 3, Catfish Row, where Porgy promises Bess that he will protect her. Bess has a lover, Crown, who is abusive and continually seduces her.

<i>Ella Fitzgerald Live at Mister Kellys</i> 2007 live album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Live at Mister Kelly's is a live album of a 1958 Ella Fitzgerald performance at Mister Kelly's, and released in 2007.

<i>Porgy and Bess</i> (Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass album) 1976 studio album by Joe Pass, Oscar Peterson

Porgy and Bess is a 1976 album by pianist Oscar Peterson and guitarist Joe Pass featuring music from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. This is the only album on which Peterson plays the clavichord.

<i>Oscar Peterson Plays Porgy & Bess</i> 1959 studio album by Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson Plays Porgy & Bess is a 1959 studio album by Oscar Peterson, playing selections from George Gershwin's 1935 opera, Porgy and Bess.

<i>Porgy & Bess</i> (Joe Henderson album) 1997 studio album by Joe Henderson

Porgy & Bess is a 1997 album by the jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson, released on Verve Records. It contains Henderson's arrangements of music from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. It was his final album as a leader.

<i>Porgy and Bess</i> (Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne album) 1959 studio album by Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne

Porgy and Bess is an album by Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne, released by RCA Victor in 1959. It features songs from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. Belafonte and Horne sing two songs together: "There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York" and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now". The album was re-issued on a 2-CD set in 2003 together with Jamaica by BMG Collectables in Stereo.

<i>Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs</i> (Miles Davis album) 2008 compilation album by Miles Davis

Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis that was released on January 15, 2008, by Columbia Records.

<i>The Modern Jazz Quartet Plays George Gershwins Porgy and Bess</i> 1965 studio album by Modern Jazz Quartet

The Modern Jazz Quartet Plays George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess is an album by the American jazz group the Modern Jazz Quartet performing the score to George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess recorded in 1964-65 and released on the Atlantic label.

<i>Porgy & Bess</i> (Mundell Lowe album) 1958 studio album by Mundell Lowe and his All Stars

Porgy & Bess is an album by American jazz guitarist Mundell Lowe and his All Stars featuring their interpretations of the George Gershwin folk opera Porgy and Bess recorded in 1958 for the RCA Camden label.

"I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" is a bass-baritone aria sung by the character Porgy from George Gershwin's 1935 "folk-opera" Porgy and Bess (1934). The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, and Ira Gershwin. It is one of the most famous arias from the opera and it has been recorded by hundreds of singers and music groups.

<i>Porgy and Bess</i> (Hank Jones album) 1959 studio album by Hank Jones

Porgy and Bess is an album by American jazz pianist Hank Jones featuring interpretations of music from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess recorded in 1958 for the Capitol label.

<i>Porgy and Bess</i> (Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McRae album) 1959 studio album by Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McRae

Porgy and Bess is a 1959 album by Sammy Davis Jr. of selections from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess co-starring Carmen McRae. Davis is accompanied by orchestras conducted by Buddy Bregman and Morty Stevens, sometimes supported by the Bill Thompson singers. McRae is featured on three of the ten songs, "Summertime", "My Man's Gone Now" and the only duet, "I Loves You, Porgy", all three backed by an orchestra directed by Jack Pleis. "The record is piled to the sky with strings, harps, choruses, and pillowy orchestration," writes Tim Sendra on Allmusic, but "credit[s] Sammy and Carmen for holding up their end of the deal."

<i>Toshiko Akiyoshi Plays Gershwins Porgy And Bess</i> 2016 studio album by Toshiko Akiyoshi

Toshiko Akiyoshi Plays Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" is a 2016 recording by jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi.

<i>Porgy & Bess</i> (Buddy Collette album) 1959 studio album by Buddy Collette and the Poll Winners

Porgy & Bess is an album by multi-instrumentalist Buddy Collette featuring jazz versions of music from the George Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess recorded at sessions in 1957 and released on the Interlude label in 1959.

<i>Percy Faith Plays George Gershwins Porgy and Bess</i> 1959 studio album by Percy Faith

Percy Faith Plays George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess is a 1959 album by Percy Faith. It was released in 1959 by Columbia Records. The album features Faith and his orchestra playing music from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.