'De-Lovely' downright delightful

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

From the opening title song, "It's De-Lovely" (sung by Robbie Williams), to the "You're the Top" finale featuring the master's voice himself (Porter), the CD has a deliberate old/new feel. The music is unquestionably vintage, recorded and performed by hundreds over time, but these newly minted versions with some of this generation's torch singers — among them Alanis Morissette ("Let's Do It"), Diana Krall ("Just One of Those Things"), Natalie Cole ("Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye"), Elvis Costello ("Let's Misbehave"), Sheryl Crow ("Begin the Beguine") — yield a remarkably refreshing listening experience encompassing a rainbow of vocal styles.

A disc like this may restore "quality" music — or at least flag the importance of love lyrics with romantic melodies — among today's young listeners, who likely may be discovering these songs for the first time. The question, then, is can a trend of lyrically romantic songs be forthcoming?

Kevin Kline, a veteran of Broadway musicals and a seasoned actor, does his own singing here, connecting and collaborating with several others (with John Barrowman on "Night and Day," with Ashley Judd on "In the Still of the Night," with Peter Polycarpou on "Be a Clown," with Jonathan Pryce on "Blow, Gabriel, Blow") to uphold the Porter legacy.

The diversity of talent and the 18 assembled songs reflect the universal appeal and the wide range of material composed by Porter. LeMar's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" boasts a spiffy, multitempoed arrangement; Krall's solo is smooth jazz; Caroline O'Connor's "Anything Goes" has the requisite flapper sentiments; Lara Fabian's duet with Mario Frangoulis succinctly captures romantic intimacy with concert hall-type give and take.

In short, "De-Lovely" is just the tonic for those deliriously in love.

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.