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Comparing Ethel Merman and Ella Fitzgerald’s Performances of “I Get a Kick Out of You”

In 1931, America’s renowned classical and jazz songwriter Cole Porter wrote the song “I Get a Kick Out of You” for Broadway show. However, this song was never produced until 1938 when Ethel Merman vocalized it, and made it part of one of the most memorable standard repertoires in history (Sewell). Later, in 1956, Ella Fitzgerald also gave a rendition of the song, in her Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (Burlingame). This essay compares the interpretation of Cole’s masterpiece by the two singers, giving particular attention to their versions in terms of form, vocal style, instrumentation, and expression among other parameters.

 Ethel Merman originated from a background of vaudeville, and while performing the song, she is backed up by a huge band, playing a number of strings. She had a powerful voice and could easily enunciate the lyrics in such a manner that every audience could hear her (Sewell). Comparatively, she had a higher voice that was more strident that Ella’s, thanks to her brassy nature. Ultimately, she interpreted the rhythm of the song more literally, and her audiences agree that she manages to turn a dark song into a light and bold piece.

On the other hand, Ella Fitzgerald’s performance sees her being backed by just a quartet, as opposed to Ethel’s full orchestra. During that era, the most popular combination was that involving a piano, guitar, and base drums, which were lauded for creating an intimate feel. Originally, Ella comes from a gospel jazz background, though this does not seem to seep into her interpretation of the song “I Get a Kick Out of You” (Burlingame). More distinct from Ethel’s style is the fact that Ella has a darker voice, and often, she used to apply the style of first holding back the lyric, then ultimately moving on to adopt a style the suited her. Indeed, her small group also allowed her to easily maneuver through the different styles she felt fit for a song (Sewell). Her style focused more on first creating an intimate feeling from the song, which went a long way in lending an invitation for the audience to listen to her.

While the two singers seem to transcend from universally distinct origins, it is noteworthy that they both paid tribute to the songwriter, Cole Porter. Conclusively, Merman with her orchestra, managed to give a powerful rendition, taking on a more literal interpretation of the song; while Fitzgerald with her quartet, produces a more intimate interpretation.

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