I thought of Bobby Darin recently because one of his glorious trademark hits, "Beyond the Sea," was in a TV commercial. It brought to mind just how incredibly talented and versatile he was. And how short his career turned out to be (17 years). And how he died tragically young at age 37 of congestive heart failure in 1973. Those last two unfortunate truths cannot extinguish the lingering magic Darin injected into each song he performed.
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He crammed plenty of impressive professional milestones into a very brief time. Per the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, Darin recorded 31 albums, four of which went gold, took on the role of record producer, got a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, snagged an Academy Award nomination, boasted ten chart-topping songs, received the inaugural Best New Artist Grammy, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
What Made Bobby Darin So Unique
Inducted posthumously into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, material about Darin on their web site encapsulates him well.
"Teen idol. Adult crooner. Vegas lounge singer. Rock and roll star. Bobby Darin flirted with many musical personae and rocked them all. Versatile and ambitious, he conquered the hearts of teens, parents, rock and rollers and Frank Sinatra devotees before he was 25."
Three songs brilliantly showcase his gifts and remain vibrant years after Darin's passing. The aforementioned "Beyond the Sea," "Mack the Knife," and "Splish Splash" were his signature tunes. Darin made singing look effortless, as if he was born with a mic in his hand. He was truly one-of-a-kind.
'Splish Splash' (1958)
This charming tune has an equally charming backstory. Per Songfacts via Peter Altschuler of the Murray the K Archives, "The title was suggested by Murray 'the K' Kaufman's mother, Jean, but she also penned the music; Bobby and Murray wrote the lyrics. Murray was a very influential DJ in New York, and had been championing Bobby for awhile, but Darin's recordings weren't going anywhere. The two, however, had become good friends and, one weekend, played together in a softball game in Central Park. Afterward, they walked to Murray's apartment just south of the park and recovered by soaking their feet in basins of Epsom salts."
When Murray was talking to his mom, Jean, she had a sudden brainstorm for a potential song. Listening to her son describe his and Darin's foot-soaking ritual, an inspiration came to her like a lightning bolt. It consisted of a few whimsical words: "Splish, splash, take a bath." The two men got to work crafting lyrics and Jean toiled on the music. The rest is history.
'Beyond The Sea' (1959)
This renowned song began its life as a French tune called "La Mer" by Charles Trenet. Darin revitalized it. Suffused with heartfelt longing for a treasured loved one, "Beyond the Sea" is sentimental in a controlled and subtle way. Per Lyrical Insight, "Bobby Darin's rendition of 'Beyond the Sea' is by all accounts, immensely riveting. With his gifted voice and expressive performance, Darin breathes life and depth into the song. His vocal delivery aligns perfectly with the theme of longing and love, producing a potent emotional resonance."
Beyond the Sea was also the title of a 2004 biopic about Darin starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth as his wife, actress Sandra Dee. Spacey directed the film, co-wrote it, and co-produced it.
'Mack the Knife' (1959)
This song radiates classic Darin. Written by Bertholt Brecht and Kurt Weill for the German musical The Threepenny Opera in 1928, Darn came along and revolutionized it. He encountered some opposition along the way, however. Per the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, "When it was time for Darin to cut his next album, he explained to Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, that he was going to do an album of standards. Ertegun thought he was crazy, telling the young man, 'You are a successful rock and roll artist.'"
But Darin would not be deterred. He recorded it. Ertegun was totally bowled over by the track, reversing his earlier opinion. Per the outlet via Darin's son, Dodd Darin's book, Dream Lovers, Ertegun exclaimed, "We knew as we were cutting it, he's going to become a major, major star. We were jumping up and down, and after the first take, I said, 'You've got it! That's it.'"
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