Which one is your favorite? - LVI -

Here is another song from the 30s written by Harry Warren with lyrics by Al Dubin. It was a big hit in 1933.  Deane Janis with Hal Kemp's Orchestra recorded the original version on October 31, 1933, in Chicago, which was issued by Brunswick Records.

Here is the song for this week;

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

In 1934, a rendition sung by Constance Bennett appeared in the film Moulin Rouge, but was unreleased on record.

Set in Paris, the lyrics include "I walk along the street of sorrow/The Boulevard of Broken Dreams/Where gigolo and gigolette/Can take a kiss without regret/So they forget their broken dreams."

Boulevard of Broken Dreams served as the title tune for a stage musical which played February 11 – March 9, 2003 at the Coconut Grove Playhouse: featuring a libretto by Joel Kimmel, the play was based on the life of composer Al Dubin – played by Jordan Bennett – and featured a number of Dubin compositions as its score.

The song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" has been added to the score of the stage musical 42nd Street for its 2017 West End run being performed by Sheena Easton in the character of Dorothy Brock: the Daily Express opined that "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" seemed "out of place" in 42nd Street while stating that Easton sang the song "splendidly".

This piece is written as a tango in the harmonic minor scale. The song is in the key of E minor.

Here are the 6 versions I picked for you;

• Tony Bennett & Sting - "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

• Diana Krall - "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

• Marianne Faithfull - "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"

• Nat King Cole - "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"

• Seija Karpiomaa - "Sarkyneen Toiveen Katu"

• Robin Nolan Trio - "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"

Now the floor is yours, go ahead and make your comments (here, Instagram, Facebook wherever you feel like...).

nb. Please note that I intentionally do not include the original versions of the songs as it would be a little unfair to the artists covering the songs, and I am sure that sometimes you will be surprised to see that the songs you thought were the originals are just covers.