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September 11, 2020
Welcome to Music Friday when we like to bring you throwback songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, internationally renowned barbershop quartet Gimme Four covers Frank Sinatra’s “Oh! Look at Me Now,” a 1941 tune about a cynical, unlucky-in-love young man who used to laugh at the idea of gifting a blue diamond ring.
But, now’s he’s excited to tell the story of his remarkable change of heart.
Gimme Four sings, “So I’m the guy who turned out a lover / Yes I’m the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings / One of those things / Oh, look at me now!”
The young man is now proud to be a better man, with a new heart and a brand new start. He also has a new appreciation of romantic, blue diamonds.
Written by John DeVries and composed by Joe Bushkin, “Oh! Look at Me Now” was made famous by a 26-year-old crooner Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The legendary singer recorded it again in 1957 for his album A Swingin’ Affair!.
Over the years, “Oh! Look at Me Now” has been covered but the likes of Bing Crosby (1954), Bobby Darin (1962) and Ella Fitzgerald (1989), but the rendition featured today is artfully delivered by Gimme Four, a talented group of young men from Caldwell, NJ.
According to the group’s official bio, Gimme Four has been singing together as a barbershop quartet since 2011. The singers are heavily involved in youth outreach and music education through barbershop singing, having coached students across the New York metropolitan area. They love to make music that leaves a lasting impression, one that changes someone’s day — or life — for the better.
In 2017, Gimme Four opened for Jay Leno at The Freeman Stage at Bayside in Delaware and toured St. Petersburg, Russia. A year later, the group released its first album, Gimme Four: Volume I, on which “Oh! Look at Me Now” is the eighth track.
Please check out the video of Gimme Four performing “Oh! Look at Me Now” at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, during the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 2013 International Convention. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Oh! Look at Me Now” Written by John DeVries and composed by Joe Bushkin. Performed by Gimme Four.
I’m not the guy who cared about love And I’m not the guy who cared about fortunes and such I never cared much Oh, look at me now!
I never knew the technique of kissing I never knew the thrill I could get from your touch I never knew much Oh, look at me now!
I’m a new man better than Casanova at his best With a new heart and a brand new start Why I’m so proud I’m bustin’ my vest
So I’m the guy who turned out a lover Yes I’m the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings One of those things Oh, look at me now!
And I never knew the technique of kissing I never knew the thrill I could get from your touch I never knew much Oh, look at me now!
I’m a new man better than Casanova at his very best With a new heart and a brand new start I’m so proud I’m bustin’ my vest
So I’m the guy who turned out a lover Yes I’m the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings One of those things Oh, look at me now! Look at me now!
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.
