My Funny Valentine (song)

"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. After being recorded by Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis, the song became a popular jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists.

Structure
The basic structure of the song on a c-minor tonic is as follows:


 * C-, C-maj7, C-7, C-6, Abmaj7, F-7, D-7(b5), G7(b9)
 * ditto thru to the F-7, then Db9, Bb7(b9)
 * (bridge) Ebmaj7, F-7, G-7, F-7, Ebmaj7, F-7, G-7, F-7, Ebmaj7, G7(+5),C-,(Bb7,A7) Abmaj7, D-7(b5) G7,
 * C-, C-maj7, C-7, C-6, Abmaj7, D-7(b5) G7(b9), C-, Bb-7 A7, Abmaj7, F-7, Bb7(b9), C-7 (preferred, or Ebmaj7)

This simple and classic structure makes it easy to adapt to other genres and for jazz musicians to improvise over the established chords.

History
Babes in Arms opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, in New York City on April 14, 1937 and ran for 289 performances. In the original play, a character named Billie Smith (played by Mitzi Green) sings the song to Valentine "Val" LaMar (played by Ray Heatherton). In the song, Billie pokes fun at some of Valentine's characteristics, but ultimately affirms that he makes her smile and that she doesn't want him to change. The song first hit the charts in 1945, performed by Hal McIntyre with vocals by Ruth Gaylor. It only appeared for one week and hit #16. The song is part of the Great American Songbook and has had many notable recordings (see talk page).

Alice Fredenham sang the song for her audition on Britain's Got Talent (series 7) in 2013.