Vaughan

On tv yeasterday, there was heartbreakingly beautiful video of a Sarah Vaughan performance from the 50s. She sang:

Over the rainbow

Who's got the last laugh now

 Lover Man

Cherokee

Sometimes I'm happy 

Everything was perfect: intonation, phrasing, and diction, musicality, and her demeanor.  It felt effortless. Everything that later would become a mannerism was there, but it wasn't a mannerism yet. 

Then they showed a performance from the 60s. It was also great, but already more mannered and show-offy.  The song choice was good, but not consistently great: I'm not fond of the"Baubles, bangles and beads," with its stupid lyric about a woman who likes jewels.  

There are later performances of hers that I also like quite a bit. There's just something about the early Sarah Vaughan that is perfection itself.