Week 2 - Ain't Misbehavin' by Thomas "Fats" Wallis (Performed by Louis Armstrong)

Performed by the king of jazz himself, Ain't Misbehavin is a classic jazz song, starting with a slow trumpet buildup from Armstrong accompanied by instruments set only to back him up and ending with his own solo after he sings the lyrics. Part of the reason I chose this song was for the lyrics. They're sort of funny and wholesome in how it's about being true to the one you love by not doing anything classified as misbehaving and going home early to avoid having too much fun with others, making the lyrics my favorite part of the song. Armstrong's vocals and manner of singing the lyrics have a jazz style to them, singing them in a way that is almost like improvisation, mimicking in a way the style of his trumpet solo towards the end of the song. His voice is in no way smooth, but it's his voice that makes him one of the most iconic musicians of that time, setting him apart from anyone else. There have been many renditions of this song performed by notable artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nat King Cole, which speaks to its popularity and influence within the jazz genre and the African American community. I enjoyed this song a lot, from its musical components with Armstrong's vocals and trumpet solos, to the lyrics that can be enjoyed and understood by everyone. Even though this song is entirely different from the type of music today, it's still a great one that I will be listening to again in the future.