My arrangement/reharm of the Jazz Standard, "The Nearness of You"

Featuring: Lindsey Holland, Ed Croft, John Bacon

Music written by Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics written by Ned Washington I chose to arrange this song because I thought of the various way in which we've all been affected by the pandemic restrictions. Some of us are essential workers, who continue to work in such a dangerous world, all the while being treated horribly by customers, and watching their friends collect unemployment. Some of us have been unable to successfully file for employment, and have been financially depressed. Some of us live with immunocompromised friends/families, and have to live in fear of accidentally exposing them, and the amount of guilt that would follow. Some of us are enjoying our time during the quarantine, but are unaware of their slowly decreasing mental health. My perception of these scenarios helped inspire me to reharmonize each verse, so that they could tell their own story.

Furthermore, I thought the songs' lyrics draw a parallel to the irony that most Americans have faced during the quarantine. We all desperately want to see and be near each other, to the point of breaking the rules of the various restrictions in place - which in turn unfortunately jeopardizes our chances of the quarantine being lifted, so that we can actually see and be near the ones we love, without the risk of infecting each other. Many Americans have acted very selfishly in our current national emergency, and I thought this arrangement could help shed some light on that.

To conclude, here's to hoping the Pandemic is not permanent, and looking forward to celebrating when this whole thing is over.

I do NOT own any of the Pandemic-related footage.