Cole Porter’s “I Concentrate on You” | Stories of Standards

Written by Cole Porter for the 1940 film Broadway Melody of 1940, “I Concentrate on You” was first performed by Douglas McPhail.

The song illustrates a man’s decision to think about a lover when faced with difficulty.

“When fortune cries “Nay, nay” to me/And people declare “You’re through”/Whenever the blues become my only songs/I concentrate on you”

This jazz standard has been covered by numerous artists including Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Dianne Reeves, Frank Sinatra and Dinah Washington. 

Tune in to First Take with Chavis and Lando - weekdays from 6-9 am MST – for Stories of Standards to hear our favorite versions of this song all week long!