Diana Krall beautifully sang “I’ll Make It Up As I Go” for the 2001 movie, “The Score,” starring Robert DeNiro and Edward Norton. The tune was co-written by David Foster with his talented daughter, Amy Foster-Gillies. It is a brilliant example of the modern torch song. The refined ambiance and classic jazz combo arrangement enhanced by Krall’s bittersweet performance gives you the aura of a smoky jazz club. Foster’s production of “I’ll Make It Up As I Go” is as classy and high tech as it can get while keeping shades of the good old times. Krall is, without a doubt, the best jazz singer of her generation and Foster knows how to let her vocally shine. There’s no over singing here, no belting out, just tender, soft phrasing by the singer who’s backed by the sweet, melancholy sound of a trumpet. Unfortunately, “I’ll Make It Up As I Go” wasn’t included in the original soundtrack of “The Score.” It can only be found on a rare promo CD single. This song marked the second collaboration between Foster and Krall after the wonderful “Why Should I Care.” Given the results, we hope they’ll give us more great musical moments together in the near future.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_ll_make_it_up_as_i_go.mp3|titles=I’ll make it up as i go|artists=Diana Krall]

Lead Vocal: Diana Krall
Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Remember back
To the days
When every hour
Was spent a different way
Whatever comes next
There’s no way to know
I’ll make it up as I go

Through the years
Back and forth
Of wearing every night before
I never was one
For taking it slow
I’ll make it up as I go

Don’t count me out
Because I know I can
Take all that’s broken
And put it back together again

There just isn’t a plan
There’s just no way to know
For once in my life
I’m setting my sights
To make it up as I go

And put it back together again
There just isn’t a plan
There’s just no way to know
For once in my life
I’m setting my sights
To make it up as I go

And put it back together again
There just isn’t a plan
There’s just no way to know
For once in my life
I’m setting my sights
To make it up as I go

Whatever comes next
There’s no way to know
I’ll make it up as I go
As I go
I’ll make it up as I go

“The Last Time” is a sublime modern torch song that singer Eric Benet recently created with David Foster and Foster’s daughter, Amy Foster-Gillies. Benet’s gorgeous singing on this composition is reminiscent of the beauty and style of black legends like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Foster, together with his partner Humberto Gatica, perfectly produced the high tech, sophisticated song that really shines in their capable hands. The arrangement has a delicious retro feeling to it. Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Nathan East on bass and Foster on the acoustic piano gently accompany the singer while an incredible carpet of strings underlines their performance.
This song is just one of the goodies that Benet and Foster have included in the singer’s latest effort, “Hurricane.” Released in 2005, this project has an intimate acoustic feel. Benet was evidently looking at people like Bill Withers and James Taylor as influences. This statement is validated on “India,” an up-tempo ballad again produced by Foster and Gatica. This refined, jazzy song was co-written by Benet with Dean Parks and Danny Peck. Here Benet echoes the best of Kenny Loggins while Chris Botti embellishes this gem with an incredible trumpet solo. The title track is another Benet/Foster collaboration. It’s a dramatic, acoustic ballad that sports a moving vocal performance by the singer plus the usual great acoustic piano by Foster. The rest of “Hurricane” is quite good with Foster revisiting the sounds of the late seventies/early eighties that we love so much. We strongly suggest you to check it out.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/the_last_time.mp3|titles=The last time|artists=Eric Benet]

Lead Vocals: Eric Benet
Keyboards: David Foster
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
Bass: Nathan East
Produced by David Foster & Humberto Gatica
Co-Produced by Eric Benet
Strings arranged by Chris Boardman & David Foster

Lyrics

The first time I fell in love was long ago.
I didn’t know how to give my love at all.
The next time I settled for what felt so close.
But without romance, you’re never gonna fall.
After everything I’ve learned;
Now it’s finally my turn.
This is the last time I’ll fall… in love.
The first time we walked under that starry sky,
there was a moment when everything was clear.
I didn’t need to ask or even wonder why, because each question is answered when your near.
and I’m wise enough to know when a miracle unfolds, this is the last time i’ll fall in love.
Now don’t hold back, just let me know.
Could i be moving much too fast or way too slow.
‘Cause all of my life, I’ve waited for this day.
To find that once in a lifetime, this is it, I’ll never be the same.
You’ll never know what it’s taken me to say these words.
And now that I’ve said them, they could never be enough.
As far as I can see, there’s only you and only me.

This is the last time I’ll fall in love.
Last time i’ll fall in love.
The last time i’ll fall… in love