Send in the Clowns

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"Send in the Clowns" is a song by Stephen Sondheim, from the 1973 musical A Little Night Music. It is a slow, mournful ballad, in which the character Desiree reflects on the ironies and disappointments in her life.

Of Stephen Sondheim's more than 800 songs, this is the only one that became a megahit. It achieved popularity with recordings by Frank Sinatra, Kenny Rogers, Judy Collins (whose version charted twice on the U.S. pop singles chart in the mid-1970s, reaching a high of #19 and was named 'Song of the Year' in 1976 Grammy Award), and by soulful song stylist Lou Rawls. Sondheim added a verse for a 1985 Barbra Streisand recording of the tune (featured on The Broadway Album, it became a #25 Adult Contemporary hit in 1986).

The song was written for actress Glynis Johns who had a breathy voice and a limited range. Sondheim wrote the song with short phrases with a small music range and primarily in D-flat major. The song, still a challenge to sing because of its modulations, is therefore unsurprisingly considered a jazz standard and performed famously by Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, and the Stan Kenton Orchestra among others.

[edit] Recordings

Judy Collins' 1975 rendition was named 'Song of the Year' in the 1976 Grammy Awards.
Frida(Anni-Frid)Lyngstad recorded this song in Swedish for her 1975 album Frida Ensam.
Guitarist and educator Ted Greene arranged the song in his seminal release, Solo Guitar.
Model, singer and actress Grace Jones recorded a disco version of the song for her debut album, Portfolio, in 1977.
Elizabeth Taylor, although hitherto not a singer, recorded the song for the 1978 film adaptation of A Little Night Music, in which she starred.
The song was performed as a snippet during "The Electric Co." on the U2 release, Under A Blood Red Sky. However, the band did not have the appropriate licensing and did not pay the required royalties and were fined $50,000 (US) and had to make sure any further pressings of the release had an edited version of the song.[1]
Angela Lansbury sings the song live on the CD A Stephen Sondheim Evening, with Sondheim himself accompanying her on the piano.
A version was recorded by Bryan Ferry during sessions for his abandoned album Horoscope in 1991 but has not been legitimately released. Some bootleg editions of the album contain the song as the final vocal track.
Glenn Close performed the song live at Carnegie Hall in the 1992 concert Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall. Her performance was seen on the subsequent televised version of this concert, and can be seen on the CD and DVD releases.
The song was sent up on an episode of The Simpsons, "Krusty Gets Kancelled." The episode concerns Krusty the Clown hosting a comeback special to rival his puppet competitor, Gabbo. He opens the special by singing the song in a baleful croak, all the time on the verge of weeping, and on his final chant of "Send in the clowns," he does indeed break down, and Sideshow Mel enters and completes the verse: They're already here. The lines sung here (Send in the clowns/those daffy, laffy clowns!/Send in those soulful and doleful, schmaltz-by-the-bowlful clowns) are clearly not the original lyrics.
Tom Jones recorded a version in 1999, on the album: Send in the Clowns.
Covered by the Tiger Lillies on their 2000 album Circus Songs.
Mandy Patinkin performs the song on his 2002 album Mandy Patinkin Sings Sondheim.
Olivia Newton John on a 2004 cover album Women of Song
Dame Judi Dench performed the song in the 1990s during an evening celebrating British theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh ('Hey! Mr. Producer').
Howard Keel recorded the song and it is available on the Vocal Masters release Bless Your Beautiful Hide.
Version by the Brazilian singer Renato Russo in his solo album The Stonewall Celebration Concert.
Peter Criss on his 2007 album One for All
Stars of the Lid recorded a version called "Don't Bother They're Here" for their 2007 album And the Refinement of the Decline.
Jazz guitarist Pat Martino recorded an instrumental version of the song for his 1976 release 'We'll be Together Again.'
Jazz vocalist Carmen McRae once recorded this song.